The Public Interest Design (PID) Fellow will be an integral part of the DCDC team, working directly with community stakeholders on architecture and/or landscape and urban design projects. The fellow will work collaboratively with community stakeholders and other project partners. This fellowship opportunity will offer a recent graduate an opportunity to gain their first professional experience in a PID office and start building a network in the field. Fellows will work on DCDC projects along with the rest of the DCDC staff, learning and practicing community engagement, professional office systems, and architecture, landscape and urban design skills.
In the field of architecture today, people of color are poorly represented. It is essential that public interest design shift toward a profession that reflects the community it serves, particularly in Detroit. We know that missing links in the path toward a career in architecture include early career opportunities that help designers gain a foothold in the profession. This inaugural fellowship position seeks young designers who are eager to take strides into the field and gain experience as emerging public interest designers.
This fellowship opportunity will offer a recent graduate an opportunity to gain their first professional experience in a PID office and start building a network in the field.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
General office administration.
Work on community-engaged design projects including design development, graphic representation, community engagement and production of draft and final deliverables.
Research/Stretch, Professional Development and mentoring School of Architecture and Community Development (SACD) students both working in the DCDC office and through other opportunities including studio critiques, guest speaking in SACD courses, etc.
Minimum Qualifications
Education – A college degree
Preferred Qualifications
Educational background in Architecture or Landscape Architecture and/or Urban Design
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Architecture or landscape and/or urban design.
Familiar with AutoCAD, Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign), SketchUp (or other 3D modeling software) and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Ability to work collaboratively with organizations, community groups and individuals across Detroit’s neighborhoods.
Ability to work collaboratively with other DCDC staff.
Physical Requirements
Job may require lifting light weight objects (1 to 10 pounds) with no repetitive bending or stooping. Occasionally lift average weight objects (1 to 10 pounds).
Work Environment
Occasional exposure to objectionable conditions or variations such as those found in variable weather conditions when visiting project sites.
Salary/Pay Information
Commensurate with experience
Anticipated Schedule
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Some Nights & Weekends as Needed
Employee Benefits
At the University of Detroit Mercy, we continually strive to provide a high-quality, comprehensive benefits package to our valued employees. We offer our employees the following benefits:
· Medical -
o Three health plans to choose from with a large national provider network
· Dental -
o UDM’s School of Dentistry FREE to you and your dependents
o Option to purchase additional dental plan through UNUM
· Vision -
o Exams and lenses every 12 months
· Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts offered.
· Employee Assistance Program -
o Provided to everyone in your household.
· Short-Term and Long-Term Disability.
· Life and AD&D -
o One times base salary up to a hundred thousand dollars.
· Option to purchase additional life insurance, accident insurance, and/or critical illness insurance
· Tuition Remission Benefit for you, your spouse, and children.
· Retirement Plan -
o UDM provides matches up to 8%
Michigan’s largest, most comprehensive private University, University of Detroit Mercy is an independent Catholic institution of higher education sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and Society of Jesus. Detroit Mercy seeks qualified candidates who will contribute to the University’s mission, diversity, and excellence of its academic community. University of Detroit Mercy is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer with a diverse student body and welcomes persons of all backgrounds.
The University of Detroit Mercy has one goal - to help our students realize their dreams and ambitions. We fulfill that goal by offering challenging academic programs taught by talented, committed professors and supplemented by hands-on research, co-op, and internship opportunities.