Project Manager, Higher Education Practice Lead

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.

Success at SOM Means

Ideas: We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm.

Knowledge: We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge.

Product: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work.

Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm.

Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential.

Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Overview

The Project Manager and Practice Lead for the Higher Education practice serves as both project team leadership and strategic advisor to enhance our higher education projects. This role requires active engagement in understanding and articulating the forces that shape higher education buildings and campuses. This position will work directly with Partnership, Principals, and other Practice Leaders to successfully manage higher education projects, identify target clients and projects and assist with the direction of business development strategy including market research, create new business development opportunities and actively pursue leads. This role requires understanding of the higher education market, development of relevant data, tools, and models to serve these clients, and contributes to design innovation to advance SOM’s reputation of design excellence in this practice area. Significant knowledge and expertise in campus master planning, space programming, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach for Higher Education institutions is required.

Project Management Responsibilities

Leads the Architectural Project Team through close collaboration with SOM Partners project leadership to achieve design, technical and financial success.

Prepares, with Leadership input, quality agreements with clients including letters of intent, memoranda of understanding, and professional service agreements. Executes additional service agreements and gains authorization by phase.

Collaborates with Partners and senior team to prepare, issue, and manage compliance plans to align project goals including budget, deliverables and schedule. Gains agreement with the senior team for labor allocation. Chairs weekly team meetings to address variances from the project plan.

Administers internal control procedures with Project Accountant including billing, collections, percent complete, expense management, and year-end activities. Analyzes project reports and proactively manages the profitability of a project.

Participates actively in project design and technical discussions and decision making.

Communicates actively through chairing weekly meetings, issuing meeting minutes and accurate project record keeping and sharing project information and correspondence.

Manages owner/client relationship and expectations to allow SOM and team to work effectively, efficiently and collaboratively.

Initiates, monitors and maintains project schedule and work plan including schedule of meetings and presentations.

Schedules and leads internal team weekly project meetings; develops the meeting agenda and project status update.

Defines project schedule and work plan with project leadership for early stakeholder engagement for programming and scope definition of educational spaces.

Initiates, monitors and maintains project plan and financial performance of project.

Initiates and maintains SOM-Client Services Agreement, SOM Sub-Consultant Agreements and requests for additional services.

Monitors scope for contract compliance and potential additional services.

Actively engages in project risk management through close collaboration with SOM Partners and legal group.

Practice Lead Responsibilities

Provide guidance to Project Team members in the development, production, promotion, and marketing of SOM’s Higher Education functional market focused on the strategic growth of the practice.

In collaboration with firm-wide Higher Education Leads, contribute to the creation and implementation of the business development strategy including market research, create new business development opportunities and actively pursue leads.

Proactively organize and implement engagement strategy based on the Higher Education Business Plan including cultivating relationships between SOM leaders and clients and aligning SOM leaders and appropriate industry organizations.

Defines appropriate scope of work for Higher Education planning and design projects including review of specialty consultant scope of work.

Advise Project Teams and clients on best practices, trends and strategies to implement best in class design and planning solutions for teaching and learning environments.

Participates actively in project design and technical discussions and decision making for educational programs.

Facilitate integrated, participatory, and data-informed planning and design processes on Higher Education projects.

Leadership Responsibilities

Actively leads multiple projects and teams.

Established as a officewide resource in an area of expertise for market, discipline, or department.

Directly supervises, trains, and mentors team members.

Engages in talent strategy to find specialists, leaders, and future professionals for the firm through resume review, interviews, and leveraging personal network.

Demonstrates leadership in the implementation of sustainable strategies in all project assignments and the associated development of staff knowledge.

Creates and drives new ways of working through contributing to the development of services, standards, procedures based in an understanding of the business principles that protect SOM from financial and legal risk.

Minimum Qualifications

Significant knowledge and expertise in campus master planning, space programming, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach for Higher Education institutions is required.

Professional degree in Architecture.

Licensed in state of practice; LEED accreditation preferred.

Minimum 10 years of experience or equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.

General understanding of sustainable strategies and principles including familiarity with LEED or other green building rating systems.

Demonstrated ability to successfully lead project teams and manage project schedule, budget and program.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Smartsheets, Adobe Suite and Google Workspace.

Familiarity with Deltek Vision, Salesforce.

Are you ready to join a team of creative professionals working on transformational projects around the world? Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to build a better future with SOM.

Our Benefits:

Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance

Savings: 401K matching, pre-tax spending accounts, and employee discount programs

Work/Life Balance: Inquire about our hybrid/flexible schedules, paid family le