Project Assistant Jobs in Detroit, MI (NOW HIRING)

Description

Position Description

The Assistant Project Manager is responsible for overseeing the technical and financial aspects of the project by representing the firm in all communications with clients, serving as a liaison with Project Managers, coordinating the project team's daily activities and monitoring project progress.

Business Development Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide input on project proposals and cost estimates
• Assist Business Development and Marketing teams with creating technical content
• Maintain exceptional internal and external client relations

Project/Technical Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist with establishing project objectives by collaborating with clients and management
• Establish a project plan, determine timeframes, budgets, labor plan and project schedule; organize project team; assemble and direct team members; assign responsibilities; negotiate contracts with approved sub-consultants
• Approve work product by analyzing design, client requirements and performance standards
• Collect, analyze, and summarize information and trends; intervene, as needed, to assure project objectives and timelines are met
• Promote internal communication; share information and encourage dialogue within project teams and across the organization
• Collect and organize project materials to maintain project file
• Ensure product quality and company reputation
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge through professional development and networking
• Understand technical components and be able to perform technical duties of related positions within department, when necessary

Financial Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide input on project proposals and cost estimates
• Maintain project budget and schedule by approving expenditures, analyzing variances, communicating scope changes to project manager, invoicing, assisting with payment collection, initiating corrective actions, and reporting results to management
• Assist Finance with accounts receivable collections

Employee Management Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist with team growth by actively participating in recruiting and onboarding processes
• Continuously communicate with team members and project managers throughout company
• Provide leadership and direction to team, including accountability for growth and development of talent in the organization
• Assist with workload allocation within project team, ensuring all team members are fully utilized
• Work with other departments to share resources when necessary
• Proactively deal with team performance issues, work with HR to create performance improvement plans when necessary
• Meet with team members to review performance and career development plans semi-annually
• Act as mentor to team members within department and throughout organization
• Establish short- and long-term goals, strategies, plans, and policies for team members & department

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• Achieve performance objectives and financial metrics (see Key Performance Indicator document)
• All other duties as assigned

Requirements

 Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree Civil Engineering, Environmental, Ecological, Land Planning, Survey, GIS or closely related field and/or equivalent combination of education & experience
• Professional license (e.g., PE, PS, RLA, CST, AICP, CPG, SR/WA) strongly preferred
• Minimum five (5) years applicable experience
• Minimum two (2) years' experience with project coordination, including planning, statements of work, budgets and scheduling
• Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to travel to the corporate office as well as local clients and project sites
• Skills in dealing with tight deadlines and expectations
• Ability to independently apply fundamental engineering, environmental, land planning, survey, and land management concepts
• Local market knowledge and contacts
• Knowledge of residential and commercial land development projects, traditional and renewable energy projects such as pipeline, wind, natural gas, etc., and municipal projects
• High capacity of self-motivation and be able to apply technical knowledge to a variety of projects
• Experience in proactive and reactive marketing and project management
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with an ability to express complex technical concepts in business terms to others
• Skills in dealing with ever-changing client deadlines and expectations in a tactful manner.
• Problem solving fortitude and ability to think outside of the box in terms of how to successfully build and manage a team.
• Experience managing and mentoring employees.
• Excellent concentration and proofreading skills with strong attention to detail
• Exceptional written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in diverse teams including technical and non-technical personnel
• Resourceful, action-oriented, creative, and analytical thinker
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively under tight deadlines as well as balance multiple projects by prioritizing effectively
• Strong planning, organization, preparation, and execution capabilities
• Open to new ideas, innovation, and change
• Strong problem solving/analytical skills

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Office setting
• Ability to travel as required
• Regularly required to sit
• Frequently lifts or moves objects up to 20 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus