Manager Architect Construction Administration Jobs

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Construction Administration Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing the construction observation and administration phase of architectural projects. This role serves as the primary liaison between the design team, clients, and general contractors, ensuring that the architectural intent and design integrity established during the design phases are faithfully executed through construction completion. The Construction Administration Manager works with owner representatives, general contractors, vendors, and multiple Project Architects across the firm to coordinate responses to field conditions, RFIs, submittals, and other construction-related inquiries, all while maintaining an exceptional client experience from groundbreaking through occupancy. This role would be onboarded to projects during the construction documentation phase and will provide feedback on CD set drawings.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Construction Administration:

• Construction Oversight: Lead all construction administration activities across assigned projects, including site observation visits, field reports, and documentation of construction progress against approved drawings and specifications.
• RFI Management: Serve as the central coordinator for Requests for Information (RFIs), interfacing with general contractors, subcontractors, and the relevant Project Architects within the firm to obtain timely, accurate, and well-documented responses. Adhere to open RFIs in GCs logs and ensure all responses are issued within agreed-upon turnaround windows.
• Submittal Review Coordination: Review submittal and shop drawing review process, routing necessary submittals to the appropriate parties (internal design staff and consultants), tracking status, and ensuring timely return to contractors.
• Site Observation: Conduct regular site visits to monitor construction quality and adherence to construction documents. Prepare detailed site observation reports documenting progress, open items, deficiencies, and corrective actions required.
• Construction Document Interpretation: Serve as a knowledgeable interpreter of architectural construction documents, collaborating with Project Architects to clarify design intent and resolve field conditions as they arise.
• Punch List & Closeout: Coordinate and lead punch list walkthroughs, track completion of outstanding items, and manage project closeout documentation including coordination with GCs for accurate as-built records

Client Relations:

• Primary Client Point of Contact: Act as the principal point of contact for clients during the construction phase, providing clear, consistent, and proactive communication regarding construction progress, open issues, and anticipated milestones.
• Expectation Management: Translate complex construction and technical matters into accessible language for clients, managing expectations with professionalism, empathy, and transparency. Escalate to Project Directors or Partners when challenges arise.
• Client Site Visits: Accompany clients on site visits as appropriate, providing context, guidance, and reassurance throughout the construction process.
• Change Order Communication: Clearly communicate scope changes, potential cost implications, and schedule impacts to clients, ensuring informed decision-making and documented approvals before proceeding.

Contractor Relations:

• Contractor Collaboration: Build and maintain productive working relationships with general contractors, subcontractors, and vendors while firmly upholding the design intent and client interests.
• Meeting Facilitation: Lead or actively participate in owner-architect-contractor (OAC) meetings, preparing agendas, documenting meeting minutes, and tracking action items to resolution.
• Issue Resolution: Address field conflicts, discrepancies, or unforeseen conditions in coordination with contractors and the design team, recommending solutions that preserve design quality and minimize project impact. Proactively communicate issues during site visits.
• Schedule Coordination: Monitor contractor-provided construction schedules and flag potential delays or sequencing concerns to the project team and client in a timely manner
• Contractor Vetting: Meet with potential new GCs who want to work with STRANG, reviewing their process to determine if they are a good fit.

Internal Coordination

• Cross-Project Architect Navigation: Develop a thorough working knowledge of active construction projects across the firm and the corresponding Project Architects responsible for each. In partnership with Design Operations lead, effectively engage the right internal design staff to retrieve information, resolve RFIs, and coordinate design clarifications efficiently.
• Design Team Liaison: Maintain clear communication channels between the field and the design studio, ensuring that construction-phase feedback informs ongoing documentation and any required modifications to drawings or specifications.
• Documentation & Data Fidelity: Maintain relevant, organized, up-to-date project records accordance with company standards and software platforms.
• Workflow Adherence: Ensure all construction administration activities follow established firm workflows, quality control standards, and documentation protocols.
• Staff Training: Teach, mentor, and guide junior staff in supporting their understanding of the architectural roles and responsibilities in construction.

Risk Management & Financial Operations

• Budget Awareness: Maintain awareness of phase budgets and proactively flag issues pertaining to fees and adjustments.
• Issue Identification: Proactively identify quality and design concerns, contractual issues, and/or conditions that could expose the firm or client to risk, and escalate appropriately.
• Responsible Documentation: Ensure all field conditions, decisions, and communications are documented professionally and accurately to protect the interests of client and firm
• Code & Regulator Compliance: Monitor for compliance with applicable building codes, permit conditions, and jurisdictional requirements within STRANG scope. Coordinate site visits and address concerns promptly.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in architectural construction administration, with demonstrated experience on large-scale, custom residential projects.
• Deep familiarity with construction processes, methods, materials, and sequencing for high-end custom residential construction.
• Proven ability to manage RFIs, submittals, change orders, and pay applications with accuracy and efficiency.
• Exceptional client communication and relationship management skills; ability to convey complex technical information clearly and confidently.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and internal design staff across multiple concurrent projects.
• Experience navigating multi-disciplinary design teams and coordinating with various architects and designers to obtain project information quickly and accurately.
• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Suite. Experience with Deltek Vantagepoint and construction management platforms (e.g., Procore, Newforma) a plus.
• Architectural licensure preferred but not required.