Creative Project Manager Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $8.1 billion in revenue for 2025, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for mission critical, industrial, life sciences, power & energy, aviation, commercial, institutional, residential and sports & entertainment related building projects.

About LJC

LJC Design & Engineering, a division of Clayco, is a full-service architecture, engineering, and design firm committed to enhancing the quality of the human experience through integrated design. We are a team of high-energy professionals who share a passion for design, a collaborative approach, and a casual culture. We solve challenges by leveraging the collective expertise and ingenuity of the best and brightest minds across development, design, and construction.

The Role We Want You For

LJC is looking to hire a Project Manager to join our established Residential & Hospitality practice. We are focused on expanding our team so that we can continue to deliver a wide range of project types that include market-rate and luxury multi-family, student-focused and affordable housing communities, hospitality and mixed-use projects across the nation.

The ideal candidate will participate with LJC’s leadership team, helping our Residential market expand its presence in geographic markets and client groups. The Project Manager will be focused on effectively managing the next generation of projects within the residential, hospitality and mixed-use markets and ensuring high-level performance of each project.

The Specifics of the Role

• Manages team, client, and consultant interface and communication on projects
• Develops project schedules and manages performance to established milestones
• Responsible for billings, collections, and profitability associated with projects under his/her management and assists in reporting project performance to executive team members
• May manage multiple projects simultaneously, depending on scale and complexity of the project(s).
• Capable of organizing and supporting business development pursuits
• Recruits and interviews potential applicants to ensure practice growth
• Represents LJC in the community and conference events
• Practices LJC’s core values of integrity, humility and fearlessness
• Contributes to LJC’s Core Councils (Culture, Integration, Practice, Process and Sustainability)

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or a related field
• 12+ years of relevant experience in architecture and design with a focus on residential projects
• Registered Architect with a current license is preferred
• Proven experience managing multiple and complex projects
• Demonstrated competence with Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam, and MS Office with some ability in Revit and similar design software a plus.
• Exemplary written and spoken communication
• Comfort and poise presenting to external and internal audiences
• Proficient with client communications and relationship development

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide – travel will be part of the job.
• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile projects.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco and LJC?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Top 400 – Top Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 3).

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.

• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The Clayco Nationwide salary range for this position is approximately $140,000 - $160,000 +/- annually (not adjusted for location).