Project Architect - Federal

Huitt-Zollars•Alexandria, VA

12h•$138,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

Huitt-Zollars is seeking a full-time Project Architect / Project Manager with approximately eight or more years of professional experience to support the Federal Practice in its Alexandria, Virginia (NCR) office. This position will contribute to the planning, design, documentation, coordination, and construction-phase delivery of projects for federal and Department of Defense clients. The successful candidate will work closely with senior project managers, technical leaders, discipline leads, and client representatives while developing the leadership and management skills needed to assume increasing responsibility for federal projects. The ideal candidate will bring strong architectural production and coordination experience, sound knowledge of building systems and construction documentation, and familiarity with federal design and construction requirements. Experience in supporting agencies such as NAVFAC, USACE, GSA, or other federal clients is preferred. The position may support secure or mission-driven facilities and requires an individual who can organize assignments, communicate clearly, collaborate across disciplines, and reliably meet project requirements. As an employee-owner, the successful candidate will support Huitt-Zollars’ mission and core values while consistently following key business processes, including timekeeping, resource planning, percent-complete tracking, quality control, project financial awareness, and timely communication of risks or issues.

Requirements

Approximately eight or more years of professional architectural experience in an A/E, design, or design-build environment.
Experience supporting the planning, design, documentation, or construction administration of institutional, public-sector, or federal facilities.
Familiarity with UFC and UFGS requirements and the ability to learn, interpret, and apply project-specific federal criteria with guidance from senior project leadership.
Experience coordinating architectural work with multidisciplinary engineering teams and specialty consultants.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance if required by project assignments. U.S. citizenship may be required for clearance eligibility and access to certain federal projects.
Ability to manage assigned tasks and smaller projects, organize competing priorities, and meet established deadlines.
Strong understanding of architectural project delivery, building systems, construction documents, specifications, and construction-phase services.
Proficiency in Revit required; familiarity with AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and other A/E design and collaboration tools is a plus.
Clear verbal, written, graphic, organizational, and presentation skills.
Ability to interact professionally with government clients, end users, consultants, contractors, teaming partners, and internal staff.
Ability to travel to federal client sites and project locations as required.

Nice To Haves

Federal project experience preferred, particularly with Department of Defense agencies such as NAVFAC or USACE, GSA, or other civilian federal agencies.
Experience with design-build or other alternative project delivery methods preferred.
Familiarity with secure-facility requirements, antiterrorism/force protection, ICD/ICS 705, TEMPEST, CUI, or other mission-specific criteria is a plus.
Familiarity with project and document management platforms such as Microsoft Project, Vantagepoint, Newforma, or similar systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Support senior project managers and technical leaders in the delivery of federal projects from planning and design through construction administration and closeout. Manage defined work packages or smaller projects with appropriate oversight.
Develop architectural drawings, specifications, design analyses, reports, presentations, and other project deliverables using established standards and project requirements.
Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, developing and maintaining strong relationships through proactive communication, responsiveness, and understanding of client needs and project goals.
Apply applicable Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC), Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS), agency design manuals, federal accessibility criteria, sustainability requirements, antiterrorism/force protection criteria, and other project-specific standards with guidance from senior technical staff.
Coordinate architectural work with structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, interior design, security, cost, and other specialty disciplines. Participate in interdisciplinary reviews and resolve coordination issues.
Participate in meetings with federal clients, users, installation representatives, consultants, contractors, and design-build partners. Prepare meeting materials, document decisions, and follow through on assigned actions.
Develop task-level work plans and monitor assigned scope, hours, schedule, and progress. Communicate potential variances, constraints, and resource needs to project leadership in a timely manner.
Perform self-checks and participate in peer and interdisciplinary quality reviews. Incorporate review comments and verify that assigned deliverables comply with contract requirements, applicable criteria, codes, and firm standards.
Assist with submittal and RFI reviews, field observations, meeting documentation, punch lists, change evaluation, and other construction administration activities.
Support performance-based and prescriptive design-build projects, including RFP review, design development, contractor coordination, constructability review, and preparation of compliant project deliverables.
Follow applicable procedures for safeguarding sensitive project information, including Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and coordinate with project security personnel when assigned to controlled or classified projects.
Assist with SF 330 updates, resumes, project descriptions, technical narratives, graphics, fee development inputs, and interview preparation for federal pursuits.
Coordinate the work of junior staff on assigned tasks, provide technical guidance, share knowledge, and contribute to a collaborative and accountable team environment.
Continue developing federal project delivery, technical leadership, client communication, project management, and business development skills in preparation for greater project responsibility.