Architects sought as NZ building boom continues

Many architecture jobs are being created as building projects continue to boom in New Zealand, particularly on the commercial side in Christchurch and the residential side in Auckland, says recruiting experts Hays.

Licensed Building Practitioners, Registered Architects and Revit Technicians are among the roles topping the Hays Quarterly Report list of skills in demand for architecture.

"An increasing number of employers are interviewing speculative candidates with a view to growing their teams in order to generate more work or deliver their current workload," says Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand.

"Licensed Building Practitioners who can sign off work, ensure quick completion of projects and control costs, are highly sought. So too are Registered Architects, who are in a unique position as they have the authority given to them by the NZIA to sign off projects, which is a crucial part of running a practice effectively.

"A trend worth noting in the industry is that there has been a shift in the preferred software used and this has resulted in a greater need for Revit Technicians at both ends of the spectrum," says Jason. "Senior Revit Technicians can command a salary in excess of $110,000 per annum while Intermediate Technicians are still very much in demand."

According to the recruiter, while jobs are being created in Christchurch’s commercial sector and Auckland’s residential market, Wellington is also seeing growth, especially in the areas of building refurbishments and upgrades linked with seismic strengthening, and innovative new builds associated with preventative seismic design. New build luxury apartments as well as residential housing is being planned in Wellington, creating the need for development and master planning for sub divisions.

"The new builds in Wellington are generating work for architectural practices which is putting pressure on firms to deliver on projects," says Jason. "With the upswing of work within the sector, employers are now looking to bring people in both permanently and on contracts to deliver projects on time and on budget.

"We are finding requirements for most businesses are at experienced graduate to Senior Architect level, and there is also a developing need for experienced Technicians, with employers wanting a mixture of commercial and residential experience to deliver design and documentation work."

Jason says jobseekers should note that there is a need for candidates with New Zealand building code knowledge and practical local experience. "Architectural practices are predominantly hiring from within the New Zealand talent pool unless suitable candidates cannot be found."