City Architect The City is seeking a highly skilled and forward-thinking City Architect to provide architectural leadership, expert plan review, and urban design guidance for a growing and evolving community. This senior-level professional serves as the City's principal authority on commercial construction, architectural design, and ADA compliance, helping ensure that development—both public and private—reflects adopted plans, development regulations, and long-range community goals. The City Architect plays a vital role in shaping the City's built environment. From reviewing complex development proposals to advising staff, applicants, boards, and elected officials, this position promotes high-quality design, sound planning, and accessible, code-compliant development. The ideal candidate brings strong technical expertise, professional judgment, and a collaborative mindset to support thoughtful growth and redevelopment.
Key Responsibilities: Architectural & Building Plan Review:
- Serve as the City's senior architectural authority and lead reviewer for complex commercial and mixed-use development projects.
- Review and approve construction documents for vertical construction, including buildings, accessory structures, retaining walls, decks, pools, and related site improvements.
- Ensure plans are complete, accurate, constructible, and compliant with applicable building codes, development regulations, adopted plans, and design standards.
- Utilize electronic plan review systems (such as Bluebeam and OpenGov) to annotate plans, identify deficiencies, and clearly communicate required revisions to applicants.
- Coordinate with planning, engineering, building, fire, and other review disciplines to support an efficient and integrated permit review process.
- Provide final architectural approval prior to permit issuance.
- Urban Planning & Urban Design:
- Perform professional planning work supporting current planning, long-range planning, and urban design initiatives.
- Interpret and apply federal, state, county, and local codes, ordinances, policies, and adopted plans.
- Contribute to updates of the City's Comprehensive Plan, Development Code, design standards, and related policy documents.
- Identify community development challenges and opportunities and develop planning and design strategies that promote quality growth, redevelopment, and efficient land use.
- Provide architectural and urban design guidance to staff, applicants, advisory boards, and elected officials.
- Conduct site visits and field inspections, as needed, to evaluate development proposals and verify compliance with approved plans.
- Capital Projects & City Architecture:
- Provide architectural review and oversight for municipal facilities and capital improvement projects, as assigned.
- Support architectural programming, design oversight, and project management for City capital projects.
- Manage and coordinate external design consultants, including reviewing proposals, contracts, RFIs, and project submittals.
- Monitor project budgets, schedules, invoices, and coordination with Finance and funding partners.
- Participate in project bidding, construction administration, and final inspections.
- Communication & Public Engagement:
- Prepare and present clear, well-reasoned reports and recommendations to boards, commissions, and elected officials.
- Attend and participate in public meetings, including evening meetings as required.
- Provide high-quality customer service and maintain professional, effective communication with City staff, applicants, design professionals, developers, and the public.
- Facilitate meetings and assist in resolving development and design-related issues.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Urban Planning, Urban Design, Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in architecture, building plan review, or a related field, including experience with complex development projects.
Registered Architect in the State of Georgia (required).ICC Residential and/or Commercial Plan Reviewer Certification, or the ability to obtain within a specified timeframe.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree in a related field.
Supervisory or lead professional experience.
AICP Certification.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Advanced knowledge of architectural design, construction documents, building codes, and ADA compliance.
Strong understanding of land use planning, urban design principles, zoning, and development regulations.
Ability to evaluate architectural, engineering, and planning documents for both technical compliance and overall design quality.
Experience with development and construction processes, including redevelopment and mixed-use projects.
Proficiency with electronic plan review and design software (including Bluebeam, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, GIS, and permitting systems).Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and project management skills.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple complex projects while supporting long-range planning objectives.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.
Performance Aptitudes:
This position requires the ability to analyze complex data, apply professional judgment, and exercise sound functional and situational reasoning. The City Architect must be decisive, adaptable, and creative when addressing complex development issues and balancing regulatory requirements with community goals.
Perks & Benefits:- Two competitive medical plan options for you and your family, along with dental and vision coverage10 paid holidays per year, plus 1 floating holiday
- Accrued paid vacation and sick leave
- City-paid life and AD&D insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disabilityA City-paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP)A robust retirement savings program: the City contributes 12% of your base salary to a 401(a) plan and matches up to 5% of your contributions to a 457(b) plan
- Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per year after one year of service toward a relevant degree
- Identity Theft Insurance
- Access to an on-site gym
- FirstNet (AT&T) Phone Discount
- About Sandy Springs:
Sandy Springs is Georgia's sixth-largest city, with nearly 110,000 residents and a thriving business community. Known for its small-town charm, strong public safety, and exceptional quality of life, Sandy Springs consistently ranks among the best places to raise a family. As Georgia's most diverse city, it offers top-rated schools, world-class healthcare, miles of parks and riverfront recreation, and a vibrant dining and retail scene—all just minutes from the heart of metro Atlanta.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The City of Sandy Springs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
The City of Sandy Springs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Due to the number of job applications received, we are unable to accept phone calls or emails about the status of your application. Each applicant will receive notification at the time of applying and when a decision is made.
Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm.
