Project Manager - Architecture & Engineering Design

AlphaX•Dubuque, IA

About The Position

We’re seeking an experienced Project Manager to oversee architecture and engineering (A/E) projects from initial planning through design, permitting, construction administration, and final delivery. The ideal candidate has a strong background managing projects within an architecture, engineering, or multidisciplinary design firm. This role requires hands-on ownership of project budgets, schedules, scope, deliverables, risk management, team performance, and client relationships.

Requirements

5+ years of experience managing architecture, engineering, or multidisciplinary design projects from initiation through permitting and construction.
Previous experience working within an architecture, engineering, or multidisciplinary professional design firm.
Demonstrated responsibility for project scope, schedules, budgets, deliverables, risk management, and client relationships.
Experience directing and coordinating architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and multidisciplinary teams.
Strong understanding of design workflows, permitting requirements, construction documentation, and construction-phase coordination.
Proven ability to manage projects across multiple phases, from design development through final delivery.
Ability to recognize and resolve scope discrepancies, design coordination issues, schedule risks, and budget concerns.
Strong client communication, relationship management, and stakeholder coordination skills.
Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and leadership abilities.
Ability to oversee multiple projects, competing priorities, budgets, and deadlines simultaneously.
Solid understanding of professional services contracts, project deliverables, and design-firm operations.
Candidates must have direct project management and project delivery experience. Applicants whose backgrounds are primarily in project coordination, administrative support, or scheduling will not qualify.

Responsibilities

Manage A/E projects throughout the full project lifecycle, including design, permitting, construction administration, and closeout.
Establish and maintain project scopes, budgets, schedules, work plans, milestones, and deliverable requirements.
Lead multidisciplinary teams of architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and other project stakeholders.
Assign responsibilities, set priorities, and ensure team members remain accountable for deadlines and deliverables.
Track project progress and follow up on outstanding decisions, approvals, submissions, and action items.
Identify scope deficiencies, design conflicts, coordination challenges, scheduling risks, and potential cost overruns.
Work with project teams to resolve technical, design, permitting, and construction-related issues.
Coordinate workflows across design development, engineering, permitting, bidding, and construction.
Organize design reviews, client presentations, milestone submissions, permitting activities, and construction-phase services.
Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, providing project updates, addressing concerns, and maintaining clear expectations.
Ensure project work meets contractual obligations, applicable codes, client requirements, and established quality standards.
Coordinate with contractors and construction teams during construction administration to address field issues and keep projects moving forward.
Maintain accurate project records, including meeting minutes, schedules, budgets, status reports, and other documentation.
Communicate project status, financial performance, risks, schedule changes, and pending decisions to leadership.
Identify opportunities to improve project management practices, internal workflows, documentation, and coordination between disciplines.