FSPU

AN ARCHITECT

An architect works in the construction industry designing new buildings and the spaces around them, working closely with users, clients and officials to make sure that projected designs match the needs of these groups.

Architects work on new buildings, develop groups of buildings in area regeneration projects, design alterations to existing buildings, and advise on the restoration and conservation of old properties.

On every project, architects work closely with other professionals, including engineers and surveyors, to make sure that their buildings meet the necessary standards. They also work closely with construction specialists on site and oversee projects from beginning to end.

Typical work activities

Architects are involved from the earliest stages of a building project, from site selection through to completion. They remain actively involved throughout each project as their ideas and plans are turned into reality. They work closely with contractors on site, ensuring that works are carried out to specific standards and that any problems that arise are quickly resolved. Typical work activities include:

• consulting with other professionals about the design of an environment;
• preparing and presenting design proposals to the client;
• using IT in design and project management, specifically software packages such as AutoCad and SketchUp;
• advising the client on the practicality of their project;
• keeping within financial budgets and deadlines;
• producing detailed drawings from which costings are made;
• preparing tender applications and presentations;
• negotiating with contractors and other professionals;
• preparing planning applications;
• coordinating the work of contractors;
• making site visits to check on progress and ensuring that the project is running within the agreed timescale;
• solving problems that might occur during building;
• carrying out defect inspections.

Through all these activities, architects need an understanding of the complex processes of design and construction to build socially and ecologically sustainable cities and communities.

BUILDING SURVEYORS

Building surveyors provide professional advice on all aspects of property and construction. They work on site with new buildings and are concerned with the aftercare and performance of existing buildings. This is a very wide field and may include advising on various aspects of buildings at different stages, including:

• design
• maintenance
• repair
• dilapidations
• refurbishment
• restoration
• sustainability.

The nature of the work may range from the design of large, multimillion-pound structures to modest adaptations and repairs, and sometimes includes working with buildings of architectural or historic importance.

Building surveyors may be called upon to give evidence in court in cases where building regulations have been breached and as expert witnesses on building defects and dilapidations.

Typical work activities

Building surveyors work in many areas of property and construction so the work is diverse and rarely routine. Tasks typically involve:

• ensuring projects are completed on budget and on time;
• advising clients on schemes and projects and determining requirements;
• preparing scheme designs with costings, programmes for completion of projects and specification of works;
• preparing documents for tender and advising on appointing contractors, designers and procurement routes;
• determining the condition of existing buildings, identifying and analysing defects, including proposals for repair;
• advising on energy efficiency, environmental impact and sustainable construction;
• advising on the preservation/conservation of historic buildings;
• advising on management and supervision of maintenance of buildings;
• dealing with planning applications and advising on property legislation and building regulations;
• assessing and designing buildings to meet the needs of people with disabilities;
• advising on construction design and management regulations;
• negotiating dilapidations (when there is a legal liability for a property’s state of disrepair);
• carrying out feasibility studies;
• advising on the health and safety aspects of buildings;
• advising on boundary and rights of light disputes and party wall procedures;
• preparing insurance assessments and claims.

QUANTITY SURVEYORS

A quantity surveyor manages all costs relating to building projects, from the initial calculations to the final figures. Surveyors seek to minimise the costs of a project and enhance value for money, while still achieving the required standards and quality. Many of these are specified by statutory building regulations, which the surveyor needs to understand and adhere to. A quantity surveyor may work for either the client or the contractor, working in an office or on site. The title of the job may also be referred to as a construction cost consultant or commercial manager.

Typical work activities

• managing costs on a wide variety of new building projects and structures, such as residential developments, sports stadiums, roads and bridges, schools, hospitals, offices and factories;
• undertaking costs analysis for repair and maintenance project work;
• assisting in establishing a client’s requirements and undertaking feasibility studies;
• performing risk and value management and cost control;
• advising on procurement strategy;
• preparing tender and contract documents, including bills of quantities;
• identifying, analysing and developing responses to commercial risks;
• preparing and analysing costings for tenders;
• allocating work to subcontractors;
• providing advice on contractual claims;
• analysing outcomes and writing detailed progress reports;
• valuing completed work and arranging payments;
• maintaining awareness of the different building contracts in current use;
• understanding the implications of health and safety regulations.

Areas requiring more specialised knowledge include:

• offering advice on property taxation;
• providing post-occupancy advice, facilities management services and life cycle costing advice;
• assisting clients in locating and accessing additional and alternative sources of funds;
• enabling clients to initiate construction projects;
• advising on the maintenance costs of specific buildings.

 

PROPERTY MANAGER

A property manager is the one who helps to identify and purchase properties, for both commercial as well as residential use. To understand whether this is the profession one is seeking, leaf through this article to know about the property manager job description.

To purchase a good value for money property, one needs to research the market well. Some people do this on their own, but for most it is not only time consuming, it is also difficult to understand the dynamics of the property market. This is where a property manager comes into picture. A property manager is the person who studies the market well, and helps their client make appropriate choices while purchasing properties. The real estate manager and the property manager job description is quite similar as they both look into all the business affairs of the properties they deal with.

