Senior Architectural Project Manager - FL

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced, technically proficient, and highly organized Senior Architectural Project Manager to lead complex architectural projects from initial planning and design through construction and closeout.

The ideal candidate will have 5–10 years of progressively responsible experience, with a strong background in Higher Education and K–12 educational facilities, complemented by experience or working knowledge in commercial and residential architecture.

This position requires an effective combination of architectural design understanding, technical expertise, project management, financial responsibility, client relations, and team leadership. The Senior Project Manager will be accountable for delivering high-quality projects on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with applicable regulations, while maintaining the firm's design standards and client satisfaction.

1. Key Responsibilities

A. Project Leadership and Management

• Manage multiple architectural projects through programming, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, permitting, bidding, and construction administration.

• Establish and maintain project schedules, budgets, staffing plans, deliverables, and quality standards.

• Coordinate architectural teams, engineering consultants, specialty consultants, contractors, and client representatives.

• Identify project risks, resolve conflicts, anticipate challenges, and implement corrective actions.

• Monitor project profitability, resource allocation, scope changes, and contractual obligations.

B. Architectural and Technical Expertise

• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of architectural design principles, building systems, construction materials, detailing, and construction methods.

• Oversee and review architectural drawings, specifications, technical documentation, and consultant coordination.

• Ensure compliance with applicable building codes, fire and life-safety regulations, accessibility requirements, zoning, and environmental standards.

• Understand structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, acoustical, and technology systems and their integration into architectural design.

• Apply sustainable design principles, energy efficiency, building resilience, and life-cycle cost considerations.

• Conduct technical and quality-control reviews throughout project development.

C. Educational Facilities Specialization

Higher Education

• Understand university and college master planning, campus development, academic programming, and institutional facilities requirements.

• Demonstrate knowledge of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, student centers, administrative facilities, and specialized learning environments.

• Incorporate emerging educational trends, including flexible learning spaces, interdisciplinary collaboration, hybrid learning, and technology-enabled environments.

• Coordinate with institutional stakeholders, facilities departments, faculty, administrators, and campus planning teams.

• Understand phased construction and renovation within active campuses.

K–12 Education

• Understand school planning, classroom organization, student circulation, educational programming, and age-appropriate learning environments.

• Demonstrate familiarity with school safety, controlled access, security, accessibility, emergency procedures, and applicable educational facility regulations.

• Coordinate with school districts, educational administrators, teachers, and public-sector stakeholders.

• Manage renovation, expansion, and new-construction projects while minimizing disruption to school operations.

• Understand applicable school construction approval, funding, and procurement procedures.

D. Commercial and Residential Expertise

• Possess working knowledge of commercial offices, mixed-use developments, retail environments, and associated planning and building systems.

• Understand residential design requirements, including multifamily and single-family projects, building codes, accessibility, and market expectations.

• Adapt project delivery methods, technical solutions, and design approaches to different building types and client requirements.

E. Construction Administration

• Oversee permitting coordination, bidding support, contractor communications, and construction-phase services.

• Review shop drawings, submittals, RFIs, change orders, and construction observations.

• Participate in construction meetings, site visits, punch-list inspections, and project closeout.

• Resolve construction issues while protecting design intent, project quality, schedule, and budget.

• Coordinate with contractors, owners, and authorities having jurisdiction.

F. Client Relations and Business Development

• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients and institutional stakeholders.

• Lead project presentations, coordination meetings, and progress reviews.

• Maintain professional relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, and public agencies.

• Assist firm leadership with proposals, project interviews, fee development, and pursuit of new opportunities.

• Identify opportunities for repeat business and long-term client relationships.

G. Team Leadership

• Direct and mentor architects, designers, technical staff, and junior project managers.

• Delegate responsibilities effectively and establish clear performance expectations.

• Promote collaboration, accountability, technical excellence, and professional development.

• Coordinate staffing needs and support the firm's operational and strategic objectives.

2. Required Qualifications

Education and Professional Credentials

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture from an accredited institution.

• 5–10 years of relevant architectural experience, including demonstrated responsibility for project coordination and management.

• Professional architectural licensure (RA) preferred; required where the position includes responsibilities legally reserved for licensed architects.

• LEED AP, PMP, or comparable professional credentials are desirable.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong proficiency in Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD, including BIM coordination and construction documentation.

• Working knowledge of project management, scheduling, budgeting, and document-control software.

• Familiarity with Bluebeam, Microsoft Project, Microsoft 365, and architectural visualization or presentation tools.

• Knowledge of construction specifications, building codes, accessibility standards, and sustainable design practices.

• Ability to read, interpret, coordinate, and review multidisciplinary construction documents.

• Familiarity with standard architectural agreements, professional liability, scope management, and construction administration procedures.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience delivering educational projects, preferably both Higher Education and K–12.

• Experience managing projects from initial design through construction completion.

• Proven ability to coordinate multidisciplinary consultant teams and manage client relationships.

• Experience controlling project schedules, budgets, staffing, and deliverable quality.

• Familiarity with public-sector procurement, institutional approvals, and educational facility regulations.

3. Essential Leadership and Professional Competencies

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

• Leadership: Ability to guide teams, delegate responsibilities, and make timely, informed decisions.

• Technical judgment: Capacity to identify design and construction problems and develop practical solutions.

• Financial accountability: Understanding of project fees, labor budgets, profitability, and scope control.

• Communication: Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and client-management skills.

• Organization: Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders.

• Negotiation and problem-solving: Ability to resolve conflicts and balance design, cost, quality, and schedule.

• Strategic thinking: Understanding of client objectives, institutional priorities, and the firm's business goals.

• Professional integrity: Commitment to ethical practice, accountability, and consistently high-quality work.

4. Expected Performance and Accountability

Performance will be evaluated according to:

1. Project delivery: Achievement of agreed schedules, budgets, milestones, and deliverables.

2. Technical quality: Accuracy, coordination, code compliance, and constructability of architectural documentation.

3. Financial performance: Effective management of project labor, fees, additional services, and profitability.

4. Client satisfaction: Quality of communication, responsiveness, relationships, and repeat-business opportunities.

5. Team performance: Effective coordination, mentoring, delegation, and staff development.

6. Construction outcomes: Timely issue resolution, effective construction administration, and successful project closeout.

5. Preferred Additional Qualifications

• Experience working with universities, colleges, school districts, and public educational institutions.

• Familiarity with campus master planning, facility assessments, renovation strategies, and adaptive reuse.

• Experience integrating advanced educational technologies and flexible, multipurpose learning environments.

• Knowledge of sustainable architecture, resilient design, and high-performance building systems.

• Experience with alternative project delivery methods, including Design-Build and Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR).

• Demonstrated participation in business development and institutional client presentations.