Project Manager, Architecture

Carnegie | A Career That Helps Higher Education Thrive

We partner with colleges and universities to create lasting impact—for institutions, students, and the world they’ll shape. At Carnegie, your work contributes to something bigger: advancing opportunity through higher education. We invest in people, not just positions, and build careers that grow with you.

Carnegie Life | Our People & Culture | Benefits

About the Work

Higher education campuses are more than buildings—they are places where learning, connection, and transformation happen. Carnegie's Campus Planning & Architecture team partners with colleges and universities to align mission, strategy, and space, creating environments that support student success and strengthen institutional impact.

Job Purpose:

The Project Manager leads architectural projects for higher education clients (colleges and universities) across the country, from campus and facility planning to conceptual design through construction. This role serves as the primary client liaison, ensuring on-time, on-budget, and high-quality delivery of projects while coordinating internal teams and external consultants. This position will also balance project architect roles and provide technical solutions for other project architects. The position provides the opportunity to shape the student experience through design and grow professionally within a collaborative, small-firm environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Leadership and Client Management

Maintains a project load of 3–4 clients, including leading at least one major projectServes as the primary liaison with clients to ensure satisfaction, timely delivery, and budget alignmentPrepares and manages project proposals and AIA contractsDevelop preliminary construction and project budgetsAssist campus planning team in project management, budget and order-of-magnitude costsProvide your expertise in planning initiatives, assessments, scheduling, and guidance on project alignment and creative problem solving solutionsLeads a client/campus/boards through the project at various phases of designCommunicates project scope, goals, and deliverables to internal team and external partnersProject Execution and Technical Oversight

Manages and monitors project schedules, budgets, and staffing needs across phasesAbility to write and coordinate specifications via MasterspecLeads the coordination of consultants and internal team members throughout design and constructionOversees construction administration tasks, ensuring timely resolution of open itemsApplies knowledge of codes and construction processes to ensure design intent and technical accuracyDevelops technical details, and support and assist in leading documentation in alignment with design intentQA/QC projects, ensuring BIM standards are appliedProduce and review high level planning budgets, review cost estimates for design alignment and desired clients student experienceWork with contractors during design and construction phases to ensure project delivery methodsInternal Collaboration and Process Improvement

Attends internal and external meetings to ensure alignment and progressContributes to internal firm projects and initiatives that support team efficiency and developmentSupports and mentors other staff members as appropriate, fostering a collaborative studio culture in a virtual or in-person environmentProvide expertise in program and product developmentKnowledge/Skills/Abilities

Strong understanding of building systems, codes, and construction documentationAbility to independently produce, review, and modify architectural and technical documentsThorough understanding of architectural standards and processes from planning, conceptual, schematic design through construction documentsProficiency in REVIT for architectural drawing production and experience with AutoCAD required; familiarity with SketchUp, Bluebeam and Adobe Creative Suite preferredProficiency in Microsoft Office, Google based programsExcellent communication, graphic presentation, and public speaking skillsAbility to make strategic decisions that enhance client service and design outcomesHigher Education Market sector experience is mandatoryExperience in development real estate is a plusExceptional organizational and project management skills to balance multiple active projectsDue to the various work environments (on-site/hybrid/remote), and travel-based nature of the work, effective communication and time