SUMMARY:

Architect / Architectural Technologist Jobs | Council Submissions | Municipal Approvals | SACAP | SANS 10400 | AutoCAD | Revit | Centurion, Gauteng

Architect / Architectural Technologist – Council Submissions & Municipal Approvals

Turn Approved Designs Into Approved Plans

Are you an experienced Architect or Architectural Technologist who knows how to navigate municipal councils, building plan submissions, zoning requirements and approval processes?
A leading organisation is seeking a meticulous and highly organised Architect / Architectural Technologist specialising in Council Submissions and Municipal Approvals.

This is not a conceptual design or contract administration role. Your primary focus will be taking approved architectural designs and converting them into accurate, compliant and submission-ready building plans, then managing those applications through the relevant municipal approval processes until final approval is obtained.

We're looking for someone who understands that getting plans approved requires more than strong technical drawings. You need to understand municipal bylaws, zoning, town planning requirements, SANS 10400, National Building Regulations and council submission procedures – and know how to resolve queries and keep applications moving.

About the Role

As the Architect / Architectural Technologist – Council Submissions, you will take ownership of the technical documentation and municipal approval process.

You will prepare architectural documentation for submission, check drawings for regulatory compliance, compile supporting documentation, lodge applications and proactively follow submissions through the relevant municipal departments.

You will also act as the key liaison between council officials, architects, engineers, town planners, land surveyors and other professional consultants to resolve queries and secure approvals.

POSITION INFO:

Key Responsibilities

Architectural Documentation & Plan Preparation

• Convert approved designs into accurate working drawings and council submission drawings.
• Prepare:
  • Site plans
  • Floor plans
  • Elevations
  • Sections
  • Technical drawings
  • Municipal submission documentation
• Ensure drawings are correctly formatted according to local authority requirements.
• Amend drawings following council comments or examiner requirements.
• Maintain accurate and complete architectural documentation throughout the approval process.

Building Regulations & Bylaw Compliance

Review architectural documentation against applicable:

• SANS 10400
• National Building Regulations
• Municipal building bylaws
• Town planning schemes
• Zoning regulations
• Land-use restrictions
• Title deed conditions

Identify potential compliance issues before submission and ensure the architectural documentation meets municipal requirements.

Council Submission Documentation

Compile and coordinate all documentation required for successful municipal submissions, including where applicable:

• Application forms
• Zoning certificates
• SG diagrams
• Title deed information
• Engineer-signed certificates
• Energy efficiency calculations
• Consultant documentation
• Supporting municipal documentation

You will ensure submission packs are accurate, complete and ready for assessment before they are lodged.

Municipal & Council Approvals
Submission Management

Take ownership of the end-to-end building plan approval process.
Responsibilities include:

• Lodge building plan applications manually or through relevant municipal portals.
• Ensure applications meet council submission requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of all submissions.
• Monitor submission dates, reference numbers and approval progress.
• Follow applications through the relevant municipal departments.
• Maintain clear approval trackers and supporting documentation.

Track & Trace Municipal Applications

Proactively monitor applications as they move through departments such as:

• Building Control
• Town Planning
• Fire
• Health
• Water
• Sanitation
• Other relevant municipal departments

This role requires someone who is prepared to actively drive the approval process, rather than simply submitting plans and waiting for feedback.

Council Liaison & Query Resolution

Act as a key point of contact with municipal officials and council examiners.
You will:

• Follow up regularly on outstanding applications.
• Respond promptly to council queries.
• Interpret examiner comments.
• Amend architectural drawings where required.
• Coordinate additional supporting information.
• Resolve documentation discrepancies.
• Identify potential approval bottlenecks.
• Drive applications towards final approval.

Professional & Consultant Coordination

Coordinate closely with external professional teams, including:

• Civil Engineers
• Structural Engineers
• Town Planners
• Land Surveyors
• Other specialist consultants

Ensure all consultant information and supporting documentation align correctly with the architectural submission set and municipal requirements.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in Architecture, Architectural Technology or a related architectural discipline.

Professional Registration

• Active professional registration with SACAP or the relevant professional body.
• Appropriate registration category and authority to sign off plans, where required.

Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years' dedicated experience working specifically with:
  • Municipal councils
  • Council submissions
  • Building plan submissions
  • Municipal approvals
  • Building plan approval workflows
  • Regulatory compliance

General architectural design experience alone will not be sufficient for this position.
We are specifically looking for someone who has personally managed building plans through the municipal submission and approval process.

Technical Skills

Strong working knowledge of:

• AutoCAD
• Revit
• ArchiCAD
• CAD / BIM software
• SANS 10400
• National Building Regulations
• Municipal building bylaws
• Zoning regulations
• Town planning schemes
• Building plan approval processes
• Council submission requirements
• Technical architectural documentation

Key Competencies

To succeed in this role, you should be:

• Meticulous and highly detail-oriented
• Exceptionally organised
• Patient and persistent
• Technically strong
• Compliance focused
• An effective problem solver
• Comfortable dealing with municipal officials
• Able to manage multiple submissions simultaneously
• Strong in written and verbal communication
• Confident coordinating professional consultants
• Able to identify and resolve approval bottlenecks
• Deadline driven and accountable

Who We're Looking For

You could be a strong match if you're currently working as a:

• Architectural Technologist
• Senior Architectural Technologist
• Professional Architectural Technologist
• Architect
• Professional Architect
• Council Submission Architect
• Council Submission Technologist
• Building Plan Submission Specialist
• Municipal Approvals Specialist
• Architectural Compliance Specialist

Your job title is less important than your actual experience.
The key question is:
Have you personally prepared, submitted, tracked and successfully obtained municipal approval for building plans?
If the answer is yes, we'd like to hear from you.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an excellent opportunity for an architectural professional who enjoys the technical, regulatory and approval side of architecture more than conceptual design.

You'll have the opportunity to take ownership of the municipal approval process, work with multidisciplinary professional teams and use your technical knowledge to turn approved designs into fully compliant, approved building plans.

Apply Today

If you have strong experience in Council Submissions, Municipal Approvals, Building Plan Approvals, SACAP, SANS 10400, AutoCAD, Revit and Architectural Technology, we'd like to hear from you.

 

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