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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Architectural Project Manager

💰 $95,000 - $170,000

ArchitectureProject ManagementConstructionDesignBIM

🎯 Role Definition

An Architectural Project Manager (APM) leads design and construction projects by coordinating multidisciplinary teams, managing budgets and schedules, ensuring code and quality compliance, and delivering client-focused architectural solutions. The APM is the central point of contact for clients, consultants, contractors and internal stakeholders, responsible for risk mitigation, procurement strategy, and driving project outcomes that meet scope, cost, schedule, sustainability and quality objectives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Project Architect with 3–5 years of project leadership experience
  • Senior Architect or Job Captain transitioning to project management
  • Construction Project Engineer or Assistant Project Manager with design exposure

Advancement To:

  • Senior Project Manager / Program Manager
  • Director of Architecture / Head of Design Delivery
  • Vice President of Projects / Principal, Design & Delivery

Lateral Moves:

  • Construction Manager
  • Design Manager or Technical Director
  • Facilities or Real Estate Development Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead and own full project lifecycle delivery (schematic design through construction closeout) for architectural projects valued from small renovations to multi‑million‑dollar commercial, institutional, or residential programs, ensuring scope, schedule and budget are met.
  • Develop, update and drive project schedules using MS Project or Primavera; identify critical path activities, allocate resources, sequence design and construction packages, and report progress to clients and executives weekly.
  • Prepare, manage and control project budgets and forecasts, perform cost verification and change order reviews, coordinate with estimating teams, and implement cost‑saving strategies while protecting design intent and quality.
  • Manage client relationships as the principal point of contact: lead client meetings, present design and progress updates, negotiate scope changes, and translate client goals into measurable deliverables.
  • Coordinate, direct and integrate multidisciplinary teams (architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, cost consultants, and specialty vendors) to ensure design integration, constructability and buildability reviews.
  • Oversee contract administration and procurement: prepare and review RFPs, RFIs, contracts, subcontracts, and professional service agreements; collaborate with legal and procurement to ensure commercial terms, insurance and bond requirements are satisfied.
  • Maintain rigorous quality control and QA/QC processes for design documents and construction deliverables; lead design reviews, markups, and redlines to ensure compliance with client standards and industry best practices.
  • Ensure compliance with building codes, zoning, permitting processes, ADA, fire and life safety requirements and local authority having jurisdiction; coordinate permit applications and inspections.
  • Implement and maintain BIM/Revit workflows across project teams: set BIM execution plans, manage federated models, conduct clash detection and coordinate model deliverables with consultants and contractors.
  • Lead bid process and procurement strategy: evaluate bids, manage bidder Q&A, negotiate award recommendations, and support contract negotiation with selected contractors.
  • Oversee site observation and construction administration: conduct regular site visits, prepare field reports, issue clarifications and RFI responses, and collaborate with contractors to resolve construction issues promptly.
  • Drive change management: evaluate proposed scope modifications, quantify time and cost impacts, prepare change orders, and obtain client approvals while minimizing project disruption.
  • Identify, monitor and mitigate project risks through proactive risk registers, contingency planning, and cross‑discipline coordination to protect schedule and budget.
  • Develop and present monthly project performance reports, earned value analysis, and KPI dashboards to internal leadership and clients to enable data‑driven decision making.
  • Mentor and lead project teams: delegate tasks, define roles and responsibilities, conduct performance reviews, and foster professional development for junior architects and project staff.
  • Enforce health, safety, environmental and sustainability standards on site and in design; coordinate with EHS and sustainability consultants to achieve LEED, WELL or other green building certifications where applicable.
  • Manage closeout and turnover: prepare as-built drawings, O&M manuals, warranties and commissioning documentation, coordinate owner training and deliver final project acceptance packages.
  • Facilitate value engineering and constructability assessments during design phases to optimize materials, systems and construction sequences while maintaining design quality and client objectives.
  • Drive communication and stakeholder engagement plans for complex projects, including public outreach, community meetings, and coordination with municipal agencies and utilities.
  • Oversee documentation control and information management: ensure proper transmittal, versioning and archiving of drawings, specifications, contracts and correspondence across platforms like Procore, BIM 360 or SharePoint.
  • Lead schedule recovery and acceleration efforts when projects fall behind, applying resource reallocation, phased delivery, fast‑track construction techniques and contractor coordination.
  • Coordinate specialty consultants (structural, MEP, landscape, acoustics, security, IT, facades) to integrate technical systems into cohesive design and construction sequences.
  • Ensure consistent application of firm standards, design guidelines and brand requirements across projects and mentor teams on best practices in design delivery and client service.

