Design Lead Architect

The Citizens Foundation; Karachi Division; On-site; PKR 2,400,000 - 5,200,000; Full time

Job summary

The Citizens Foundation invites applications for a Design Lead Architect to head the In-House Architectural Design Section within the Engineering/Design Department. You will guide the entire architectural design lifecycle from land assessment to IFC drawings, coordinating with consultants and internal teams to deliver compliant, economical, and constructible solutions.

The role requires a strong leadership track, hands-on design oversight, and ability to integrate MEP inputs with architectural

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture from an HEC recognized university.
• Registered with the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP).
• 15-20 years of progressive architectural design experience, including leading a design team.
• Experience managing large-scale institutional or educational projects from concept through handover.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the In-House Architectural Design Section with technical direction and quality reviews.
• Plan, monitor and prioritize design activities across projects per TCF standards.
• Review land/site data and provide architectural input on feasibility for land adoption decisions.
• Lead initial layouts for Build Purchase Requisition stage including site planning and building configuration.
• Develop detailed architectural designs after BPR approval and ensure constructibility and economy.
• Coordinate with external structural consultants and review drawings for consistency.
• Lead/review in-house electrical and plumbing design and ensure coordination with architectural layouts.
• Perform technical reviews of drawings to ensure accuracy and proper document control.
• Prepare Tender and IFC drawings and respond to design queries with approved changes.
• Design schools within e-compounds with phased integration for future expansions.
• Provide architectural support during construction and address site queries.
• Ensure well-lit, naturally ventilated buildings respecting road levels and climate.
• Review as-built drawings against IFC for complete project closure.

Skills

Design leadership

Architectural planning

Space optimization

Technical quality control

Coordination with structural/MEP

Cost-conscious design

Project planning

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

BIM/AutoCAD/Revit/MS Office

Education

Bachelor's in Architecture

PCATP registration

Master's in Architecture (preferred)

Tools

BIM

AutoCAD

Revit

MS Office

AI design tools (preferable)

Job description

The Design Lead Architect will lead TCF’s In-House Architectural Design Section within the Engineering/Design Department, providing technical leadership and overseeing the complete architectural design lifecycle - from land assessment and initial planning through BPR, detailed design, tender and IFC drawings, construction-phase support, and as-built review. The role ensures that all designs are functional, economical, technically sound, constructible, well-coordinated, and compliant with TCF standards, while providing technical direction to the in-house design team and coordinating structural, electrical, and plumbing design inputs from consultants and internal teams.

• Design, Lead and manage the In-House Architectural Design Section, providing technical direction, supervision, and quality review of all design deliverables produced by the team
• Plan, prioritize, and monitor design activities across projects, ensuring adherence to TCF standards/details and timely completion at every stage of the design lifecycle
• Review land/site assessment information and provide architectural input on site suitability, constraints, and feasibility to support management’s land adoption decisions
• Lead the preparation and review of initial layouts and architectural input for the Build Purchase Requisition (BPR) stage - including site planning, building configuration, and covered area - ensuring proposals based on TCF theme that remain practical and economical
• Lead the development of detailed architectural designs following BPR approval, ensuring layouts, elevations, sections, and details are functional, economical, constructible, and aligned with approved requirements
• Coordinate with external structural consultants and review structural drawings for consistency and compatibility with the approved architectural design, resolving conflicts and discrepancies prior to issuance
• Lead/review in-house electrical and plumbing design and ensure proper coordination with architectural layouts and other building services
• Conduct thorough technical reviews of architectural, structural, electrical, and plumbing drawings to ensure accuracy, coordination, and constructability before issuance, maintaining proper document and revision control
• Lead/review the preparation of tender and Issued-for-Construction (IFC) drawings, ensuring designs are sufficiently detailed for accurate BOQ preparation, responding to design queries, and incorporating approved changes
• Design schools within e-compounds with a phased approach, ensuring each building integrates seamlessly with future expansions
• Provide continuous architectural support during the construction phase, resolving site queries, assessing the impact of proposed changes, and ensuring the approved design intent is maintained
• Design well-lit, and naturally ventilated buildings, considering road levels, climate conditions, and proper accessibility
• Review as-built drawings against approved IFC drawings to verify accuracy and ensure complete (completion drawings), correct documentation prior to project closure
• Maintain close coordination with Costing/QS, Budgeting, Repair & Maintenance, Project Management, QA/QC, Donor Services, Regional/Zone teams, and other stakeholders on design-related matters, cost implications, and technical clarifications
• Ensure all designs remain compliant with TCF standards, cost-effective, and constructible, while identifying opportunities for design standardization and process improvement
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Line Manager.

Required Skills

• Strong architectural design leadership and design management skills, with the ability to lead and mentor an in-house design team
• Sound technical knowledge of architectural planning, layout design, and space optimization for institutional/educational buildings
• Strong technical review and quality-control skills across architectural, structural, electrical, and plumbing drawings
• Working knowledge of design standards, with the ability to ensure compliance across all deliverables
• Strong coordination skills to manage inputs from structural,MEP,Geotech and other specialist consultants
• Practical, cost-conscious design orientation, balancing functionality, economy, and constructability
• Good project planning and time-management skills to ensure timely design delivery across all project stages
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills to coordinate with Costing, Budgeting, R&M, Donor Services, Regional/Zone, QA/QC and Project Management teams
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making skills to resolve design and site-related day to day issues
• Proficiency in relevant design software (BIM/AutoCAD/Revit) and MS Office. Knowledge of AI tolls related design is preferable

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (B.Arch.) from an HEC recognized university, registered with the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP). Master’s in Architecture or a related field preferred.

Experience

15-20 years of progressive architectural design experience, including significant experience leading a design team/function and managing large-scale institutional or educational & office building projects from concept through construction and handover.