Assistant Project Manager

DesignGroup; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

DesignGroup in Pittsburgh, PA, seeks an Assistant Project Manager to bridge the gap between project architecture and full PM duties. This development-focused role offers hands-on leadership, structured mentorship, and progressive ownership over 1–2 years.

The APM supports project delivery, client communications, and coordination across disciplines, with increasing independence as readiness grows. Ideal candidates hold a professional architecture degree and want to grow into PM leadership.

Qualifications

• Professional degree in architecture and licensure considerations as a baseline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in architecture.
• Experience coordinating across multiple disciplines and project workflows.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist PM with planning, developing, and maintaining project schedules.
• Support creation of agendas, materials, presentations, and deliverables.
• Prepare, track, and distribute meeting minutes and follow‑up items.
• Maintain project documentation, logs, coordination files, and task lists.
• Support quality control by reviewing documents for consistency and completeness.
• Lead defined workstreams or smaller project components with PM oversight.
• Assist with risk identification and mitigation planning.
• Support proposal development and coordination for project pursuits.
• Assist with coordination between design disciplines, engineering consultants, and internal team members.
• Track consultant deliverables, deadlines, and alignment to project scope.
• Support PM with communication to regulatory agencies and permitting entities.
• Assist with monitoring project budgets and resource allocation.
• Support invoice preparation, AR tracking, and financial documentation.
• Review fee trends and flag issues or variances for PM attention.
• Prepare client correspondence, draft communications, and organize deliverables.
• Participate in select project meetings; occasionally stand in for PM when appropriate.
• Support client expectations through clear communication and proactive task follow‑through.
• Participate in structured mentorship and monthly progress reviews.
• Demonstrate growth in leadership, coordination, and project ownership.

Skills

Organization

Communication

Task management

Problem solving

Leadership interest

Scheduling

Budget tracking

Client coordination

Education

Bachelor of Architecture

Professional degree in architecture

Tools

Revit

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

The Assistant Project Manager is a development-focused role designed for a Project Architect who is aspiring to transition into full Project Manager responsibilities. This role provides hands‑on project leadership experience, structured mentorship, and progressive ownership of project management tasks within a 1–2 year development framework.

The APM supports the Project Manager in delivering projects on time, within budget, and aligned with DesignGroup’s expectations for exceptional client service and project quality. Through coordinated mentorship with an assigned Champion, the APM gains exposure to core PM competencies—schedule management, client communication, financial literacy, consultant coordination, and leadership of project workflows—with increasing independence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Project Delivery Support

• Assist the PM with planning, developing, and maintaining project schedules.
• Support creation of agendas, meeting materials, presentations, and deliverables.
• Prepare, track, and distribute meeting minutes and follow‑up action items.
• Maintain project documentation, including logs, coordination files, and task lists.
• Support quality control by reviewing documents for consistency and completeness.
• Lead defined workstreams or smaller project components with PM oversight.
• Assist with risk identification and mitigation planning.
• Support proposal development and coordination for project pursuits.

Consultant & Team Coordination

• Assist with coordination between design disciplines, engineering consultants, and internal team members.
• Track consultant deliverables, deadlines, and alignment to project scope.
• Support the PM with communication to regulatory agencies and permitting entities.

Project Financial Support

• Assist with monitoring project budgets and resource allocation.
• Support invoice preparation, AR tracking, and financial documentation.
• Review fee trends and flag issues or variances for PM attention.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Prepare client correspondence, draft communications, and organize deliverables.
• Participate in select project meetings; occasionally stand in for PM when appropriate.
• Support client expectations through clear communication and proactive task follow‑through.

Professional Development

• Participate in structured mentorship with an assigned Champion aligned to the PA - PM competency model.
• Engage in monthly check‑ins and milestone reviews to track progress toward PM readiness.
• Demonstrate consistent growth in leadership, coordination, communication, and project ownership.

Requirements:

Education and/or Experience

• A professional degree (Bachelor of Architecture, or a related field) from an accredited program is a minimum requirement.
• 5+ years of professional experience in architecture.
• Strong understanding of design documentation, drawing sets, and project workflows.
• Experience coordinating across multiple disciplines.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow‑through.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Previous exposure to CA, scheduling, or budget tracking.
• Demonstrated interest in project management, team leadership, or client‑facing roles.
• Experience with consultant coordination or leading smaller components of a project.
• Proficiency in industry‑standard design tools (Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite) and Microsoft Office is a must.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Architectural Registration – required
• LEED AP – preferred
• PMC or PSMJ Project Manager Certification - preferred

Other Skills and Abilities

• Strong organization, communication, and follow‑through.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with shifting priorities.
• Proactive problem‑solver who takes initiative and seeks clarity.
• Effective collaborator with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable learning new processes, tools, and project workflows.
• Demonstrated interest in leadership and growth into PM responsibilities.