Architect II

Description

Prospect Park Alliance’s Design and Construction department (D+C) is responsible for capital projects throughout Prospect Park, leading capital planning, design, procurement, and construction. The team’s $130M+ portfolio includes upgrades to essential infrastructure such as paths and stormwater drainage; restoration of historic buildings, structures, and landscapes; and revitalization of vital community spaces including playgrounds, entrances, and plazas. The team includes licensed architects, landscape architects, construction managers, and a historian/archivist, who together steward the historic Olmsted and Vaux landscape as a thriving, welcoming, and resilient 21st-century community asset.

The D+C Architecture team serves as the design lead, architect-of-record, and project manager for historic restorations, building renovations, and new structures within the Park. The Architect II plays a lead role on building projects across the full project lifecycle—from capital planning and architectural design through procurement and construction administration. The Architect II works closely with the Director of Architecture and Historic Preservation to establish overall project design goals and requirements; manage engagement with stakeholders across PPA, NYC Parks, and agencies having jurisdiction; develop the design through all phases, preparing presentations and construction documents; and oversee construction administration. The Architect II also provides expert support and consultation to other PPA departments.

Architectural Project Scoping + Management

• Lead capital planning and project scoping prior to initiation, establishing project goals, program requirements, scope, budget, schedule, and risks. Conduct site investigations and document existing conditions to support project planning and design.
• Manage assigned projects and significant project components, proactively tracking and maintaining project budgets, schedules, deliverables, and risks; identifying issues early; and working with the Director of Architecture and project team to keep projects on track.

Architectural Design + Documentation

• Lead architectural projects through all design phases, including Schematic Design, Design Development, and Construction Documents. 
• Prepare high-quality architectural drawings, 3D models, presentation materials, construction documents, and technical specifications appropriate to assigned project responsibilities.

Stakeholder Agency + Consultant Management

• Lead review and approval processes across key regulatory agencies and community bodies, including NYC Parks, LPC, PDC, DOB, DEP, community stakeholders, and others.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary external engineering and design consultant teams, reviewing consultant deliverables and integrating multidisciplinary work into architectural documents.
• Establish consultant scopes, solicit and review proposals, and review invoices.

Architectural + Construction Administration

• Support budget and contract approvals and construction procurement, preparing bid documents and responding to bidder RFIs.
• Lead architectural construction administration for assigned projects, including responding to RFIs; reviewing submittals and shop drawings; preparing sketches and other documentation addressing field conditions and clarifying design intent; and participating in regular site meetings with contractors and PPA Construction Managers.
• Manage significant architectural and technical aspects of larger or more complex projects; independently investigate and resolve complex or unusual design and technical issues; coordinate multidisciplinary design work; provide architectural consultation and technical guidance to project teams; and mentor less-experienced staff. May serve as project architect for projects of moderate scale and complexity.

Strategic Planning + Guidance

• Contribute to PPA’s long-term capital plan and climate action plan through Park-wide planning studies and analyses, building-condition assessments, and development of design standards.
• Serve as architectural subject matter expert across parkwide divisions (Operations, Maintenance, Facilities); conduct building condition assessments, inform space planning, and elevate design standards across Prospect Park.
• Serve as a senior architectural resource to other PPA departments, working collaboratively with Facilities, Maintenance and Operations and other teams to assess building conditions, address facility issues, and evaluate space and program needs.

Perform other job-related duties and functions as assigned

Requirements

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
• New York State Architecture License required; PPA will consider candidates licensed in another jurisdiction who are actively pursuing New York State licensure.
• 6 - 8 years of relevant architectural experience, with demonstrated responsibility for the planning, design, and coordination of large or complex projects. 
• Demonstrated ability to independently apply advanced architectural concepts and technical judgment, lead multidisciplinary project work and resolve complex or unusual design and technical issues.
• Experience across all phases of project delivery, including design, permitting, construction documents, and construction administration, is required.
• Strong preference for experience with New York City permitting and approvals, public-sector capital delivery, historic structures, and/or sustainability initiatives.
• LEED accreditation is a plus.
• A valid Driver’s license is required.

