Design Lead Architect

The Citizen Foundation; Karachi Division; On-site; PKR 1,800,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Job summary

The Citizen Foundation in Pakistan seeks a Design Lead Architect to head the In-House Architectural Design Section within the Engineering/Design Department. You will provide technical leadership across the full architectural design lifecycle, from land assessment and initial planning through BPR, detailed design, tender and IFC drawings, construction-phase support, and as-built review.

You will coordinate with consultants and internal teams to ensure functional, economical, constructible, and

Responsibilities

• Lead the In-House Architectural Design Section, providing technical direction and quality review of all design deliverables.
• Plan, prioritize, and monitor design activities across projects to meet TCF standards and timelines.
• Review land/site assessment information for feasibility and site suitability.
• Lead initial layouts and architectural input for Build Purchase Requisition (BPR) stage, ensuring economical proposals.
• Develop detailed architectural designs post-BPR approval with functional, constructible layouts and elevations.
• Coordinate with external structural consultants for consistency with architectural designs.
• Review in-house electrical and plumbing designs for proper coordination.
• Conduct thorough technical reviews of drawings to ensure accuracy and constructability before issuance.
• Lead preparation of tender and Issued-for-Construction (IFC) drawings for accurate BOQ.
• Design schools within e-compounds with phased expansions.
• Provide construction-phase architectural support and resolve site queries to maintain design intent.
• Ensure well-lit, naturally ventilated buildings considering road levels and climate.
• Review as-built drawings against approved IFC drawings prior to project closure.
• Coordinate with Costing/QS, Budgeting, QA/QC, Donor Services, and regional teams on design-related matters.
• Drive design standardization and process improvements.

Skills

Technical leadership

Architectural design

Team coordination

Site assessment

BPR input

Detailed drawings

Tender drawings

Coordination with consultants

Construction phase support

Cost awareness

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.