Senior Project Architect - Institutional

Senior Project Architect - Institutional

Huitt-Zollars is seeking a full-time Senior Project Manager / Senior Project Architect for its Alexandria, Virginia (NCR) office. This role will lead and support multidisciplinary teams through the full project lifecycle, from business development and client engagement through planning, design, construction administration, and closeout. The ideal candidate will have strong architectural delivery experience, proven client leadership skills, and the ability to manage complex institutional, healthcare, higher education, commercial, and public-sector projects from concept through construction.

This position requires strong business judgment, clear communication, effective presentation skills, relationship-building ability, collaboration, and a positive, team-oriented approach.

The Huitt-Zollars Institutional Practice Area brings together architects, engineers, planners, and program managers to deliver complex healthcare, higher education, federal, and public-sector facilities for mission-driven organizations across the Mid-Atlantic. We provide full-service project delivery, combining strategic planning, technical design excellence, and proactive project leadership to help clients achieve their operational, financial, and community goals.

Location:

Alexandria, Virginia, NCR Office

Employment Type:

40 FT Hours

Compensation Type:
Salary

Reports To:

Managing Principal and Principal-in-Charge of the Institutional Practice

Registration:
Registered Architect Required, Virginia Registration Preferred, or ability to obtain reciprocity

Education:

Bachelor's in Architecture, Interior Architecture, or Interior Design Required

Duties:

• Project Leadership:
  Lead and manage all phases of project development, from proposal and planning through design, construction administration, and closeout, while supporting technical excellence, quality, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction.
• Technical Design Leadership:
  Lead technical design efforts for the office and work as part of a multidisciplinary team to produce design documents for a wide range of building types.
• Client Management:
  Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, developing and maintaining strong relationships through proactive communication, responsiveness, and understanding of client needs and project goals.
• Team Coordination:
  Lead, coordinate, and collaborate with architects, engineers, designers, consultants, contractors, project managers, and project designers to achieve project objectives.
• Scope, Schedule, and Budget Management:
  Develop, monitor, and manage project scopes, schedules, and budgets; ensure project development and documentation meet schedule, budget, code, and technical quality requirements.
• Quality Control and Code Compliance:
  Review work for compliance with building codes, project requirements, budgets, firm standards, and regulatory requirements; facilitate quality assurance and internal review processes.
• Contract Administration:
  Oversee contracts, subconsultant agreements, change orders, and compliance with contract terms and conditions in accordance with firm and client standards.
• Risk and Issue Management:
  Identify and mitigate project risks, prepare plans of action to resolve project issues, and ensure appropriate quality control and risk management practices are applied to projects and daily operations.
• Business Development Support:
  Support proposal writing, fee development, interviews, presentations, negotiations, and new project pursuits in coordination with market sector teams.
• Construction and Contractor Coordination:
  Prepare bids or assist with contractor selection processes and support construction administration activities throughout project delivery.
• Mentorship and Staff Development:
  Provide guidance, leadership, and mentorship to junior staff while contributing to a positive, productive, and collaborative team environment.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated architectural experience in an A/E environment, with demonstrated experience managing or leading complex projects.
• Experience in institutional, healthcare, higher education, commercial, and/or public works markets preferred.
• Demonstrated building construction technical experience. Experience with design-build and other alternative delivery methods is a plus.
• Ability to prioritize and deliver multiple projects with varying deadlines.
• Strong understanding of building systems, architectural project delivery, contract administration, and construction documentation.
• Proficiency in Revit required; familiarity with AutoCAD, Adobe Suite, and other A/E design tools is a plus.
• Proficiency with project management software such as MS Project, Vantagpoint, Newforma or similar platforms preferred.
• Excellent verbal, written, graphic, organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• Strong client-facing skills, negotiation ability, and capacity to interact effectively with owners, user groups, consultants, and internal teams.

Project Manager (PM) Role Annual Performance Goals &…