Project Manager

ABOUT COOPERATIVE LA

Cooperative LA is disrupting the construction management space and growing rapidly — taking on some of the region’s most meaningful civic, cultural, institutional, and development projects. As a young, diverse, technology-driven and forward-thinking team, we’re redefining what owner representation can be: more rigorous, more creative, more technically-focused, and more impactful.

We’re committed to building a truly exceptional group of professionals who share our values and approach:

Project First — putting communication, clarity, and forward progress above ego.

Progress, Always — staying curious, learning relentlessly, and improving how we work every day.

People Focused — building trust, fairness, and strong partnerships across the entire project team.

Prosperity Throughout — aligning financial success for clients, partners, and our team, so everyone moves forward together.

As we expand quickly, we’re looking for the industry’s top emerging talent — entrepreneurial construction professionals who want to help shape a growing company, elevate the standard of our profession, quantify their impact and help shape the future of owner representation in Los Angeles. We are most interested in self-motivated candidates who understand the importance of urgency, efficiency, time management and prioritization to meet challenging goals.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a Project Manager with 6–10 years of experience who brings deep technical understanding, strong team leadership, and the ability to guide complex projects from early design through construction. General Contractor or Architect experience is preferred.

With oversight and training from a Project Executive or President, the Project Manager will oversee and coordinate all aspects of challenging construction projects, including planning, scheduling, budgeting and managing resources to ensure successful project completion and satisfied clients. The projects include multifamily (including modular), sports arenas, historic, public-private partnerships, utility infrastructure, hospitality, industrial and more.

This is a full-time, on-site role based in Los Angeles, CA with offices located in Pasadena and Culver City. Projects are located throughout Los Angeles County.

The team is currently working 2-3 days per week in the office and 2-3 days per week from home or project sites.

RESPONSIBILITIES

True Builder

• Manage medium-to-large projects across design, permitting, bidding, contracting and construction.
• Quickly identify interdisciplinary conflicts in drawings and consultant deliverables.
• Oversee schedule reviews, delay/acceleration planning, and change-order negotiations.
• Apply lessons learned and constructability knowledge to guide team decisions.
• Maintain strong technical fluency across trades and building systems.
• Share construction lessons learned with teammates in monthly staff meeting presentations.
• Mentor teammates on specific trade expertise to elevate the company’s overall technical ability.

Team Leadership

• Assume responsibility for project and team success, including that of external partners.
• Lead multidisciplinary consultant and contractor teams with clarity, accountability and a Project First mindset.
• Create and update project schedules, permit logs, utility matrices, issues list and any other tools to surface critical issues and focus the team on priorities. 
• Build strong relationships with clients, public agencies, and project partners.
• Navigate and resolve inter-consultant conflicts swiftly and diplomatically.
• Push teams toward best practices and elevate the performance of the entire project ecosystem.
• Mentor Assistant Project Managers and support their career development.
• Represent Cooperative LA with professionalism, authority, and reliability.

Meeting Leadership

• Lead structured, efficient meetings that produce decisions, commitments, and forward motion.
• Properly prepare for meetings and guide discussions toward resolution in meeting or by specific due dates.
• Capture and distribute meeting notes within 24 hours that are accurate, action-oriented, and governed by due dates.
• Push for clear deadlines informed by project targets and ensure follow-through across all participants.
• Create spin-off coordination sessions when technical issues require deeper focus.

Quality Deliverables

• Produce and oversee high-quality schedules, budgets, reports, logs, risk trackers, and other project documentation.
• Tailor deliverables to meet client needs while maintaining firm-wide standards.
• Provide detailed feedback and quality control on APM deliverables.
• Develop improved tools, templates, GPTs or processes when existing ones aren’t sufficient.
• Ensure all reporting surfaces risks and drives timely decision-making.

Integrity

• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients and a stabilizing force for the team.
• Communicate difficult truths with diplomacy and professionalism.
• Hold yourself and others to high ethical standards.
• Practice authenticity and courage with sharing ideas, stating limitations and flagging concerns.
• Diligently and urgently protect the client’s budget and schedule as if it was your money.
• Demonstrate humility, fairness, and accountability, especially under pressure.
• Model Cooperative LA’s values in every interaction.

 Technologies

• We use Smartsheet, OpenAI, Bluebeam, Procore, Primavera, EOS, Pipedrive, Microsoft Suite and more.
• Those with a curiosity around new technologies and finding better ways to work do exceptionally well here.

What We’re Looking For

• 6–10 years of experience in development, construction management, architecture, engineering, or similar fields. General Contractor or Architect experience is preferred.
• Strong technical expertise across major trades and building systems.
• Proven ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and manage complex workflows.
• Excellent communication, meeting leadership, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to mentor junior staff, organize large efforts, and deliver high-quality work under tight timelines.
• Alignment with Cooperative LA’s values and commitment to excellence.
• Experience managing projects in Los Angeles is preferred.
• Ability to work three times a week at our main office in Pasadena.

Salary & Benefits

• The annual salary range for this role is $145,000 to $162,000.
• Annual performance based bonuses.
• Clarity and support for upward mobility using C.LA's Competency Ladders.
• Remote workdays 2 days a week.
• AI training and immersion.
• 6% 401k Employer Match.
• 100% medical coverage for employees on base plans.
• Profit Interest Units (PIUs) Program Eligibility.
• Flexible PTO Policy.
• Professional development allowances for ULI, AIA, etc.
• Weekly lunches and quarterly team building events.
• Beautiful offices in Pasadena and Culver City working alongside AEC & Development firms as co-tenants.

How to Apply

• If you’re interested in this role, email your resume or CV to info@cooperative.la with the subject line: “Project Manager — [Your Name]”