Job Description

Salary range: $107,271-$160,000

Posting expires: June 26, 2026

General Description and Classification Standards:

The proponent will work under the direction of the Director of Architecture and will assist in effectively managing a staff comprised of Department of Aviation and consultant design management and Administrative Personnel, whose primary objective is to design, build, and maintain airport facilities in a safe and efficient manner. The Department’s capital program has work divided into numerous areas, or types, of work.

The Assistant Director of Architecture position will be responsible for overseeing the design management of architectural projects. Most of the architectural designs are developed by on-call design consultants under contract to the Department of Aviation. Design management includes managing task orders, design budgets, technical details of design, and schedules. The designs include new buildings and renovations of existing facilities. The proponent will also be responsible for assisting in the management of the Department’s airport-wide roadway signage & graphics, sustainability, and capital, tenant & concessions design submittals review process groups. When workload allows, the proponent may also manage self-perform design.

Supervision Received:

This position requires work to be completed with minimum supervision. Direction received is a function of the task, with direction focusing on strategic objectives as well as project detail and is typically collaborative in nature.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all inclusive.

This position supports and reports to the Department of Aviation’s Director of Architecture within Infrastructure Planning and Development, as well as Department senior staff.

The proponent will have demonstrated experience in carrying out the following primary essential duties and responsibilities to include:

• Implementing landside, airside, and cargo projects from planning through facility commissioning.
• Interacting and teaming with affected stakeholders, such as other Department of Aviation business units; airlines serving the airport and their liaison representatives; consultants supporting Planning and Development; federal agencies such as the FAA, TSA, and others.
• Review designs for compliance with Department of Aviation architectural design standards, architectural principles, customer contract requirements and specifications.
• Evaluate and approve design changes, specifications and drawing releases.
• Being involved in design consultant selection.
• Effectively communicate project challenges and solutions to Department executives; and
• Manage staff as well as develop and mentor younger staff members
The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job and should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. COA may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
This is a partial list of necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job successfully, it is not an exhaustive list.

The proponent is expected to exhibit detailed knowledge, skills, and abilities of the following:

• Typical project management and design processes involved in the planning, design, and construction of a project, ideally at medium and large hub airports
• The ability to manage architectural design consultants and guide them in preparation of designs and specifications resulting in projects that come in on schedule and budget
• The ability to read and interpret airport-related design drawings and specifications
• The skills to develop teams to deliver successful projects
• The ability to “think out of the box” to arrive at a creative solution when required
• The ability to use discretion and make quick decisions when necessary
• The ability and desire to communicate both good and bad project news to superiors
• The skill to clearly communicate (both in written and verbal forms) with all stakeholders
• The ability to research topics or issues in preparation for meetings with senior Department staff
• The ability to prepare clear presentations with PowerPoint and well-written briefings
• The ability to ask questions when confronted with an unfamiliar design or project management situation
• Has broad knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of daily architectural design tasks with a background preferably in airport related work and/or industrial/commercial design
• Has solid knowledge of applicable building codes, engineering codes, the NFPA code and ADA regulations.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture (Additional years of experience may be considered as a substitute for the required degree on an exceptional basis, with a minimum of twelve (12) years of professional related experience in medium and large hub airport construction, industrial/commercial design and construction or similar area with experience as a project architect, supervisor, team leader, or design manager).

• Eight (8) years of work experience in medium and large hub airport construction, industrial/commercial design and construction or similar area with experience as a project architect, supervisor, team leader, or design manager.

Licensures and Certifications

• Registered (Licensed) architect

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s degree in architecture, or related area.

• 10 years of work experience in medium and large hub airport design and construction or similar areas with experience as a project architect, supervisor, team leader, or design manager.

Work Environment:

The typical work environment is in the Department of Aviation office. However, the proponent is expected

to visit projects in the field under all weather conditions. The proponent is also expected to visit project

sites at night or on weekends as work and project circumstances dictate.

Lifting Requirements:

Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta (“COA”) that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, ender identity, marital status, veteran’s status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.