Design Assistant

Background: The position is for an international development project working to deliver social infrastructure across Pakistan.

Position Summary: This position is responsible for providing architectural advice and support to the overall programme. It is based in the Central Programme Management Units Engineering Team and will support the engineers by providing them with educational infrastructure design options. It will produce architectural drawings and related concept notes to explain how good design principles supports the education system as well as supporting the overarching requirement to demonstrate value for money within the wider programme. Furthermore, he or she will take the lead in managing the proposed school design competition.   

Location: Islamabad

Reporting and Supervision: The Design Assistant will report to Chief Engineer.

Specific duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Establish good interpersonal relationships within the Engineering team and Central Programme Management Unit.  Proactively build effective working relationships with Provincial based Engineers, Local Partners and Construction Contractors.
• Create a win-win environment by gaining agreement from partners and / or Customers before taking partnership-oriented actions.
• Using Capacity Assessment tools identify project related architectural capacity of Local Partners, Construction Contractors, and Self-Development.
• Providing advice and technical support on all construction.
• Ensure architectural integrity of all proposed design options.
• Occasional inspections of construction work.
• Working across multiple sites.
• Developing a variety of design options for all forms of educational infrastructure.
• Preparing concept drawings and 3D projections of all programme design options.
• Preparing site specific design options as and when required;
• Preparing or contributing to PowerPoint presentations on all matters pertaining to design principles.
• Preparing or contributing to CPMU reports.
• Researching and suggesting innovative design options for educational infrastructure; and
• Taking the lead in managing the School Design Competition.
• Participate in the organization and delivery of Introduction Cluster Training for PTC/SCs, DEOs and CCSIs.
• Deliver architectural technical assistance and capacity building interventions to all Customer segments.
• Provide accurate and timely activity based reporting as per project SOPs: weekly, monthly, quarterly etc.
• Provide informative, timely and effectively presented written reports/numerical data as required.
• Responsible for filing all programme architectural related documents

Minimum Qualification and Experience required:

• A relevant BA in Architecture,
• Newly qualified graduate in Architecture from a recognized School of Architecture
• Registration with PAC
• Written and spoken English as well as local language(s);
• IT Literacy: able to use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel at an intermediate level plus good knowledge of AutoCAD or equivalent design software packages;
• Understanding of local community and related cultural sensitivities