Passion for the Alliance Mission & Core Values: A passion for public parks and environmental conservation combined with a commitment to treating others with respect, appreciating individual differences, and embracing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Ethics & Integrity: Earns the trust and respect of others through a consistent commitment to integrity, honesty, and professionalism in all interactions.

Job Knowledge:

• Architectural Design & Technical Judgment: Strong architectural design skills and the ability to develop thoughtful, durable and context-sensitive solutions that balance design quality, program requirements, building performance, constructability, cost, schedule and long-term maintenance. Independently applies advanced architectural concepts and technical judgment to larger, more complex or unusual assignments and develops solutions where established approaches may not readily apply.
• Existing Buildings, Historic Preservation, and Sustainability: Demonstrates experience with existing-building assessment, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, including the integration of new building systems, decarbonization approaches, and accessibility improvements within existing structures. Can evaluate complex existing conditions, coordinate interventions across building systems, and resolve design and technical issues particular to historic or existing structures. Experience with NYC Landmark buildings is strongly preferred.
• Construction Documents, Codes & Approvals: Demonstrated ability to prepare and coordinate accurate and constructible drawings and specifications and apply relevant building codes, accessibility requirements and regulatory standards. Familiarity with New York City public-sector permitting, landmark and design-review processes is strongly preferred. Able to lead documentation and approvals for larger or more complex projects; identify and resolve interdisciplinary, code and regulatory issues; and exercise sound judgment where requirements or conditions are complex or unusual.
• Project Leadership & Coordination: Able to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams of architects, landscape architects, engineers, specialty consultants and other project partners and to manage project scope, budget, schedule, consultant work and deliverables. Leads complex projects and multidisciplinary teams with a high degree of independence; anticipates and resolves project-delivery issues; and provides technical guidance and mentorship to less-experienced staff.

Organizing, Planning & Problem Solving: Able to manage multiple projects and competing priorities, establish and meet deadlines and maintain accurate and well-organized project records. Takes ownership of assignments and consistently produces thorough, timely and high-quality work with an appropriate level of independence..

Decision-Making & Judgment: Proactively identifies design, technical and project-delivery challenges; gathers and evaluates relevant information; develops practical alternatives; and exercises sound professional judgment. Clearly communicates recommendations, tradeoffs and potential impacts and understands when issues require escalation or additional expertise.

Communication: Communicates design ideas and technical information clearly through drawings, writing, presentations and conversation. 

Relationship Building: Builds constructive working relationships with colleagues, consultants, contractors, agency partners, community stakeholders. and other project participants; listens effectively and works collaboratively toward successful project outcomes.

Collaboration & Teamwork: Committed to working in collaboration with others, promoting cooperation and commitment to others, and being a positive team contributor

Technology: Proficient with industry-standard software used by architects, including AutoCAD, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Adobe Creative Suite, and SketchUp. Experience with Rhino and 3-D modeling and rendering programs is a plus. Knowledge of project management software is a plus. Fluency with Google Workspace applications is essential.

• Work is normally performed both in a typical interior office setting which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unusual elements, and in the field, which subjects the employee to various external elements, including potentially adverse weather conditions.
• Requires operating a motor vehicle; standing for extended periods of time; use of a desktop, laptop or video display terminal; and identifying and distinguishing colors and shades of color.
• Requires minor physical exertion, including lifting, pushing, and carrying up to 25 lbs.
• Requires communicating information with co-workers, stakeholders and/or the public; reading correspondence, instructions and/or technical documents; writing correspondence and/or reports and filling in forms 

Diversity Makes Us Stronger Together: Prospect Park Alliance serves park users of all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and strives to reflect this diversity throughout our operations and in our leadership, staff, stakeholders, and supporters. We know that by creating an equitable and inclusive workplace built on mutual respect and the appreciation of difference, our employees will feel safe to express themselves, voice their opinions, and work together to find common ground and solutions. Integral to this vision is our longstanding commitment to provide equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment.