Architect Employment Contract UK

Responsibilities reflected in the contract

• Develop design work from the authorised client brief and project stage.
• Coordinate architectural information with consultants and specialists.
• Prepare controlled drawings, specifications and design records.
• Present options and record client or design-team decisions.
• Undertake site visits and report observations within appointment scope.
• Escalate changes affecting compliance, cost, programme or professional risk.

A realistic working scenario

A contractor requests an urgent detail that would alter an approved fire-compartment line. The architect records the query, coordinates the specialist input and withholds revised construction information until the designated design and client approvals are complete.

Outputs to agree

• coordinated drawings and specifications
• clear design responses and revision control
• documented client and consultant approvals

Records and evidence

• Brief and design decision log.
• Drawing, model and revision register.
• Technical query and consultant response.
• Site observation and issue record.
• Work records.
• Handover notes.

Reporting relationship

Typically reports to Line Manager or Department Manager. Confirm the employer's actual reporting structure in the builder.

Authority and escalation

• The architect may develop and issue information within appointment and delegated approval. Scope, fee, material compliance, specialist design and client commitment outside that remit require the project, technical or client authority.
• May allocate routine work and make operational decisions only within documented staffing, financial, contractual and policy limits.

Supervision

• Develop design work from the authorised client brief and project stage.
• Allocate and review assigned work within delegated authority and escalate formal people matters through the Employer's procedures.

Tools and systems

• Site records.
• Project systems.
• Risk assessment records.

Workplace context

• Construction sites, project offices, client sites and approved work locations.

Training and certification

• Complete employer-required health and safety training.

Contract priorities

• professional scope and indemnity
• copyright and model use
• site travel and inspections
• design-change and issue authority

Information the employer should prepare

• the project sectors, stages and design responsibilities assigned
• the required registration, competence and supervision arrangements
• the office, site, travel and hybrid-working expectations
• the client-contact and design-approval authority
• the software, hardware and document-control systems provided
• the ownership, reuse and portfolio treatment of designs and images