diff --git a/config_templates/jobs.yaml b/config_templates/jobs.yaml
index 636ad1f..d8d9a3f 100644
--- a/config_templates/jobs.yaml
+++ b/config_templates/jobs.yaml
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ job_specifications:
       include:
       - jobdata*.bin
       blobxfer_extra_options: null
+  default_working_dir: batch
   tasks:
   - id: null
     docker_image: busybox
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@ job_specifications:
         include:
         - 'out*.dat'
         blobxfer_extra_options: null
+    default_working_dir: batch
     remove_container_after_exit: true
     shm_size: 256m
     additional_docker_run_options: []
diff --git a/convoy/settings.py b/convoy/settings.py
index 5915567..d04a409 100644
--- a/convoy/settings.py
+++ b/convoy/settings.py
@@ -3181,6 +3181,16 @@ def task_settings(cloud_pool, config, poolconf, jobspec, conf):
     del tdv
     # binding order matters for Singularity
     bindparm = '-v' if util.is_not_empty(docker_image) else '-B'
+    # get working dir default
+    def_wd = _kv_read_checked(
+        conf, 'default_working_dir',
+        default=_kv_read_checked(jobspec, 'default_working_dir')
+    )
+    if util.is_none_or_empty(def_wd) or def_wd == 'batch':
+        if is_windows:
+            def_wd = '%AZ_BATCH_TASK_WORKING_DIR%'
+        else:
+            def_wd = '$AZ_BATCH_TASK_WORKING_DIR'
     # bind root dir and set working dir
     if not native:
         # mount batch root dir
@@ -3193,16 +3203,14 @@ def task_settings(cloud_pool, config, poolconf, jobspec, conf):
                 '{} $AZ_BATCH_NODE_ROOT_DIR:$AZ_BATCH_NODE_ROOT_DIR'.format(
                     bindparm))
         # set working directory if not already set
-        if util.is_not_empty(docker_image):
-            if not any((x.startswith('-w ') or x.startswith('--workdir '))
-                       for x in run_opts):
-                if is_windows:
-                    run_opts.append('-w %AZ_BATCH_TASK_WORKING_DIR%')
-                else:
-                    run_opts.append('-w $AZ_BATCH_TASK_WORKING_DIR')
-        else:
-            if not any(x.startswith('--pwd ') for x in run_opts):
-                run_opts.append('--pwd $AZ_BATCH_TASK_WORKING_DIR')
+        if def_wd != 'container':
+            if util.is_not_empty(docker_image):
+                if not any((x.startswith('-w ') or x.startswith('--workdir '))
+                           for x in run_opts):
+                    run_opts.append('-w {}'.format(def_wd))
+            else:
+                if not any(x.startswith('--pwd ') for x in run_opts):
+                    run_opts.append('--pwd {}'.format(def_wd))
     if util.is_not_empty(data_volumes):
         dv = global_resources_data_volumes(config)
         for dvkey in data_volumes:
diff --git a/docs/14-batch-shipyard-configuration-jobs.md b/docs/14-batch-shipyard-configuration-jobs.md
index ae4f197..245dc46 100644
--- a/docs/14-batch-shipyard-configuration-jobs.md
+++ b/docs/14-batch-shipyard-configuration-jobs.md
@@ -2,6 +2,19 @@
 This page contains in-depth details on how to configure the jobs
 configuration file for Batch Shipyard.
 
+## Considerations
+- By default, containers are executed with the working directory set to the
+Azure Batch task working directory (or `$AZ_BATCH_TASK_WORKING_DIR`). This
+default is set such that all files written to this path (or any child paths)
+are persisted to the host. This behavior can be changed through the options
+`default_working_dir` or to explicitly set the working dir with the
+container runtime respective switch to `additional_docker_run_options`
+or `additional_singularity_options`.
+- Container logs are automatically captured to `stdout.txt` and `stderr.txt`
+within the `$AZ_BATCH_TASK_DIR`. You can egress these logs using the
+`data files task` command (e.g.,
+`data files task --filespec myjobid,mytaskid,stdout.txt`).
+
 ## Schema
 The jobs schema is as follows:
 
@@ -67,6 +80,7 @@ job_specifications:
       include:
       - jobdata*.bin
       blobxfer_extra_options: null
+  default_working_dir: batch
   tasks:
   - id: null
     docker_image: busybox
@@ -196,6 +210,7 @@ job_specifications:
         include:
         - 'out*.dat'
         blobxfer_extra_options: null
+    default_working_dir: batch
     remove_container_after_exit: true
     shm_size: 256m
     additional_docker_run_options: []
@@ -456,6 +471,17 @@ transferred again. This object currently supports `azure_batch` and
         * (optional) `exclude` property defines optional exclude filters.
         * (optional) `blobxfer_extra_options` are any extra options to pass to
           `blobxfer`.
+* (optional) `default_working_dir` defines the default working directory
+when the container executes. Valid values for this property are `batch` and
+`container`. If `batch` is selected, the working directory for the container
+execution is set to the Azure Batch task working directory, or
+`$AZ_BATCH_TASK_WORKING_DIR`. If `container` is selected, the working
+directory for the container execution is not explicitly set. The default is
+`batch` if not specified. If you wish to specify a different working
+directory, you can pass the appropriate working directory parameter to the
+container runtime through either `additional_docker_run_options` or
+`additional_singularity_options`. A working directory option specified within
+that property takes precedence over this option.
 
 The required `tasks` property is an array of tasks to add to the job:
 
diff --git a/schemas/jobs.yaml b/schemas/jobs.yaml
index 1f671fb..c03b72e 100644
--- a/schemas/jobs.yaml
+++ b/schemas/jobs.yaml
@@ -152,6 +152,9 @@ mapping:
                           - type: str
                       blobxfer_extra_options:
                         type: str
+          default_working_dir:
+            type: str
+            enum: ['batch', 'container']
           tasks:
             type: seq
             sequence:
@@ -471,6 +474,9 @@ mapping:
                                   - type: str
                               blobxfer_extra_options:
                                 type: str
+                  default_working_dir:
+                    type: str
+                    enum: ['batch', 'container']
                   remove_container_after_exit:
                     type: bool
                   shm_size: