Project Manager

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM); San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Hybrid schedule

Paid family leave

Paid vacation

Caregiver support

Employee assistance

Professional development

Job summary

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) in San Francisco seeks an Experienced Architectural Project Lead to guide multiple projects with SOM Partners, aligning design, technical, and financial goals. The role manages client agreements, labor allocation, risk, and internal controls, while leading meetings and ensuring on-time delivery, sustainability, and collaboration across disciplines.

Applicants should have a professional architecture degree, licensure, LEED preferred, and 10+ years' leadership

Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture.
• Licensed in state of practice; LEED accreditation preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience or equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• General understanding of sustainable strategies and principles, including familiarity with LEED or other green building rating systems.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead project teams and manage project schedule, budget, and program.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Leads the Architectural Project Team through close collaboration with SOM Partners project leadership to achieve design, technical, and financial success.
• Prepares quality agreements with clients, including letters of intent, memoranda of understanding, and professional service agreements.
• Executes additional service agreements and gains authorization by phase.
• Collaborates with Partners and senior team to prepare, issue, and manage compliance plans to align project goals, including budget, deliverables, and schedule.
• Gains agreement with the senior team for labor allocation.
• Chairs weekly team meetings to address variances from the project plan.
• Administers internal control procedures with Project Accountant, including billing, collections, percent complete, expense management, and year‑end activities.
• Analyzes project reports and proactively manages the profitability of a project.
• Participates actively in project design and technical discussions and decision making.
• Communicates actively through chairing weekly meetings, issuing meeting minutes, accurate project record keeping, and sharing project information and correspondence.
• Manages owner/client relationship and expectations to allow SOM and team to work effectively, efficiently, and collaboratively.
• Actively leads new business and marketing efforts, including responses to marketing requests and maintenance of firm relationships.
• Initiates, monitors, and maintains project schedule and work plan, including meetings and presentations.
• Schedules and leads internal team weekly project meetings; develops the meeting agenda and project status update.
• Initiates and maintains SOM‑Client Services Agreement, SOM Sub‑Consultant Agreements, and requests for additional services.
• Monitors scope for contract compliance and potential additional services.
• Actively engages in project risk management through close collaboration with SOM Partners and legal group.

Skills

Project leadership

Verbal & written communication

Budget & schedule management

Microsoft Office

Smartsheets

Adobe Suite

Google Workspace

Deltek Vision

Salesforce

Education

Professional degree in Architecture

Licensed in state of practice

LEED accreditation preferred

Tools

Deltek Vision

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Smartsheets

Adobe Suite

Google Workspace

Job description

Position Responsibilities

• Leads the Architectural Project Team through close collaboration with SOM Partners project leadership to achieve design, technical, and financial success.
• Prepares quality agreements with clients, including letters of intent, memoranda of understanding, and professional service agreements.
• Executes additional service agreements and gains authorization by phase.
• Collaborates with Partners and senior team to prepare, issue, and manage compliance plans to align project goals, including budget, deliverables, and schedule.
• Gains agreement with the senior team for labor allocation.
• Chairs weekly team meetings to address variances from the project plan.
• Administers internal control procedures with Project Accountant, including billing, collections, percent complete, expense management, and year‑end activities.
• Analyzes project reports and proactively manages the profitability of a project.
• Participates actively in project design and technical discussions and decision making.
• Communicates actively through chairing weekly meetings, issuing meeting minutes, accurate project record keeping, and sharing project information and correspondence.
• Manages owner/client relationship and expectations to allow SOM and team to work effectively, efficiently, and collaboratively.
• Actively leads new business and marketing efforts, including responses to marketing requests and maintenance of firm relationships.
• Initiates, monitors, and maintains project schedule and work plan, including meetings and presentations.
• Schedules and leads internal team weekly project meetings; develops the meeting agenda and project status update.
• Initiates and maintains SOM‑Client Services Agreement, SOM Sub‑Consultant Agreements, and requests for additional services.
• Monitors scope for contract compliance and potential additional services.
• Actively engages in project risk management through close collaboration with SOM Partners and legal group.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Actively leads multiple projects and teams.
• Established as an office‑wide resource in an area of expertise for market, discipline, or department.
• Directly supervises, trains, and mentors team members.
• Engages in talent strategy to find specialists, leaders, and future professionals for the firm through resume review, interviews, and leveraging personal network.
• Demonstrates leadership in the implementation of sustainable strategies in all project assignments and the associated development of staff knowledge.
• Creates and drives new ways of working through contributing to the development of services, standards, procedures based in an understanding of the business principles that protect SOM from financial and legal risk.

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture.
• Licensed in state of practice; LEED accreditation preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience or equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• General understanding of sustainable strategies and principles, including familiarity with LEED or other green building rating systems.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead project teams and manage project schedule, budget, and program.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Smartsheets, Adobe Suite, and Google Workspace.
• Familiarity with Deltek Vision, Salesforce.

Benefits

• Health and Wellness: medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance.
• 401(k) matching, pre‑tax spending accounts, and employee discount programs.
• Hybrid/flexible schedules, paid family leave, paid vacation, backup child and elder care, and an employee assistance program.
• Professional development: reimbursement for professional licenses, renewals, exam fees, and specialized in‑house career development.
• Compensation based on experience, qualifications, location, and education, typically ranging from $120,000 to $170,000.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Applicants in California have access to additional information, including a privacy notice, as required by state law.