Architecture Project Manager: Construction Administration

lpadesignstudios; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship from senior leaders

Professional development grants

LPA+U courses and Tech Talks

Volunteer time (8 hours/year)

Community projects funding (Habitat, 1

Job summary

LPA is actively seeking an Architecture Project Manager (Construction Administration focus) to join our Education Studio in California. You will oversee construction administration, coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, and ensure project goals align with sustainable, high-performance design values.

You’ll manage client relationships, lead bid/award activities, monitor budgets and schedules, and mentor staff across California and Texas studios.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Architecture is required.
• Licensed Architect in California and DSA experience preferred.
• Strong project management, budget, scheduling, and client coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• You will serve as the prime point of contact onsite to manage projects through construction.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, AHJs, contractors, consultants, and team members.
• Lead the Bid and Award phase, review substitutions, respond to RFI, issue addenda, and process with AHJ.
• Oversee contract administration, QA/QC of documents, change orders, pay apps, and submittals.
• Perform on-site observations, interpret design intent, and resolve field issues promptly.
• Attend construction meetings and document punch lists and close-out deliverables.
• Manage project billing, revenue, staffing projections, and staff planning.
• Mentor staff on CA procedures and project processes.

Skills

Project management

Budget & scheduling

Stakeholder coordination

Construction Administration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Architecture

Licensed Architect in California

Public K-14 / DSA experience

Tools

Revit

Blue Beam

Microsoft Excel

Newforma Project Center

Job description

Join the 2025 AIA Firm Award Winner shaping a more sustainable future.

LPA is a collective of designers, engineers, and researchers committed to tackling the biggest issues of our time. Our \"No Excuses\" integrated design approach was recognized by the AIA as “a trailblazer in sustainable, high-performance architecture\". At LPA you’ll be part of the team that is changing the way the industry thinks about design and carbon emissions, built around the belief that we only achieve our goals when everybody has a seat at the table and all input is valued.

We’re currently seeking an Architecture Project Manager (Construction Administration focus) to join our dynamic Education Studio. You’ll be part of a culture that values deep collaboration, technical excellence, and continual growth. Our Education studio is committed to creating engaging environments that put 21st century skills at the center of learning. We have completed projects such as Environmental Nature Center Preschool, Tarbut V'Torah and Eastvale STEM Academy. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across our studios in California and Texas—and help bring high-performance, community-first design to life.

What you will do:

• You will be working onsite with one of our clients as the prime point of contact to see one of our projects through the entirety of construction.

• Maintain excellent relationships with the client and their stakeholders, contractors, Agencies Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), consultants, subconsultants and team members.

• Lead and manage the team during the Bid and Award Phase including attending pre-bid meetings and site walks, reviewing substitution requests, answering Contractor inquiries and issuing addenda, and processing the addenda through the appropriate AHJ.

• Manage and direct all activities related to project construction contract administration, including, but not limited to, quality assurance/quality control of Contract Documents, team management, client communication, field observation reports, review of change orders, pay application review and processing, RFI review and answers, submittal review and tracking, information management/document control, and project closeout.

• Perform, and oversee if performed by others, on-site observations and document findings.

• Understand project detail and design intent with the ability to interpret and resolve issues in the field expeditiously.

• Attend construction meetings.

• Perform punch walks and document findings.

• Review close out documents including as-built drawings, warranties, operation and maintenance manuals, etc.

• Determine dates for substantial completion and warranty commencement.

• Manage client billing process and project finances, including revenue and staffing projections.

• Mentor and communicate with LPA staff regarding CA procedures and project processes.

• Prepare project schedules, additional service proposals, budgets, work plans, etc. and staff/team planning.

• Review contractual and financial documents including the Owner-Architect Agreement and Owner-Contractor Agreement.

• Serve as the Architect of Record. Affix professional stamp and signature to all required project documentation.

What We Offer:

At LPA, your growth and contributions matter. We foster a collaborative culture where creative ideas are valued, and voices are heard.

• Mentorship from Managing Directors, Design Directors, and senior team members across disciplines.

• Career development support, including professional development grants and in-house training.

• Ongoing education through LPA+U courses and Tech Talks focused on innovative, sustainable practices.

• 8 paid hours of volunteer time each year.

• Opportunities to propose and lead projects that impact your local community, including more than $1 million since 2015 in Habitat for Humanity builds, scholarships, and other pro bono community projects.

• Access to our Professional Development Grants program, created to encourage professional development and further LPA's collective knowledge as a firm. Over the life of the grant program, we have invested $1,196,890 and impacted 848 LPA employees.

What We're Looking For:

Required:

• Bachelor’s and/or Master’s Degree in Architecture

• 10+ years of experience in all phases of design projects.

• 5+ years of recent and relevant Construction Administration experience

• Licensed Architect in California

• Public K-14 / DSA (Division of the State Architect) experience; must have completed at least one project through DSA closeout and certification

• Knowledge in management of project business: scope, fee, schedule, work plans and budget

Preferred:

• Proficiency in Revit, Blue Beam, Microsoft Excel and Newforma Project Center

LPA is an integrated design firm with offices in California and Texas. We specialize in creating innovative, sustainable environments that work better, do more with less and improve people’s lives. We provide a vibrant and rewarding work environment—one that values and fosters creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, community engagement and ongoing career development and growth. LPA is also committed to diversity, wellness and work-life balance. LPA offers competitive salaries and generous benefits, including health and dental insurance, retirement and financial, wellness and other work/life plans.

This position is eligible for an annual bonus. If you are hired at LPA, your base salary is based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, experience and/or project complexity. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as part of any final offer.

LPA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires.