Construction Administrator

LPW Architecture; Great Falls (MT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Success-sharing bonus program

401(k) matching contribution

Paid parental leave

Medical insurance

PTO

Short- and long-term disability programs

Job summary

A prominent architecture firm is seeking a full-time Construction Administrator to oversee the final phase of architectural projects in Great Falls, Montana. This role requires managing site visits, ensuring design integrity, and handling project documentation. The ideal candidate should have a bachelor’s degree and 3–10 years of relevant experience. The position offers a salary range of $70,000 to $100,000, with various benefits including a success-sharing bonus program and paid parental leave.

Qualifications

• 3–10 years of experience in architectural design, construction administration, or construction management.
• Ability to read and understand contract document submittal requirements.
• CSI CDT or CCCA certifications are highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct regular site visits to verify work aligns with construction documents.
• Review construction documents prior to issuance of final drawings.
• Manage and review submittal packages for compliance.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Organizational abilities

Written and verbal communication

Problem-solving

Multitasking

Diplomacy and negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Construction Management, or related field

Tools

Bluebeam Revu

Procore

Newforma

Revit

Job description

Role Description

We are seeking a full-time position for Construction Administrator; general duties and qualifications listed below. This position requires periodic site visits to construction sites across Montana.

The Construction Administrator oversees the final phase of the architectural process, managing the project from groundbreaking through final occupancy. Unlike a contractor’s project manager, this role represents both the architect’s and owner’s interests, ensuring design integrity, code compliance, and minimizing risk and delays throughout the project.

Key qualifications include exceptional attention to detail, strong time management and organizational abilities, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and proven problem-solving and multitasking capabilities. The ideal candidate is a collaborative team player with a professional work ethic, a desire to learn and grow, and the initiative to work independently.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Experience: Ideally, 3–10 years of experience in architectural design, construction administration or construction management.
• Technical Proficiency: Mastery of Bluebeam Revu, Procore, or Newforma for document tracking, and familiarity with Revit for drawing review.
• Contracts: Ability to read and understand contract document submittal requirements, contractor submittals, and requests for information (RFIs). Familiarity with standard General Conditions of the Construction Contract, Division 00, Contracting Requirements, and Division 01, General Requirements specifications.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional diplomacy and negotiation skills to resolve disputes between contractors, design teams and owners.
• Certifications: CSI CDT (Construction Documents Technologist) or CCCA (Certified Construction Contract Administrator) are highly preferred credentials, but not required.

Key Responsibilities

• Site Observation: Conduct regular site visits to monitor progress, verify that work aligns with construction documents, and identify errors before they become costly.
• Document Review: Review of Construction Documents prior to issuance of final drawings for Permit and Construction. Participate with design team to improving details/specifications and participate in quality control of the firm’s deliverables.
• Submittal Review: Manage and review submittal packages including shop drawings, product data, and material samples to ensure they meet technical specifications. Send submittals to corresponding consultants and manage responses for all parties.
• Clarifications & RFIs: Respond to Requests for Information (RFIs) from contractors and issue Architect’s Supplemental Instructions (ASIs) to resolve field conflicts.
• Cost Management/Estimating: Review and certify Contractor Applications for Payment and manage change order requests to ensure budget adherence. Organize documents related to construction cost for cost estimating purposes of future or ongoing work.
• Quality Control: Prepare detailed field reports documenting site activities and ensure compliance with building codes and safety regulations.
• Project Closeout: Conduct final "punch list" inspections, verify the completion of minor deficiencies, and facilitate the transfer of warranties and manuals to the Owner.
• Contractual Obligations: Have a working knowledge of American Institute of Architects (AIA) and State of Montana construction contracts. Understand key contractual responsibilities of the Design Team during the Construction Administration phase.

Sector-Specific Responsibilities

• Healthcare: Ensure strict compliance with life-safety codes (IBC and NFPA) and troubleshoot complex MEP system coordination.
• Education: Manage project timelines around academic calendars and student/campus safety.
• Industrial & Office: Oversee the installation of specialized equipment in industrial facilities. Understand State requirements for high-performance building standards for energy efficiency, (LEED, Green Globes)
• Multi-Family: Conduct thorough quality control on repetitive unit details to prevent systemic errors across large-scale residential developments. Understand requirements for firestopping between units and other units.

Core Duties

• Field Oversight: Perform site evaluations to verify that construction matches the design intent and approved architectural drawings.
• Technical Review: Process Requests for Information (RFIs) and submittals for shop drawings, material samples, and product data.
• Financial Tracking: Review and certify Contractor Applications for Payment and manage change orders to keep projects within budget. Review and approve Potential Change Orders (PCOs). Issue Proposal Requests (PRs), Supplemental Instructions, and Change Order Requests (CORs)
• Stakeholder Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact between clients, contractors, and the internal design team to resolve field conflicts.
• Project Closeout: Generate "punch lists," verify substantial completion, and organize final warranties and operation manuals.

Salary Information:

Actual compensation will be based upon work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer. Salary range $70,000 to $100,000; additional benefits include; success sharing bonus program, 401(k) matching contribution, paid parental leave, medical insurance, PTO and short- and long-term disability programs.