Job Description of the Property Manager

Prime responsibility of a property manager is to handle all business operations on behalf of the company or the client he/she works for. Some property management firms have managers that specialize either in residential, commercial or industrial properties, while some have a very diversified portfolio. Marketing and analyzing vital information about government zoning rules and regulations, future property values, taxes, population growth and traffic volume around the property are some of the main responsibilities of the property manager. Not only do they market client properties, but help them with advice on ways to preserve and increase the value (monetary worth) of their real estate investments. They look into all aspects of buying property which includes registration, payment of taxes, accounting and reporting, maintenance, etc. They help negotiate property sales contracts, scheduling its maintenance, managing building maintenance projects, compile all data for financial reports by regularly maintaining and updating all records and files. They also play a part in resolving all client conflicts and complaints.

A property manager helps their clients with all financial operational aspects of their property like rent, property taxes and maintenance. They help to advertise for lease or rent on the property, selects tenants, make rental or lease agreements, collection of deposits and rent, solve tenant issues, and oversee eviction in case of rent agreement violation scenario. They also update the owners about the physical condition of the property, and all financial arrangements. A manager schedules all maintenance and repairs with vendors, and ensures that the property at all given time is being taken care of.

 

INTERIOR ARCHITECTS

Plan, design, and furnish interiors of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Formulate design which is practical, aesthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity, selling merchandise, or improving life style. May specialize in a particular field, style or phase of interior design.

• Estimate material requirements and costs, and present design to client for approval.
• Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, and purpose and function.
• Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and utilization of furnishings and equipment, and color coordination.
• Select or design, and purchase furnishings, art works, and accessories.
• Formulate environmental plan to be practical, esthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity or selling merchandise.
• Subcontract fabrication, installation, and arrangement of carpeting, fixtures, accessories, draperies, paint and wall coverings, art work, furniture, and related items.
• Render design ideas in form of paste-ups or drawings.
• Plan and design interior environments for boats, planes, buses, trains, and other enclosed spaces.
   

Knowledge Requirements for: "Interior Designer"

Customer and Personal Service -- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Design -- Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Administration and Management -- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Sales and Marketing -- Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

English Language -- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Clerical -- Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Computers and Electronics -- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Building and Construction -- Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Mathematics -- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Production and Processing -- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

TOWN PLANNERS

Job description

 Town and country planning (town planning for short) involves making long- and short-term decisions about the management and development of towns and the countryside. It aims to balance the conflicting demands of housing, industrial development, agriculture, recreation, transport and the environment, to allow appropriate development to take place. Town planning is also considered a significant element in tackling climate change.

Town planners are at the heart of urban regeneration within cities and local councils, taking into account the views of a wide range of people. In rural areas they must balance the demand for sustainable rural development with the need to preserve the countryside.

Typical work activities

Town planning is a broad area of work, which requires many different skills. Some town planners may specialise, for example, in enforcement or development control. In general, tasks typically involve:

• researching and analysing data about a specific topic, such as minerals or a geographical area, and then coordinating this data with information gathered from a variety of sources, such as basic survey work, to enable informed judgements to be made;
• promoting environmental education and awareness, which may include helping disadvantaged groups express their opinions about planning issues and proposals, and visiting sites to assess the effects of such proposals on people or the environment;
• consulting interested parties and negotiating development proposals with local authorities and others, including liaising with other professionals, such as surveyors and architects;
• attending and presenting at planning appeals and public inquiries;
• developing creative and original solutions to satisfy all parties;
• recalling data, facts and procedures accurately;
• designing layouts and drafting design statements;
• assessing planning applications and enforcing and monitoring regulations as necessary;
• drafting policies;
• scheduling available resources to meet targets;
• writing reports, often of a complex nature, which make recommendations or explain detailed regulations - these reports may be for a range of groups, from local borough councils to regional assemblies or members of the public;
• dealing with the public, including presenting proposals at public meetings or planning committees - often these meetings bring together very different groups of people and planners may encounter hostility to their proposals, which they need to deal with effectively and sensitively;
• using information technology systems such as CAD (computer-aided design) or GIS (geographical information systems);
• working to tight deadlines to meet client expectations or procedural regulations.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

Job description

Landscape architects create the landscape around us. They plan, design and manage open spaces including both natural and built environments.

They work to provide innovative and aesthetically pleasing environments for people to enjoy, whilst ensuring that changes to the natural environment are appropriate, sensitive and sustainable.

The work covers diverse projects - both urban and rural - that range from designing the layout of parks, gardens and housing estates to city-centre design to improving land affected by mining or motorway construction.

A landscape architect collaborates closely with landscape contractors, as well as other professionals, especially architects, planners, environmentalists and people working in surveying and engineering functions.

An excellent introduction to the profession appears on the Landscape Institute's website, I Want to be a Landscape Architect . 

Typical work activities

The typical work activities for a landscape architect include some or all of the following:

• overseeing the design of a variety of projects, including urban regeneration schemes, pedestrian schemes, road or retail schemes, and maintaining the character of sites of natural beauty;
• establishing general landscape requirements with clients;
• conducting preliminary studies of the site (including contours, soil, ecology, buildings, roads);
• assessing a site's potential to meet the client's specifications;
• carrying out environmental impact assessments;
• seeking and taking into account the views of local residents, potential users, and parties with a vested interest in the project;
• accurately preparing and presenting detailed plans and working drawings, including applications, construction details and specifications for the project;
• presenting proposals to clients, dealing with enquiries and negotiating any amendments to final design;
• matching the client's wishes with your knowledge of what will work best;
• contacting and coordinating manufacturers and suppliers;
• putting work out to tender, selecting a contractor and manager (mainly for larger projects), and leading cross-functional teams;
• making site visits;
• ensuring deadlines are met;
• liaising with other professionals on the project;
• monitoring and checking work on-site (on large projects, landscape managers may do this type of supervisory work);
• authorising payment once work has been satisfactorily completed;
• attending public inquiries to give evidence if necessary;
• generating new business opportunities.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS 

Building project managers have overall responsibility for the planning, management, coordination and financial control of a construction project. It is their responsibility to see that the clients' wishes are adhered to and that the project is completed on time within the budget agreed. The project manager may be involved from the initial conception and design of the project, through its construction, to its completion. Building project managers are likely to work on more than one project at a time.

• representing the interest of the client;
• providing independent professional advice;
• liaising with and supervising the work of the other professionals involved in the project;
• making sure the aims of the project are met;
• ensuring that quality standards are adhered to;
• keeping track of progress and ensuring that the project is on time and on budget;
• maintaining records of expenditure, accounting, costing and billing.

Traditionally, this was a role that graduates might move on to after a few years' experience in another position, such as site engineer or construction manager. However, the industry is changing, in particular in its approach to the construction process (formerly more adversarial, but now increasingly based around the concept of partnership). This means that the future of this role is as a graduate entry position.

PARK AND AMENITY MANAGERS

The Park Manager implements administrative directives and standard procedures by interviewing, recommending for hire, and training seasonal employees; conducting risk management inspections; preparing and prioritizing an annual work plan for maintenance and operations; providing information and education about park procedures and programs to the public; maintaining park facilities at maximum efficiency; and performing administrative tasks to meet customer needs and expectations, provide public and staff safety, and protect and preserve natural resources.

 I. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• personnel procedures sufficient to provide work direction to permanent and seasonal employees, and trusties;
• fiscal procedures sufficient to prepare an annual operating budget, and authorize expenditure of budgeted funds;
• interpretive programming;
• natural and cultural resources and management practices;
• landscaping design and application;
• equipment use, repair, and maintenance;
• hand tools and their use and maintenance;
• basic carpentry, plumbing, and electricity sufficient to perform required building maintenance and repair;
• cleaning methods and chemicals;
• computer applications; and
• record keeping.

 Ability to:

• communicate effectively with park users, other staff, division managers, and the general public;
• visualize park enhancements and estimate costs of development and benefits;
• prepare and justify annual operating plans and budgets;
• enforce park rules and regulations;
• operate and maintain a variety of equipment and tools;
• maintain and repair park facilities;
• perform administrative tasks such as keeping accurate records, collecting money auditing others' records, writing local contracts for services, and buying supplies;
• use a computer and various software and teach others how to use them; and
• provide work direction to permanent and seasonal employees, volunteers, and trusties.

LAND / GEOMATIC SURVEYORS

Job description

Land/geomatics surveyors measure and collect data on specific areas of land. Once the data is interpreted, it is used for a variety of purposes.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) describes geomatics as the science and study of spatially related information, particularly concerned with the collection, interpretation/analysis and presentation of the natural, social and economic geography of the natural and built environments.

Geomatics information and analysis has a key role in a diverse range of sectors, including:

• construction;
• property;
• cartography;
• offshore engineering and exploration;
• geographic information systems.

The term 'geomatics' is now more commonly used than 'land surveying' in the industry.

As well as assessing land due for redevelopment, land/geomatics surveyors survey a range of different areas, including airports, landfill sites, and pipeline and distribution systems.

Typical work activities are likely to include:

• discussing specific project requirements with clients;
• measuring the ground as required by the client (including aspects such as small and large-scale distances, angles, elevations, etc);
• gathering data on the earth's physical and man-made features through surveys;
• processing data;
• undertaking digital mapping;
• producing detailed information (subsequently analysed by planners, builders and cartographers);
• using a range of equipment to produce surveys, including GPS and conventional methods;
• analysing information thoroughly before it is handed over to other professionals;
• thinking creatively to resolve practical planning and development problems;
• interpreting data using maps, charts and plans;
• utilising data from a range of sources, such as aerial photography, satellite surveys and laser beam measuring systems;
• using computer-aided design (CAD) and other IT software to interpret data and present information;
• keeping up to date with new and emerging technology;
• providing advice to a range of clients.

Chartered surveyors will be more involved in the managing and monitoring of projects from start to finish.

Typical tasks include:
(source: http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk)