Overview
Senior Architectural Draftsman Jobs in City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa at BYD South Africa
Title: Senior Architectural Draftsman
Company: BYD South Africa
Location: City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Role Overview
The Senior Architectural Draftsman & Infrastructure Specialist will design, establish, and manage the official Dealership Facility Approval Process for new BYD dealerships across South Africa. This role is responsible for reviewing and evaluating dealer facility submission plans submitted by prospective investors, ensuring strict compliance with BYD Global Corporate Identity (CI) and Visual Identity (VI) standards, and managing the local municipal approval workflow.
Additionally, this position will lead local procurement initiatives to source, evaluate, and onboard high-quality local construction materials and interior fit-out items—significantly reducing capital expenditure (CAPEX) for local dealer investors without compromising brand standards.
Key Responsibilities
Facility Approval & Process Design
Establish, document, and manage the end-to-end dealer facility plan approval workflow from initial submission to final sign-off.
Evaluate architectural layout plans, site plans, elevation drawings, and interior layouts submitted by prospective BYD dealer investors.
Provide technical guidance and revisions to dealer-appointed architects and contractors to align site layouts with BYD global standards.
CI/VI Compliance & Standard Enforcement
Enforce strict adherence to BYD Global CI and VI guidelines across all dealership touchpoints (showroom, sales area, workshop, spare parts storage, customer lounge, and EV charging infrastructure).
Conduct site inspections and audits during construction and prior to grand openings to certify brand compliance.
Cost Optimization & Local Sourcing
Identify, source, and evaluate local South African construction materials, structural elements, lighting, furniture, and interior finishes to reduce investor buildout costs.
Develop and implement a formal vendor evaluation framework to assess local material durability, cost-efficiency, supply chain reliability, and brand consistency.
Onboard approved local suppliers and establish a standardized specification catalog for the local dealer network.
Regulatory & Municipal Coordination
Oversee and verify that all dealer architectural submissions strictly comply with South African National Building Regulations (SANS 10400), local council bylaws, zoning requirements, and municipal plan approval processes.
Liaise with local authorities and municipal planning departments to resolve technical plan queries and expedite approval timelines.
Qualifications & Experience
Experience: Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience working in an architectural firm, dealership network development department, or commercial construction environment.
Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in CAD software (AutoCAD, Revit, or SketchUp) and architectural drawing review.
Regulatory Expertise: In-depth familiarity with South African municipal council plan submission workflows, zoning codes, and SANS building standards.
Procurement Knowledge: Demonstrated experience in building materials sourcing, vendor evaluation, and cost-engineering commercial interiors.
Industry Focus: Prior experience in automotive dealership layout design, retail network rollout, or commercial franchise setup is highly advantageous.
Key Competencies
Strong architectural review and spatial planning skills.
Commercial acumen with a focus on cost reduction for network partners.
Analytical approach to vendor sourcing and quality control.
Clear communication and stakeholder management abilities for working directly with investors, architects, and municipal officials.