Senior Project Architect

Story Construction is a 100% employee‑owned commercial general contractor, construction manager, and design‑builder with offices in Ames, IA and Sioux City, IA. As an employee of Story Construction, you’ll have the opportunity to join the ownership group through our employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). At Story, we focus on having a good day, every day, regardless of your role. Everything we do revolves around building a joyful work environment and making a difference in the communities in which we work.

We are seeking a Sr. Project Architect to lead architectural and design efforts for commercial projects from early design through construction. This position mentors junior members of the design team and drives design solutions that align with owner goals, budgets, and Story’s design standards.

• Assist Business Development in pursuit efforts for potential projects including developing site concepts and conceptual drawings, proposals, and interviews.
• Oversee design team members’ workload and assignments and coordinate schedules with construction and estimating resources.
• Assist in developing and reviewing the Owner’s Program, including determining the budget and providing design options within the budget.
• Lead architectural design and coordination efforts including schematic design, design development, and construction documents.
• Serve as the primary contact for owners, design consultants, estimating, and construction teams.
• Develop, review, and refine design concepts that align with the owner’s program, budget, and schedule.
• Coordinate with Story’s estimating team to ensure design decisions remain aligned with budgetary constraints as design progresses.
• Issue design‑phase documents for owner review and approval.
• Lead and facilitate progress meetings with owners and design teams; document key decisions and issue meeting minutes.
• Review and coordinate civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and sprinkler design documents for overall integration and constructability.
• Provide quality control review for all design work prior to Owner review.
• Review submittals and respond to RFIs as needed to support construction execution.
• Issue specifications that are coordinated with drawings and aligned with project scope.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of current building codes, energy codes, and local ordinances, ensuring compliance across all projects.
• Consult with local authorities and prepare and submit documentation required to obtain approvals and permits.
• Provide day‑to‑day guidance and technical mentorship to design team members, being an active participant in their career development and conducting regular performance reviews.
• Conduct site observations as needed, document findings, and issue reports or meeting minutes.
• Lead the resolution of design‑related issues.
• Utilize architectural software and tools such as Revit, Enscape, BSD Speclink, and Adobe Suite.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Owners, design consults, authorities having jurisdiction, and Story project teams.

• Must be a licensed Architect in the State of Iowa.
• 7+ years of experience as an architect for commercial buildings is required.
• Previous experience managing people strongly preferred.

Travel:
Some travel to attend meetings, trainings, or job sites should be expected. Overnight travel is rare.

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• PTO, paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave
• Company 401(k) plan with company match
• Health, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
• Company work vehicle and cell phone
• Company‑paid term life insurance, AD&D, and long‑term disability
• Company‑paid employee assistance program (EAP)
• Medical and dependent care flex benefits plans
• Career Development Plan personalized to you and your career goals
• Safety boot and prescription safety glasses reimbursement

Primarily works out of the corporate office; however, may be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, moving mechanical parts, vibrations, loud noises, and more within OSHA standards when visiting the jobsite. Employees may be exposed to outdoor conditions that include inclement weather such as heat, humidity, cold, wind, and dust. May be expected to carry up to 30 pounds regularly and 50 pounds occasionally, stand for long periods of time, walk for moderate‑to‑long distances on varying surface conditions, climb, crawl, crouch, reach, grip, push, and pull without issue.

Story Construction is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Story is a drug‑free workplace, and employment is contingent on the successful passing of a drug test. Story Construction participates in E‑Verify.