ROLE

Join a talented, collaborative team creating spaces that blend beauty, function, and sustainability. Oversee the design and construction of primarily residential projects from initial planning to project completion. Strive to surpass company goals and satisfy client expectations. Advance the architectural expression of high-performance structures. Work alongside experts in woodworking, timber framing, building science, interiors, and more. Craft places that inspire and endure for generations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead clients through the design and construction process, building trust through listening and open, honest communication.
• Understand and be able to explain the impact of design choices on aesthetics, safety, durability, buildability, function, environment, schedule, and budget. 
• Produce all documentation (including hand sketches, Building Information Models, drawings, renderings, specs, and narratives) necessary to effectively communicate ideas, materials, and methods of construction for all phases of a project.
• Serve as a resource to the architecture department for ArchiCad support including optimizing workflows, troubleshooting, organizing training, and coordinating with the SMCo BIM Manager.
• Contribute and be receptive to a collaborative design atmosphere where project design objectives and client experience, not personal taste, guide input. 
• Document important communication with clients, consultants, trade partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Identify potential issues during design and work with Director of Architecture and other Project Architects to find solutions. Similarly, identify potential issues before and during construction and work with the Director of Production and the Project and/or Shop Leads to resolve them.
• Work closely with trade partners and suppliers to understand building materials and methods and their implications on project aesthetics, cost, durability, and environmental impact.
• Understand current national building codes and local zoning, define a project-specific permitting path, and review all construction documents for compliance.
• Determine when a project requires consulting professionals, including engineers and other design professionals, manage the relationships, interpret the input, and incorporate into the design.
• Visit job sites to ensure construction aligns with design documents and intent.
• Maintain and strengthen SMCo’s reputation among island regulators and boards as being thorough, well-prepared, and respectful of neighbors, history, and the environment.
• Assist Director of Architecture in creating project design schedules. Manage design time to align with the project’s design schedule and budget.
• Adhere to and work with Director of Architecture to improve department graphic standards and processes.
• Work with Director of Production to create project estimates and communicate with the Director of Production and the Project and Shop Leads throughout to ensure projects come in at or under budget.
• Work closely with Project and Shop Leads to ensure/enhance buildability, to find opportunities to celebrate craft, to identify potential problems, and to learn from past experience.
• Coordinate with Director of Energy Technology regarding workflow through that department.
• Participate in department meetings and contribute to departmental needs and growth.
• Use SMCo standard information technology, including web-based applications, consistent and timely electronic communications, consistent and proper electronic record keeping, and cell phone protocol.
• Undertake professional development, including maintaining necessary certifications, licenses, etc.

REQUIREMENTS

YOU BRING

• Positive energy and creativity
• Passion for design, beauty, craft, and quality
• Dedication to building science
• Experience with light wood frame construction
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture with a minimum of five years of relevant experience in an architect/designer role, working directly on single-family residential or small-scale commercial design
• License to practice in MA (preferred), or actively pursuing licensure
• Proficiency and five years of experience in construction documentation production (ArchiCAD preferred; Revit acceptable)
• Fluency with Mac OS, Microsoft Office, and Adobe tools
• United States citizenship or authorization to work in the US
• Fluency in written and spoken English 

YOU VALUE

• Bringing design to life
• Making a meaningful impact
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Lifelong learning and growth
• Clear and effective communication
• Creative problem-solving

YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH

• Spending at least two days per week at South Mountain headquarters and Martha’s Vineyard project sites 
• Intermittent travel when projects or professional development opportunities require
• Spending time on job sites, including attics, basements, and crawlspaces
• Working in a collaborative design environment driven by project goals, not personal preferences
• Adopting and utilizing new technology
• Participating in consensus-based decision-making
• Aligning with our Operating Policies

About South Mountain Company

South Mountain Company is a forty-person employee-owned architecture, construction, and solar company on the island of Martha's Vineyard.

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