Chief Architect

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Project Overview:

Jubail is one of Bechtel’s most remarkable achievements—a city built from the sand up, requiring vast resources and logistical planning on an unprecedented scale. It the biggest civil engineering project in modern times—and it's getting bigger. Bechtel has managed the Jubail project, located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, since it began in the mid-1970s. Saudi Arabian Bechtel Company (SABCO) serves as the Management Services Contractor (MSC), or “owner’s representative” for our client, the Royal Commission (RC). We are the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) managers, managing design submissions from local AE firms, and overseeing the actual construction work being performed by local contractors and sub-contractors in Jubail and Ras Al-Khair Industrial Cities. In June 2021, Bechtel’s contract with the Royal Commission was renewed for another 5 years with work focusing on building new residential communities, iconic buildings/ bridges, major site preparation, commercial buildings, mosques, schools, hospitals, sports facilities, clinics, universities, utility services and infrastructure (electrical sub-stations, lift stations), roads and highways, port & pipeline expansions, and more. 

Job Summary:

Lead the Architectural team within the Royal Commission (RC) Jubail Technical Affairs Engineering Department which;

• Oversees and directs the Architectural components of design, documentation and construction support for all capital projects for the RC that are part of the growth and expansion of Jubail Industrial City in the Eastern Province. Projects include: residential buildings, commercial centers, schools, sports centers, government buildings, mosques, industrial facilities, healthcare facilities etc.
• Contributes to long term master planning and technical studies related to development of the city.
• Contributes to unified Architectural standards across Royal Commission cities.

Major Responsibilities:

• Recommending architectural concept design/ styles for residential areas, educational establishments, clinics, and commercial districts. 
• Administration and supervision of architectural design team, for designs undertaken by in-house groups. 
• Administrative and technical supervision and supporting career development of architectural staff. 
• Maintaining contact with external technical consultants and other RC engineering disciplines for all projects. 
• Providing support to the construction department, and disposition field changes by issuing Design Change Notices (DCNs), Technical Queries (TQ), Field Change Documents (FCD), and Technical Material Submittals.
• Liaising with other RC departments, such as Urban Planning and Landscaping. 
• Reviewing, updating and preparing revisions to Guideline Specifications and Engineering Manuals related to the site and to architectural development. 
• Maintaining architectural group training programs and monitoring staff development.  

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor / Master’s degree in Architecture from an accredited college or university.
• 15 years of relevant experience in the architectural design of buildings from conceptualization to completion.
• Knowledge of BIM / Digital Twin and Bentley.
• Experience with multidisciplinary Autodesk Design suite (e.g. Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks) and the related design workflows.
• Practical work experience that is sufficient to demonstrate competence and breadth in architectural design and building construction.
• Proven leadership skills to lead teams in Architectural design and interdisciplinary design reviews.
• Knowledge of current industry and regulatory standards, and general design criteria pertinent to architectural work, including the International Building Codes.
• Experience in pre-design, programming of spaces, and achieving functional requirements for buildings as well as concept site layouts
• Must be able to demonstrate excellent technical communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to influence through discussion and reasoning. Strong presentation skills, including the use of PowerPoint and other applications.
• Supports the creation of a work environment that fosters openness, trust, communication, teamwork, empowerment, innovation, and satisfaction.
• Ability to work within a culturally diverse organization, recognizing and respecting differences.
• High level of skill interfacing with and presenting to senior stakeholders.
• Strong directional leadership, people management, and persuasive communication skills.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Professional Architects Registration and/ or license to practice architecture by a recognized Professional Architects Registration Board.
• Accreditation as LEED AP BD+C
• Knowledge of Saudi Building Code preferred
• Experience in GCC preferably in Saudi Arabia
• Experience in architectural and landscaping/ hardscaping design
• Advanced knowledge of architectural design, production techniques, building materials, building industry standards, international codes/ standards, and construction methods. 
• Skill in assessing the scope of problems and developing practical solutions.
• Experience in the preparation of conceptual studies, designs, reports, proposals, value engineering studies, or alternate technical concepts
• Experience in planning, developing, coordinating and reviewing complex architectural work on large, complex projects
• Experience with managing the coordination of design development with other disciplines and functions which will include construction, estimating, project controls, procurement, and contracts management
• Understands and performs the standard architectural work planning, scheduling, and job hour estimating process; conducts independent work requiring judgment in the application of design techniques
• Experience in monitoring and ensuring compliance with project budgets, schedules, quantities, and quality requirements
• Has a working knowledge of model review tools (e.g. Autodesk Navisworks) so as to navigate a 3D model to make critical design decisions and be able to provide visual communication to partners and clients.
• Ability to research, analyze, and report on new design and construction technologies for buildings.
• Strong understanding of, and ability to write and edit technical specifications in CSI format.
• Ability to coordinate and work with the other engineering disciplines, the client, designers, contractors, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Must have strong organizational, leadership and teamwork skills, proven problem-solving abilities, and the desire to innovate designs as well as architecture/ engineering work processes.

Total Rewards/Benefits:

For decades, Bechtel has worked to inspire the next generation of employees and beyond! Because our teams face some of the world's toughest challenges, we offer robust benefits to ensure our people thrive.  Whether it is advancing careers, delivering programs to enhance our culture, or providing time to recharge, Bechtel has the benefits to build a legacy of sustainable growth. Learn more at Bechtel Total Rewards

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