Architect/Architectural Designer

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African Development Choices (ADC) is a UK-based Social Enterprise on a mission to reduce poverty by empowering communities to make more informed choices in the management of public finances.

ADC’s purpose is to enable communities to independently meet their needs for essential services, such as clean water and sanitation and improve lives in Africa.

At ADC we encourage a working culture of seeking and giving input, showing and taking initiative, and commitment to the organisation and its purpose.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a volunteer Architect/Architectural Designer to join ADC.

Main purpose of job: To work with other architects to lead the design of preliminary drawings, working drawings and full detail drawings for architectural, structural and mechanical works associated with construction projects.

Division: Social Impact

Department: Engineering

Position reports to: (Line manager) Senior Architect

Position is responsible for: (Direct reports) N/A

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assist in conducting preliminary studies of projects to obtain information as to space and design requirements, obtaining measurements and making preliminary layouts and sketches
• Prepare and review architectural plans and specifications ensuring compliance with industry standards, local building codes, laws and regulations
• Design innovative buildings that improve quality of life in local communities
• Design structures that match the brief and are functional, sustainable, easy to maintain, and aesthetically pleasing
• Work closely with a team of local and international professionals such as architects, construction project managers, quantity surveyors and building service engineers
• Provide guidance to local contractors like builders, plumbers, and electricians, and helping them interpret design specifications for quality control and assurance · Research and maintain knowledge of local building materials, building codes and building practices

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

Essential

• Highly skilled and experienced in architectural design principles, standards, and codes
• Excellent design and drafting skills and access to your own computer-aided design (CAD) and other relevant software.
• Proficient using Revit and AutoCAD
• Access to Revit software
• Awareness and appreciation of using design for social impact
• Ability to actively take initiative and help set things up in a start-up environment
• Ability to actively seek and give input in a collaborative team environment
• A committed team player with good communication skills
• Available to volunteer at least 7-10 hours a week

Desirable

• Experience working in an early stage start up and gone through a scaling phase
• Passion for the start-up life and comfortable in a role with a little ambiguity
• Experience collaborating with teams in different geographical locations

What ADC Offers You:

This is a volunteer, remote and unpaid position with the following benefits:

• Professional learning and career development opportunities
• An opportunity to build on your work experience within your profession
• An opportunity to be part of a diverse team representing different parts of the world that is helping to deliver systemic social change in Africa
• An opportunity to help shape a start-up social enterprise
• We provide work reference

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Here at African Development Choices, we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our teams are made up of people from all over the world and we welcome all applications. If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition, and you require any reasonable adjustments for your application with us, please let us know by contacting recruitment@africandevelopmentchoices.org.