Following last week’s look at an opening for a Project Manager at site design group, we are using our first Job Highlights series of 2023 to explore an open position on Archinect Jobs for an Architect at the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).

The role, sitting within the department’s Real Estate Services (RES) division, will help support the management of New York City’s public buildings portfolio. Responsibilities for the position, which calls for a registered architect with at least two years of experience, will include evaluating the new space requirements for New York City’s 80 public agencies, assisting in the planning and design of new projects, and updating existing floor plans of City-owned buildings.

Why the role interests us

While a large majority of architects find employment in the private sector, the DCAS role offers an example of the role architects and architectural services can also play in City governance. A similar theme also formed the foundation of our previous Job Highlights edition from Chicago, in which we unpacked the many collaborations taking place between private practitioners and City agencies. Unlike its Chicago hybrid counterpart, the DCAS role instead places the architect entirely under the purview of government, perhaps a nod to the inherent complexity of managing the civic assets that support a city of 8 million people.

“From managing New York City’s most iconic courthouses and municipal buildings to purchasing over $1 billion annually in goods and services for more than 80 City agencies — what we do ensures that all agencies can deliver on their mission,” DCAS explains. “Our reach touches every facet of city government and is instrumental to the successful day-to-day operations of the City of New York.”

The successful candidate for the DCAS role may also find themselves involved in major decisions that impact the evolution of New York City’s built environment; moments which often feature in our editorial. Last month, we covered the city’s plan to achieve an affordable housing goal of 500,000 new homes by 2030 and a separate plan to make the city’s prominent Grand Army Plaza car-free. 

In September, we covered the city’s effort to update its water infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, while in July, NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced the creation of a new adaptive reuse task force to guide the rehabilitation of the city’s office buildings.

Further reading for interested candidates

• NYC unveils three-pronged development strategy to achieving affordable housing goal of 500,000 new homes (December 2022)
• New York City considers making Grand Army Plaza car-free (November 2022)
• One year after Hurricane Ida, NYC updates its water infrastructure in the hopes of preventing another tragedy (September 2022)
• NYC Mayor Eric Adams announces new adaptive reuse task force (July 2022)
• Private Interests and the Public Good: Could an Office of Public Space Management Fix New York’s Chaotic and Unfriendly Public Realm? (August 2021)
• Beyond the Street: ODA Proposes a Zoning Regulation To Expand the Public Space in New York (July 2021)
• Archinect's ongoing coverage of New York City
• Archinect's ongoing coverage of the NYC Mayor's office
• NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services' Archinect profile
• Archinect Tips: Employment Edition (November 2020)

Job Highlights is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our Meet Your Next Employer profiles and interviews interesting studios with open positions currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.