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As projects move from pre-design to construction, the coordination and maintenance of the operational progress of the project team, both internal and external, and the work itself must be managed closely. Project Managers (PM) often oversee multiple projects, regularly interacting with the client, multiple smaller teams for each project, and ensuring the vision of the work stays on point. But, the PM often relies on a Job Captain to oversee the actual production of design deliverables, construction documentation, construction administration tasks, and other daily maintenance duties required to keep projects moving and on schedule. 

For our fourth installment of Archinect's Guide to Job Titles, we dive into the Job Captain, that in-between team member crucial to the project flow. What qualifications does one need to operate in this role? What's the pay like? And where does it lie in one's larger career trajectory?

The Role of the Job Captain

According to The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice, a Job Captain is "a term used for an individual within the architect's office responsible for preparation of the construction documents." It's a good but limited definition. A Job Captain is typically involved in, and responsible for, the production of construction documents (CDs), but they also tend to hold additional duties. Overseeing the day-to-day responsibilities of a particular project goes beyond just CDs. Before the CD phase, one must still navigate through Pre-Design, Schematic Design (SD), and Design Development (DD). Depending on the needs of the office, the Job Captain may enter in any one of these phases. It isn't uncommon for a Project Architect or Design Principal to adopt a more hands-on role with the client early on, guiding design internally through DD and then passing on the CD duties to a Job Captain after a design direction has been established.

A project's size and complexity will always determine the required personnel to realize its completion. As such, team members who act as designers or project staff on larger, more complex projects might serve as Job Captains on smaller, more manageable projects. It is not uncommon to transition between roles at this level within a firm. Say, you're working as project support staff on a new construction project for a large school, producing design collateral, moving forward construction documents, and aiding the internal efforts of the team. Nothing is hindering you from also acting as a Job Captain on a smaller office renovation on another project. In this sense, your professional "identity" can differ depending on your particular function on a given project type. The Job Captain functions as an internal point person for the rest of the staff.

Qualifications and Responsibilities

As with all positions in architecture, Job Captains come in many forms. Some organizations even have Junior Job Captains and Senior Job Captains to reflect experience level, ability, and the complexity of work one can take on. Some of the typical qualifications and responsibilities firms seek in a Job Captain are:

• Participate/coordinate during all phases of project delivery

• Manage client and consultant communication

• Produce, manage, and coordinate construction documentation 

• QAQC

• Architecture license is often desirable

• Bachelor or Masters degree in Architecture

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Knowledge of local codes

"My current job duties focus on a wide range of applications. I'll coordinate with sub-contractors on a project and actively participate in detailing and working through how things come together on-site," shared Adam Paul Martinez, a Job Captain working in Los Angeles. "This involves a certain level of intuitiveness, problem-solving, and organization," he continued. Martinez went on to articulate how he recently had to help solve some waterproofing issues on a job site. "In addition to RFIs and submittals, a typical day is never really consistent. At any time, an issue could fall into my lap that will require my attention."

Organization is an essential skill for a Job Captain...

Martinez's role within the project team calls for him to uphold a thorough understanding of the contract documents in addition to retaining an understanding of all the parties involved in the delivery of the work he is responsible for. "Organization is an essential skill for a Job Captain," he says. "It allows you to access information quickly and interact with other disciplines effectively and efficiently."

What are firms looking for?

So what are firms looking for in a Job Captain? In Torrance-based Withee Malcolm Architects' search for a new Job Captain, the firm states:

Job Captain applicants should have the technical and leadership abilities to plan, organize, and manage the efforts of a production team to produce high-quality construction documents within an allotted time and budget. They should also be skilled in managing client and consultant relationships.

Candidates should also possess strong proficiency in Revit, knowledge of code, experience in construction observation, consultant coordination, and agency coordination. Standard technical knowledge needed for construction documentation is also a prerequisite for the role at Withee Malcolm Architects.

Marmol Radziner echoes similar requirements in its search for a Job Captain to join its New York City office:

Applicants should have a degree in architecture from an accredited college, with 2 to 5 years of working experience in schematic design through construction administration phases and proficiency in Revit. Previous experience with consulting engineer coordination, technical detailing, specification research, obtaining agency approvals, and working with contractors is a plus.

Across the board, we see the commonly desired characteristics for Job Captains circling a foundational knowledge of construction documentation, consultant and agency coordination, and overall project leadership.

Across the board, we see the commonly desired characteristics for Job Captains circling a foundational knowledge of construction documentation, consultant and agency coordination, and overall project leadership. Understanding how a project moves from conception to delivery and having the ability to proactively navigate and coordinate that process seems to remain as the overarching competencies in the day to day duties of a Job Captain. 

What about pay?

According to Archinect's Salary Poll, with a response pool of 412 respondents across the country, the average salary for a Job Captain in the United States sits at $59,885 annually. We see an increase in those professionals holding 6 to 7 years of experience with a $62,485 average per year. Move that to professionals with 3 years of experience, and the average comes in at about $54,600 annually. The average overall pay for Job Captains in Los Angeles is approximately $63,500 annually and $59,700 in New York City. Ultimately, compensation will be commensurate on experience, ability, region, size of the firm, and the current job market.

Climbing the Ladder to Job Captain

To grow to the role of Job Captain, one needs to move through a wide range of experiences within an office, learn how to interpret problems and solve them well, gain technical knowledge, get comfortable with code, dealing with consultants, and sometimes even clients. There is a robust list of things one must understand to be a capable Job Captain. "Seek to be exposed to as many things as you can," advised Luis Orozco, Senior Job Captain at RDC (formerly Retail Design Collaborative). "Volunteering for new responsibilities and even connecting with a good mentor will allow you to grow in your craft." 

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