Assistant Project Manager (Construction Project Coordinator 2)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

As an Assistant Project Manager within the Engineering & Architectural Services Department, you will provide journey-level project management and technical guidance for minor public works facility improvement projects. Working under the supervision of a Senior Project Manager, you will manage small-scale design and construction projects for state agencies and community colleges, ensuring effective cost and risk control measures are in place. Your day-to-day work will involve coordinating multi-disciplinary architectural and engineering plans prepared by private consulting firms, providing general construction oversight and field representation, and serving as a vital collaborative liaison with client agency representatives at your assigned campus facilities.

Requirements

Five (5) years of combined experience and/or education that demonstrates competency in architecture, engineering, or construction management.
Qualifying experience will be in architecture, engineering design, or facility construction, including experience managing capital projects, interpreting design documents, tracking schedules, and ensuring compliance with building codes and regulations.
Qualifying education will be in architecture, engineering, construction management, or related field.
Broad knowledge of architectural, engineering design, and construction management principles, with an emphasis on planning, designing, and estimating costs for public buildings and facilities.
Proven experience managing multiple public works projects concurrently, utilizing alternate procurement and delivery methods, and overseeing construction contract administration.
Deep understanding of federal, state, and local government structures, public works laws, environmental regulations, and building or energy codes.
Strong leadership capability to manage multi-disciplinary teams and build positive, collaborative relationships with internal divisions, clients, contractors, stakeholders, and the public.
Adaptable, strategic thinker with excellent written and verbal communication skills, a professional work ethic, and proficiency in project scheduling and business software.
Able to learn and understand the language and concepts of our DES DEI culture and commit to being a part of creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable, respectful and inclusive workplace.
Demonstrate a commitment to growth, learning and self-awareness when provided training and opportunities to participate in improving our work environment.
Participate and behave in a manner that creates trust and builds working relationships, promoting teamwork and collaboration in the work environment.
Demonstrate the understanding that all people are valued; contribute to an equitable, inclusive and respectful environment when working with members of the group, team, organization or community.
Commit to being an active participant in continually evaluating and improving strategies that promote equity and inclusion in our organization.

Nice To Haves

Experience with budget development, financial processes, and the comprehensive management of design, construction, and project documentation.
Competency in performing QA reviews, constructability checks, and lifecycle cost analyses for architectural, engineering, and landscaping plans.
Ability to interpret and enforce contract requirements, building codes, and industry standards (e.g., NFPA, ASME, ANSI) while ensuring contractor compliance with inspection schedules.
Understanding of regulations for public state-owned lands, construction dispute resolution strategies, and sustainable building practices like LEED Silver and Net-Zero principles.

Responsibilities

Provides comprehensive project support to Senior Project Managers, Campus Operations, and other key stakeholders throughout the construction lifecycle.
Attends and actively participates in construction kick-off and regular progress meetings to monitor project milestones.
Delivers general construction oversight, tracks project progress, and ensures the proper and timely closeout of capital projects and tenant improvements.
Assists in identifying construction or warranty claims and resolving issues related to substantial completion, final completion, and final acceptance.
Collaborates with the Senior Project Manager and Claims and Disputes Manager to evaluate costs, damages, and resolutions related to construction claims and contract disputes.
Manages all phases of project delivery from initial scoping, budgeting, and design through permitting, procurement, construction, and close-out.
Participates actively in scoping, coordination, design, permitting, and construction meetings to ensure successful project execution.
Reviews, evaluates, and approves project invoices, contract amendments, change orders, and field authorizations within seven days of receipt to ensure timely payment and accuracy.
Identifies warranty claims and resolves issues related to substantial completion, final completion, and final acceptance to guarantee proper project close-out.
Maintain project files containing reports and photos on the program's shared drive and work closely with the Senior Project Manager to ensure proper documentation according to established agency standards and protocols.
Other duties as needed.