Director of Project Management (Practice Director) San Francisco, CA

Rapt Studio; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Unlimited paid time off (PTO)

401K with employer contribution

Phone stipend

Referral bonus

Job summary

Rapt Studio in San Francisco is seeking a Director of Project Management to provide strategic oversight and enhance project delivery practices. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience managing complex projects in architecture or design, showcasing exceptional leadership and organizational skills.

Responsibilities include advising project teams, managing budgets, and ensuring excellence in delivery across all projects. The role offers a competitive salary between $125,000 to $180,000, along with generous benefits including unlimited PTO and medical insurance options.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience managing architecture or professional services projects.
• Strong understanding of project schedules, budgets, and delivery strategies.
• Proven ability to monitor financial performance for projects.

Responsibilities

• Advise project teams and studio leadership on project delivery.
• Manage scope, budgets, schedules, and contracts.
• Elevate project delivery excellence across the organization.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Organizational skills

Financial performance monitoring

Job description

About Us

Rapt is an award-winning design and strategy studio that helps leading brands navigate the complex challenges of this ever‑changing world. With locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York — and with clients spanning the globe — we bring fresh thinking and a highly customized approach to each and every partnership. Our interdisciplinary teams blend architecture, interior design, brand experience, graphic design, and strategic thinking into holistic solutions that further our clients’ missions. Our agile approach earned us the distinction of being named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.

We’re a studio built on connection. The best work happens shoulder‑to‑shoulder—pin‑ups, workshops, model reviews—because ideas move faster in person. We work hybrid: three days together in the studio, with more as projects demand. We value flexibility, but this role isn’t remote; candidates must be local to one of our studios and available onsite regularly.

About the Role

The Director of Project Management serves as a trusted advisor to project teams and studio leadership, bringing structure, clarity, and strategic oversight to project delivery. This role is responsible for advancing project management best practices across the studio while helping teams successfully manage scope, budgets, schedules, contracts, and risk.

The ideal candidate combines deep industry experience with strong business acumen and a passion for operational excellence. Success in this role is not measured by the projects you personally manage, but by your ability to elevate project delivery excellence across the entire organization.

We're looking for someone who is:

• Decisive and comfortable holding teams accountable to agreed‑upon processes and commitments.
• Exceptionally organized and operationally rigororous.
• A trusted advisor to project teams and studio leadership on project execution, financial performance, and delivery strategy.
• Organized and capable of overseeing multiple efforts simultaneously.
• A clear and direct communicator capable of connecting with project teams and studio leaders.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience managing architecture, interior design, workplace, or other complex professional services projects.
• Demonstrated success leading projects through all phases of design, documentation, construction, and closeout.
• Extensive experience developing and managing project schedules, budgets, staffing plans, and delivery strategies.
• Strong understanding of professional services contracts, scopes of work, fee structures, change management, and liability considerations.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating proposals, contracts, and consultant agreements.
• Proven ability to monitor project financial performance, including fee management, forecasting, profitability, and project billing.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with studio staffing, resource planning, or team formation within a creative or design‑driven organization.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate team composition and align talent to project needs, leadership structures, and client requirements.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to anticipate future staffing needs, capacity constraints, and organizational challenges.
• Strong interpersonal judgment and ability to navigate competing priorities while building alignment among diverse stakeholders.

Compensation is based on relevant experience and qualifications. Salary for this role is estimated between $125,000 to $180,000 plus benefits and bonuses.

Rapt also offers a generous relocation package for eligible candidates.

Benefits and Perks

• Generous options for medical, dental, vision insurance
• Location flexibility and unlimited paid time off (PTO)
• Tax‑deferred savings through FSA, parking and transit allocations
• 401K with employer contribution
• Complimentary One Medical memberships
• New hire referral bonus
• Phone stipend