Project Manager - Sydney

Populous; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Populous in Sydney is seeking an experienced architectural Project Manager to oversee delivery of complex projects. You will partner with Directors and project leads, coordinate internal teams and external clients to ensure on-time, on-budget, contract-compliant outcomes across APAC regions.

You will drive planning, risk management and governance, mentor the project management team, and contribute to capability development while maintaining quality and sustainability standards.

Qualifications

• Proven project management experience within the AEC industry, with architectural experience desirable.
• Strong commercial and delivery acumen, including budgets, programmes and stakeholders.
• Solid understanding of contracts, risk management and change control.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and external consultants.
• Proficient in project scheduling tools; MS Project experience advantageous.
• Proficient with MS Office and InDesign.
• PMP certification or equivalent is desirable but not essential.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Proactive, collaborative, solutions-focused with independent work ability.

Responsibilities

• Lead project planning, programming, delivery and reporting to ensure projects meet scope, programme, budget, quality and contractual requirements.
• Develop and maintain project workplans, schedules and deliverables, proactively managing risks, issues and dependencies throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support project leaders in managing project financial performance, including fee tracking, forecasting, profitability, invoicing and Work in Progress (WIP) reporting.
• Coordinate project resourcing requirements and work with project leaders and operational teams to maintain appropriate staffing levels throughout project delivery.
• Manage project governance processes, including project reporting, action tracking, risk management and stakeholder communications.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants and project stakeholders, managing expectations and facilitating effective communication.
• Administer project contracts and support compliance with contractual obligations, deliverables and reporting requirements, and effectively apply contractual processes for invoicing.
• Manage project change control processes, including scope changes, variations, additional services, programme impacts, and submitting contractual notices.
• Procure, brief and manage sub-consultants, including agreements, scope, deliverables, performance and invoicing.
• Support technical leads during design and construction phases by coordinating project information, consultant inputs, contract administration activities and project communications.
• Participate in design and technical coordination discussions to ensure commercial, programme and delivery considerations are effectively integrated into project decision-making.
• Contribute to bid submissions, project set-up activities and the development of project delivery strategies, programmes and service delivery plans.
• Maintain Project Management Plans and support compliance with quality management systems, Integrated Management Systems and ISO certification requirements.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of project management capability, processes and best practice across the APAC region.

Skills

Project management experience (AEC)

Commercial and delivery acumen

Contracts, risk management & change

Multidisciplinary coordination

Planning & scheduling (MS Project)

MS Office & InDesign proficiency

PMP or equivalent (desirable)

Communication & stakeholder management

Organisational skills & attention to 8

Proactive, collaborative, independent

Tools

MS Project

MS Office

InDesign

Job description

We are seeking a skilled architectural Project Manager to join our Sydney studio. This is a pivotal role where you will oversee the management and performance of projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to contractual standards.

As a Project Manager at Populous, you will work closely with our Directors, project leads, internal teams across the region, and external clients to drive successful outcomes. You’ll combine strong organisational skills with collaborative leadership, playing a key role in maintaining quality and efficiency while supporting the development and growth of our broader project management team and capability.

About us at Populous

At Populous, our teams design the places where people love to be together. From stadiums and arenas to convention centres, airports, mixed-use developments, and entertainment precincts, we have delivered many of the world’s most iconic and community-defining projects.

With projects spanning Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas, we bring global expertise and local insight to every design. Our Sydney team is central to this network, delivering impactful projects locally and across the region with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and community.

Why Populous

We don’t consider ourselves just another architecture and design practice. At Populous, we believe our strength lies in our people and their diversity of experiences. Across APAC, our team represents over 35 nationalities, and we actively celebrate and support this.

We provide our people with:

• The opportunity to lead projects of global significance in Sydney and across APAC
• A collaborative international network of experts and design leaders
• Career development opportunities, including leadership training, mentorship, and global mobility
• A vibrant workplace culture where creativity, collaboration, and innovation are valued
• An environment where everyone can be themselves and grow their careers in any direction they want, all while being in an inclusive and supportive workplace
• Oh, and we’re recognised as one of the best places to work in Australia! We’ve been recognised as a Work180 Top 101 Employer for Women two years in a row, winners of two Work180 Workplace awards and recognised as a HRD 5 Star Employer!

What will you be engaged in?

As a Project Manager, you will:

• Lead project planning, programming, delivery and reporting to ensure projects meet scope, programme, budget, quality and contractual requirements.
• Develop and maintain project workplans, schedules and deliverables, proactively managing risks, issues and dependencies throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support project leaders in managing project financial performance, including fee tracking, forecasting, profitability, invoicing and Work in Progress (WIP) reporting.
• Coordinate project resourcing requirements and work with project leaders and operational teams to maintain appropriate staffing levels throughout project delivery.
• Manage project governance processes, including project reporting, action tracking, risk management and stakeholder communications.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants and project stakeholders, managing expectations and facilitating effective communication.
• Administer project contracts and support compliance with contractual obligations, deliverables and reporting requirements, and effectively apply contractual processes for invoicing.
• Manage project change control processes, including scope changes, variations, additional services, programme impacts, and submitting contractual notices.
• Procure, brief and manage sub-consultants, including agreements, scope, deliverables, performance and invoicing.
• Support technical leads during design and construction phases by coordinating project information, consultant inputs, contract administration activities and project communications.
• Participate in design and technical coordination discussions to ensure commercial, programme and delivery considerations are effectively integrated into project decision-making.
• Contribute to bid submissions, project set-up activities and the development of project delivery strategies, programmes and service delivery plans.
• Maintain Project Management Plans and support compliance with quality management systems, Integrated Management Systems and ISO certification requirements.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of project management capability, processes and best practice across the APAC region.

What we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• Proven project management experience within the AEC industry, with architectural experience, or adjacent, highly desirable.
• Strong commercial and delivery acumen, with experience managing project performance, budgets, programmes and stakeholder expectations.
• Sound understanding of project contracts, risk management and change control processes.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing external consultants.
• Strong planning and programme management skills; experience with project scheduling tools, including MS Project, is advantageous.
• High-level proficiency in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), and InDesign.
• PMP certification (or equivalent) is desirable but not essential.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to work independently, influence outcomes and contribute effectively as part of a team.

At Populous, we’re not only looking for technical skills but also for people who share our passion for creating places where communities come together.

We design the places that bring people together — and we know that happens best when our own team reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage people of all identities, abilities, and lived experiences to apply and join us in shaping the future of design.