Secondary Functions

  • Support firm business development by preparing proposals, scopes, budgets and participating in client interviews and presentations to win new architectural project assignments.
  • Contribute to practice-level process improvement: refine templates, checklists, BIM standards, and project management workflows to increase delivery efficiency and reduce rework.
  • Maintain and develop strategic vendor and contractor relationships to support preferred procurement channels and improved pricing/terms.
  • Partner with sustainability and commissioning teams to support energy modeling, materials selection and performance tracking to meet client sustainability goals.
  • Coordinate training sessions for staff on project management tools, BIM standards, code updates and internal procedures.
  • Participate in internal resourcing and staffing decisions, advising on workload distribution and hiring needs for the project delivery group.
  • Support post-occupancy evaluations and client feedback loops to capture lessons learned and drive continuous improvement in future projects.
  • Assist in claims avoidance and dispute resolution by maintaining clear documentation, meeting minutes and contract records; work with legal teams as needed.
  • Oversee project-specific permitting and utility coordination efforts, including easements, inspections and municipal reviews.
  • Champion digital transformation initiatives for project delivery, including adoption of cloud collaboration tools, virtual design review and mobile site inspection platforms.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Project scheduling and control: advanced proficiency with MS Project, Primavera P6, or equivalent to create and manage complex project timelines.
  • Cost management and estimating: experience with cost models, budget tracking, change order analysis and working with independent estimators.
  • Contract administration: strong knowledge of AIA contracts (owner‑architect, contractor agreements), design‑build, CMAR, and construction law basics.
  • Building codes and regulations: deep familiarity with IBC, local building codes, ADA, life safety, accessibility, and permitting workflows.
  • BIM and design coordination: expert use of Revit, Navisworks, BIM 360, and clash detection processes for integrated design delivery.
  • Construction administration: field observation, RFI management, submittal review, punch lists and closeout deliverables.
  • Technical documentation: ability to develop and review construction documents, specifications and technical reports with high attention to detail.
  • Quality assurance and QA/QC systems: setup and enforcement of document control, review cycles and design quality checks.
  • Sustainability and performance: knowledge of LEED, WELL, Passive House or other sustainability frameworks and experience coordinating certification processes.
  • Procurement and vendor management: RFP development, bid evaluation, subcontractor scope definition and procurement strategies.

Soft Skills

  • Client relationship management and negotiation skills; ability to represent the firm professionally with owners and stakeholders.
  • Leadership and team development: mentoring, conflict resolution, delegation and performance management of project teams.
  • Communication and presentation: articulate in written reports, proposals, and oral presentations to diverse audiences including municipal boards and C‑suite clients.
  • Problem solving and decision making under pressure with a pragmatic, solution‑oriented mindset.
  • Time management and prioritization across concurrent multi‑project workloads.
  • Attention to detail while maintaining a strategic view of project goals and outcomes.
  • Adaptability and resilience in fast‑paced construction environments and evolving project constraints.
  • Collaboration and stakeholder facilitation to align design, construction and owner objectives.
  • Risk assessment and mitigation aptitude to foresee construction sequencing and procurement challenges.
  • Cultural and team inclusivity to foster diverse, high‑performing project teams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or equivalent.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Architecture, Construction Management, or Business Administration (MBA); professional licensure (Registered Architect - RA) or architect registration candidate preferred.
  • Certifications such as PMP, AIA, LEED AP, CCM, or equivalent are strongly preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Architecture
  • Construction Management
  • Civil or Architectural Engineering
  • Project Management
  • Sustainable Design

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 6–15+ years of progressive architectural and project management experience, with at least 4–6 years leading full‑scope design and construction projects.

Preferred:

  • 8+ years as a Project Architect or Project Manager managing commercial, institutional, healthcare, education, multifamily or mixed‑use projects.
  • Demonstrated experience with BIM coordination, large team leadership, multi‑phase projects, and delivering projects under design‑build, CMAR or IPD delivery models.
  • Proven track record of delivering projects on time and on budget, strong references from clients and contractors, and experience navigating municipal permitting and stakeholder approval processes.
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