What are the responsibilities and job description for the Project Manager | Civic & Community position at Northern Impact?
Overview
Our client is a well-established, award-winning architecture, planning, and interiors firm with decades of experience and multiple offices across California and beyond. Known for designing communities that promote human fulfillment and well-being, they have built a strong reputation for thoughtful, high-quality civic & community work and a people-first studio culture. They offer a collaborative environment where design excellence, professional growth, and meaningful client relationships are at the core of everything they do.
We are looking for a technically skilled, design-driven Project Manager to join their Civic team in Irvine, CA. The ideal candidate has experience in an architectural office delivering civic, community, or other complex public projects, and will take full ownership for leading projects from early programming through construction, ensuring schedules, budgets, and scope are successfully delivered and clients are well served.
This is a hybrid position, requiring a minimum of 3 days per week onsite at their Irvine office.
What You'll Do
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Lead and coordinate all project efforts—administrative and technical—across all phases: Programming, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration.
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Prepare and coordinate responses to RFPs, including scope, schedule, and team input.
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Develop fees, define scope of work, prepare proposals and contracts, and monitor performance against those agreements.
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Actively manage client budgets, schedules, programs, project communications, and documentation, and organize project team assignments.
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Serve as the primary client contact, guiding the project to successful completion while maintaining strong, long‑term relationships.
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Provide day‑to‑day oversight, mentorship, and quality review for less experienced staff.
What You'll Bring
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Significant experience using project management tools for project initiation, planning, billing, and labor tracking.
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Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills, with a proactive, solutions‑oriented mindset.
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The confidence to lead while maintaining positive working relationships with clients, consultants, and internal teams.
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Proven ability to provide clear direction and leadership to architectural staff.
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Strong technical skills in Revit/BIM, AutoCAD, and SketchUp.
Qualifications
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At least 5 years of project management experience on civic/community or similarly complex projects, overseeing both administrative and technical aspects through all phases, including Construction Administration.
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California architectural license strongly preferred.
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Professional degree in Architecture (B.Arch or M.Arch) from a NAAB‑accredited program.
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Clear commitment to ongoing professional development and growth.
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Legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer; visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Benefits
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Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage
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Pre-tax Flexible Spending Plan
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Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
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401(k)