What Does A Director of Architecture Do?

WHAT DOES A DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURE DO?

Published: Nov 28, 2024 – The Director of Architecture designs and implements integrated systems to align with business strategies, driving efficiency and revenue growth. This position develops architectural blueprints, roadmaps, and metrics while providing strategic guidance to ensure enterprise-level alignment. The director also oversees technology evaluations and maintains expertise in industry best practices, emerging technologies, and IT standards.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Director of Architecture

1. Director of Architecture Job Description

Leadership: Represent the Architecture department at company meetings
Project Management: Initiate and implement management tools and strategies
Process Management: Direct the writing and implementation of department-related processes
Workload Management: Direct the oversight and strategic management of the department's workload
Project Management: Manage individual projects including scheduling, budgeting, and staffing
Team Management: Manage Architectural staff and inter-departmental projects
Quality Assurance: Oversee the production of master drawing sets
Quality Control: Oversee quality checking for projects within the department
Scheduling and Documentation: Review and maintain department schedules, trackers, reference documents, and checklists
Professionalism: Represent the company professionally in all internal and external interactions and communications
Safety Management: Adhere to company safety standards and help promote a safe working environment
Cultural Alignment: Adhere to and promote the Mission, Vision, and Values of Companies

2. Director of Architecture Accountabilities

Customer Insight: Understand customer research to recognize customer needs and desires
Design: Design homes and living spaces to meet those needs and desires
Creative Concept Development: Establish creative concepts that reflect the vision and goals of providing exceptional lifestyle and customer experience through unique designs
Collaboration: Work closely with both the corporate and onsite division teams on design, project scope, and budget
Market Translation: Utilize consumer and market insights and effectively translate them into designs that exceed the expectations of customers
Problem Solving: Identify and propose creative, innovative solutions to design challenges
Team Management: Manage the growing internal design function as well as outside consultants
Design Review: Lead and participate in design reviews of projects
Marketing Support: Assist the marketing and sales teams in the preparation of materials and presentations
Graphic Communication: Create effective graphic communications to effectively convey complex conceptual design ideas
Site Visits and Verification: Conduct construction site visits, field verifications, and meetings with trades
Workload Management: Identify workload issues, manage consultants, and assist in the completion of projects
Trend Awareness: Keep current on design trends and developments in the design industry
Design Documentation: Provide conceptual design, schematic design, and construction documents for new home designs and provide support for bidding and construction administration of those solutions

3. Director of Architecture Functions

Project Supervision: Supervise, direct, and track all aspects of the homebuilding plan and permit submittals and approvals
Schedule Management: Responsible for monitoring and maintaining stringent schedules to meet start dates and closing dates
Collaboration: Responsible for coordinating and implementing input from the management team regarding design and engineering
Consultant Coordination: Supervise, schedule, and coordinate with project consultants, including architects and engineers to ensure necessary approvals and adherence to schedules
Scheduling: Create and manage development schedules
Process Management: Create and maintain plan change tracking process
Document Management: Manage all Start Package Plan documents and ensure complete Start Packages are uploaded in Procore
Entitlement Planning: Plan and direct entitlements schedules
Stakeholder Engagement: Attend Municipality, Building Department, and Utility company meetings
Task Delegation: Delegate daily workload and priorities to staff
Reporting: Report regularly to the VP of Operations on the status of plans and permits
Administrative Support: Assist in the processing of plans, applications, or required paperwork for agency approvals and permits

4. Director of Architecture Responsibilities

System Design: Design and oversee the implementation of end-to-end integrated systems
Strategic Architecture: Deliver architectural initiatives that drive revenue and improve efficiency in line with business strategy
Relationship Building: Cultivate relationships with Technology leadership
Technology Knowledge: Maintain in-depth knowledge of the organization's technologies and architectures
Blueprint Development: Develop and maintain current and planned state architectural blueprints
Roadmap Planning: Develop and maintain an aspirational architectural road map for the enterprise
Communication: Communicate architectural decisions, plans, goals, and strategies
Stakeholder Engagement: Gain organizational commitment for enterprise-level architecture and infrastructure initiatives
Leadership: Provide architectural direction to Enterprise Architects, Business Architects, and Solution Architects
Reporting: Develop architectural metrics and reports for the executive team, business, and IT management
Industry Knowledge: Maintain in-depth knowledge of IT industry best practices, technologies, architectures, and emerging technologies
Consulting: Provide architectural consulting to programs, projects, and initiatives
Team Support: Support product development teams
Standardization: Act as the focal point for enterprise architecture and IT standards
Technology Evaluation: Initiate and deliver technology evaluations and recommendations

5. Director of Architecture Role Purpose

Foresight: Sees ahead clearly, anticipates future technical roadblocks and trends accurately
Business Knowledge: Knows how businesses work, knowledgeable in sales and supply chain operational processes, practices, trends, technology, and information
Creative Facilitation: Bring the creative ideas of others to the business, facilitate effective brainstorming, and project how potential ideas may play out in the SAP business landscape
Resource Management: Marshal resources (people, material, and support) to get things done, orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal, and use resources effectively and efficiently
Implementation Oversight: Direct and oversee a major implementation of various business process improvement initiatives, including the potential for SAP ERP ECC 6 to S4 in an international environment
System Integration: Provide direct, hands-on support to the implementation of 3rd party/SaaS platforms that are procured and interfaced with SAP ERP systems
IT Strategy Alignment: Select and deploy functional change and systems that align the IT strategy to Centric Brands' business goals and objectives
Business Analysis: Analyze the needs of different departments and determine ways to meet business objectives by modifying existing or implementing new systems
Performance Management: Direct the development and reporting of performance metrics and direct actions to continuously improve managing the business of IT
Industry Evaluation: Evaluate external advancements in the IT industry to improve business objectives, reduce operating expenses, and maximize revenues
Leadership: Operate as a servant leader to effectively communicate, mentor, coach, and collaborate with the other IT teams
Customer Insight: Develop a strong working knowledge of internal and external customers' businesses
Staff Management: Effectively support, train, and manage IT staff and drive the continuous improvement of IT, equipment, and procedures
Strategic Planning: Support the creation of an annual IT system plan and budget to expand, replace, and update system components and advise management on IT objectives, policies, and actions