Senior Interior Project Manager

Senior Interior Project Manager

Position Summary

The Senior Interior Project Manager is responsible for meeting the project’s contractual obligations including scope, services, schedule, and budget while managing stakeholder communications and expectations. The position manages the performance and the work of the project team as well as completing work from schematic design through construction administration, when required.

The Senior Interior Project Manager is able to effectively manage multiple, concurrent projects of varying complexity from conception to completion, incorporating client feedback and adapting to changing priorities. The position demonstrates strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, effectively motivating teams and nurturing client relationships. The position requires advanced resource allocation and organizational skills, design and technical proficiency, and the ability to independently solve project and architectural issues with creativity and foresight.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management and Client Service

• Manages and delivers multiple projects of varying complexity and typology, concurrently and successfully.
• Collaborates with the full project team from programming through construction administration to ensure the project is delivered as designed.
• Executes all responsibilities required to complete a project from programming through construction administration, when required.
• Participates in the RFP / Interview process.
• Establishes project fees.
• Ensures proactive, effective and efficient communications between client and team members; serves as primary client contact and liaison to project team and Principal.
• Leads through effective collaboration with the project team to create project work plans, including staffing responsibilities, schedule, budget.
• Ensures the availability of staffing in preparation of presentation materials and design documents.
• Secures and manages contracts and contractual obligations with clients, consultants, contractors, etc.
• Manages project progress, profitability, project multiplier, and invoicing.
• Monitors schedule, budget, and progress of construction; reviews RFIs, submittals, site reports, and pay applications as needed.
• Monitors scope and client changes to identify additional services.
• Identifies potential risks for the firm and elevates to the appropriate parties.
• Negotiates critical and controversial issues with clients and consultants.
• Manages the project team’s performance.
• Builds and maintains client relationships.
• Represents the firm well with clients and consultants.

Design and Technical Leadership

• Seeks out and uses best available technology and processes to keep project documentation on schedule.
• Coordinates design concepts appropriate to the project.
• Establishes a sustainable design vision and goals for the project.
• Determines the feasibility of design alternatives and determines those alternatives most appropriate for project constraints.

Firm Leadership

• Collaborates with other senior leaders to determine staffing needs.
• Leads staffing within the department and collaborates within the firm to balance staffing needs.
• Supports business development and marketing in RFP responses, developing fees, writing proposals, and preparing for interviews for new projects.
• Participates in networking activities, developing beneficial relationships within the design and client community.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as a mentor.
• Seeks out mentorship and continuing education opportunities for the development of skills and career.
• Pursues education/training/experience in performance, project, and client management.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directs the work of project team members on projects.
• Provides performance feedback to team members and to their performance managers.
• Manages the performance and professional development of performance advisees, as assigned.

Required Education, Experience, and Credentials

• Bachelor’s degree in interior design from a CIDA accredited program or a B.Arch
• Eight (8) years of experience as an interior designer/architect in a client services firm
• Professional design portfolio
• NCIDQ certification or Registered Architect
• Sustainable Building Materials certified
• LEED GA
• WELL certified

Preferred Education, Experience, and Credentials

• Master’s degree in interior design from a CIDA accredited program or a M.Arch

Required Skills and Abilities

Leadership, Emotional and Communication Skills

• Ability to demonstrate the firm’s core values: Integrity, Purpose, Collaboration, Empathy, Conscientiousness, Accountability.
• Strong service orientation with the ability to anticipate problems and needs and proactively find solutions.
• Ability to listen to understand and tailor responses appropriately.
• Ability to communicate relevant information clearly and concisely, with the appropriate tone.
• Strong attention to detail, especially in written and visual communications.
• Ability and desire to receive feedback and learn from other’s perspectives.
• Ability to include all, collaborate, and recognize others’ contributions.
• Ability to be flexible and to adapt to changes in priority or direction.
• Ability and desire to self-start, ask questions, learn and grow.
• Ability to motivate and empower team members to get all tasks completed.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Ability to manage conflict and diffuse situations.
• Ability to nurture client relationships and manage expectations.
• Advanced organizational skills including time management, prioritization, resource allocation, and delegation.

Technical Skills and Applied Knowledge

• Ability to plan, lead and facilitate effective meetings.
• Ability to create project plans for complex, large-scale projects including identifying and defining project objectives, success metrics, stakeholders and roles, scope and budget, milestones, deliverables, and project dependencies, timeline and schedule, and communication plan.
• Ability to manage a plan from conception to completion, including the budget.
• Ability to organize and execute project work effectively, fully and creatively utilizing all available resources.
• Ability to coordinate the production of documents with internal and external parties.
• Ability to interface with contractors, subcontractors, and manufacturers as well as shell/core architecture teams.
• Ability to act independently and decisively from a sound background in architectural and interior design principles.
• Demonstrates flexibility, creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in anticipating and solving architectural and interior design issues.
• Fully competent in all conventional aspects of architectural and interior design processes.
• Ability to manage digital files in adherence with office standards.
• Advanced technical skills with:
  • Revit
  • Sketchup
  • AutoCAD
• Proficiency with:
  • Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop and InDesign
  • Enscape
  • Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to perform work using a Windows operating system.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

• Ability to evaluate and recommend new tools appropriate to the project.
• Proficiency with Designer Pages for furniture specifications.
• Proficiency with Deltek Vantagepoint.

Working Conditions, Physical Activities and Demands

• • Office environment, no adverse environmental conditions expected on a usual basis.
  • Occasionally visiting construction sites with exposure to outdoor elements, variable temperatures, hazards, and noise.
  • Constantly repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
  • Constantly assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
  • Constantly remaining in a stationary position, often sitting for prolonged periods.
  • Constantly communicating with others to exchange information.

Compensation

• Range: $120,000 – $220,000 annually, depending on skills and experience.

About Elkus Manfredi Architects

Elkus Manfredi is a full-service design practice focused on architecture, interior architecture, master planning, urban design, and historic preservation. The firm’s diverse portfolio of work includes the planning and design of environments for working, living, play, learning, and innovation. With a 37-year legacy of design excellence, Elkus Manfredi is recognized for its strategic work in academic, corporate, hospitality, life science, residential, and mixed-use placemaking that fosters inclusive community, connection, and sustainability at every scale.