The City of Birmingham is looking for a well-qualified, motivated Chief Architect to oversee the administration and completion of professional architectural work within the Architecture Division of the Planning, Engineering, and Permitting Department. Learn more about Birmingham, the position, and the tremendous benefits of being a part of the City of Birmingham team below.
About the Position
The Chief Architect for the City of Birmingham oversees the administration and completion of professional architectural work within the Architecture Division of the Planning, Engineering, and Permitting Department. Chief Architects coordinate and establish the budget, scope and schedule of complex architectural projects and manages the contract administration function of the Architecture Division. Individuals in this job class are also responsible for administering the design, construction, and remodeling of their jurisdiction’s various building projects, which are typically designed by consulting architects. Chief Architects are in a management position and are responsible for providing supervision over Architects, Senior Plans Examiners, Plans Examiners and other employees engaged in the review and processing of architectural plans, and management of construction and/or construction administration contracts. They resolve problems of a highly professional and technical nature and their work is subject to review for adherence to established standards and project guidelines and regulations.
About Birmingham
Adorning the name “The Magic City,” Birmingham, Alabama is a vibrant place of outstanding communities and unlimited potential. Consisting of a population of over 200,000 and serving as the central hub of a metropolitan area of over 1.1 million, the Birmingham is the largest city and the economic center of the State of Alabama.
Birmingham offers an array of advantages that make it a perfect place to start or grow your career. Today’s Birmingham serves as an economic, cultural, and societal leader for the Southeast. It is home to world-class universities and medical research facilities and professionals, a critically-acclaimed culinary arts scene bursting with eclectic restaurants, a thriving arts community, a diverse range of local music venues and events, national and international sports and athletic competitions, and a progressive business climate with a strong entrepreneurial spirt and a devotion to social justice. Sitting in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Birmingham also provides an abundance of natural and scenic wonders, beautiful parks, hiking and biking trails, and mild weather to complement virtually any lifestyle or adventure. Birmingham provides these amenities, along with a robust, diverse and inclusive lifestyle, all while remaining as one of the most affordable cities to live in the nation.
A Career with the City of Birmingham
With the motto of Putting People First, the City of Birmingham works to ensure employees and the citizens of Birmingham are the number one priority. Employment with the City provides an opportunity to work in an environment that fosters a culture of teamwork and community, supports equity and justice, promotes employee growth and development, and encourages individualism, while also emphasizing accountability to fellow coworkers and the community. Putting People First also means that, as an employer, the City of Birmingham strives to provide and maintain a highly competitive compensation structure, excellent health and medical benefits, and a strong and secure retirement and pension plan, along with other employee wellness benefits and programs. Working with the City of Birmingham provides not only the opportunity for a productive and secure career, but also a career that provides meaning and the opportunity to truly make a difference.
Typical Chief Architect job duties include, but are not necessarily limited to:
Coordinates advanced/complex projects by planning, designing and scheduling activities within the Architecture Division using the principles, practices and regulations of architecture to ensure compliance with stated goals and objectives of the City’s departments.
Oversees and manages the contract administration function of the Architecture Division to include administering the public bidding process, reviewing work products submitted by consultants, and analyzing project documentation to ensure compliance with laws, codes, regulations and contract agreements.
Performs administrative duties including writing various reports, maintaining records, and responding to concerns from the public, local government and any City department.
Supervises staff by assigning and distributing work, directing staff in their job duties, monitoring progress of work, providing feedback and/or training.
Conducts periodic field reviews and site inspections to verify performance of project managers.
Analyzes legal property documentation such as surveying, utilities and topography for use in site development.
Makes presentations to the Mayor, elected officials, agencies and the general public for Public Works projects.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary range: $81,744 - $126,817 (starting salary is commensurate with education and experience)
Flexible work arrangements including remote/telework options for up to two days per week and alternative work schedules (e.g., four 10-hour days). Such flexible work arrangements must be approved by the Department Director.
A City-sponsored pension retirement plan. The City of Birmingham provides a Tier 3 a “defined benefit” plan where employee retirement payments are computed using a formula that considers several factors, such as length of employment and salary history.
Excellent medical insurance with employee monthly contribution as low as $32.50/month
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Behavioral health plan
Group Term Life & AD&D Insurance, Voluntary Term Life & AD&D, Whole Life Insurance, and Short-term Disability options
Paid vacation and sick leave
Generous holiday schedule
Membership and admission benefits for City attractions such as the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Museum of Art, Southern Museum of Flight, and more.
To be considered qualified for the position, a candidate must possess the following minimum qualifications:
Driver's license.
Licensed as an Architect in the state of Alabama OR Certified through the National Council for Architecture Registration Boards (NCARB) that would lead to licensure in Alabama within six weeks.
Experience in managing a multi-million dollar, multiple project portfolio through all phases of project administration, ranging in scope from renovation to new construction.
Experience in public procurement of design and construction services including the bid and award process.
Experience in compliance with federal, state, and local statutory requirements for construction (e.g. ADA, EPA, IBC).
Experience coordinating and managing the activities and schedules of clients (e.g., end users, vendors, contractors, consultants) and/or professional staff (e.g., architects, project managers) and/or technical or administrative staff throughout the entire course of construction projects.
The ideal candidate will possess many of the following qualifications:
Experience using project management software (e.g., ProCore or related).
A Career with the City of Birmingham
With the motto of Putting People First, the City of Birmingham works to ensure employees and the citizens of Birmingham are the number one priority. Employment with the City provides an opportunity to work in an environment that fosters a culture of teamwork and community, supports equity and justice, promotes employee growth and development, and encourages individualism, while also emphasizing accountability to fellow coworkers and the community. Putting People First also means that, as an employer, the City of Birmingham strives to provide and maintain a highly competitive compensation structure, excellent health and medical benefits, and a strong and secure retirement and pension plan, along with other employee wellness benefits and programs. Working with the City of Birmingham provides not only the opportunity for a productive and secure career, but also a career that provides meaning and the opportunity to truly make a difference.
