As a Supervisor - Architecture in the Department of National Defence, you will lead a team of architects and design professionals while contributing to the planning and design of military facilities, infrastructure, and strategic projects. You will be responsible for providing architectural expertise, direction, and mentorship to your team while ensuring projects meet departmental standards, budgets, and timelines. Your role bridges technical architecture knowledge with people management, requiring you to balance project delivery with staff development and career progression.
Your responsibilities include overseeing architectural design projects, reviewing technical drawings and specifications, coordinating with engineers and stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with building codes, accessibility standards, and DND policies. You will manage project budgets, schedules, and resource allocation while maintaining quality assurance across all architectural work. Additionally, you will be responsible for evaluating team performance, providing constructive feedback, and identifying professional development opportunities for your staff.
You will work in a collaborative environment alongside military personnel, other government departments, contractors, and external consultants. Depending on your assignment, you may work in an office setting at National Defence Headquarters, regional offices, or military bases across Canada. Your work directly supports DND's operational readiness by ensuring that military infrastructure meets current and future defence needs.
Key Responsibilities
Coordinate and oversee daily architecture operations, Assign work, monitor progress, and provide guidance to team members, Review work products for quality and compliance with standards, Contribute to operational planning and process improvement
Required Skills
Technical analysis, Design and drafting tools (CAD), Project management, Regulatory knowledge, Problem-solving, Team supervision, Work coordination, Quality control, Staff development
Typical Education
Post-secondary diploma or degree; experience in the relevant technical or functional area
Training
To qualify for this position, you typically need a bachelor's degree in architecture from an accredited Canadian university or equivalent. Many successful candidates hold a Master's degree in Architecture or a related field. Professional designation as an Architect (OAA, AAPQ, AIBC, or equivalent provincial body) is highly valued and often required or preferred, depending on the specific posting.
Certifications in areas such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), Building Information Modeling (BIM), or specialized defence infrastructure standards strengthen your candidacy. You should have a solid understanding of Canadian building codes, accessibility requirements (AODA), and DND-specific design guidelines.
Once hired, the Public Service provides ongoing professional development opportunities, including project management training, leadership development, security clearance training, and specialized courses in defence infrastructure planning. You may also access tuition support for maintaining or advancing professional certifications and memberships with professional architectural bodies.
Entry Plans
Entry to this supervisory position typically occurs through several pathways. The most common route is through a competitive staffing process where you apply directly to a posted vacancy. As a supervisor-level position, candidates are usually expected to have several years of architectural practice experience, including demonstrated supervisory or team leadership experience.
Some candidates transition into this role after working as Architects within DND or other government departments, being promoted internally when supervisory positions become available. The Public Service may also conduct recruitment campaigns or maintain talent pools for Architecture positions at various levels, allowing you to be considered for supervisory opportunities as they arise.
Lateal entry from the private sector is possible if you have equivalent architectural experience and supervisory background. Former members of the Canadian Armed Forces with relevant civilian architectural qualifications may also have access to specific hiring programs.
To be competitive, you should have: a minimum of 3-5 years of professional architectural experience, proven supervisory or team leadership experience, a valid professional architecture license in Canada, and strong project management capabilities. Security clearance eligibility and Canadian citizenship or permanent residency are required.
Part-Time Options
Part-time and flexible work arrangements for Supervisor - Architecture positions depend on operational needs and are determined on a case-by-case basis through discussion with your manager and Human Resources. While supervisory roles typically require a regular full-time presence to effectively lead and support your team, some flexibility may be negotiated for specific circumstances.
Remote work options have expanded within the federal Public Service. Depending on your assignment and project requirements, you may be eligible for hybrid arrangements where you work from home for specific days while maintaining an office presence for team meetings, project coordination, and stakeholder engagement. The extent of remote work availability will be outlined in your specific job offer and may evolve based on departmental needs and technological capabilities.
Flexible scheduling, compressed work weeks, and other arrangements may be possible in certain contexts. It is recommended that you discuss work arrangement preferences and options during the recruitment process or with your manager once hired, as these are subject to operational requirements and departmental policy.
Related Careers
No related military careers on file for this position.
