Sr. Project Manager

Job Title: Senior Project Manager – Architecture (Commercial/Retail) Job Description This Senior Project Manager role focuses on leading commercial and retail architectural projects from concept through construction, combining hands-on AutoCAD production with project management, construction administration, and team coordination. The position requires an experienced architectural professional who can work largely remotely, perform regular site visits in the Midwest, and manage small project teams while operating within established corporate standards and templates. Responsibilities Lead and manage commercial and retail architectural projects from start to finish, ensuring quality, accuracy, and adherence to established standards and corporate templates. Coordinate and perform a mix of field work and site visits in the Midwest market, including local day trips by car and periodic air travel, with travel expenses reimbursed. Allocate approximately 20–25% of weekly hours to AutoCAD production work, including creating and updating construction documents and drawings. Spend roughly half of each day producing CAD construction documents (CDs) and the other half processing shop drawings, submittals, and RFIs for active projects. Manage small project teams of 1–2 people on a project-by-project basis, overseeing their work, providing guidance, and ensuring project milestones are met. Oversee current project teams and coordinate closely with contractors, maintaining clear communication and alignment on project scope, schedule, and deliverables. Conduct construction administration activities, including site visits, observation of work in progress, and participation in OAC (Owner-Architect-Contractor) meetings. Serve as a client-facing representative when needed, professionally presenting the firm to clients and contractors and building strong working relationships. Work primarily on prototypical commercial projects, starting with financial retail branches and then expanding to other retail and commercial build-outs and renovations. Produce and coordinate detailed construction documents for interior alteration projects, office build-outs, and retail spaces, ensuring compliance with applicable codes. Coordinate details and finishes, including framing details, wall partitions, general materials, and specifications, to achieve cohesive and buildable design solutions. Apply working knowledge of detailing as it relates to interior alterations, including ADA requirements for clear floor space and accessibility building codes. Review drawings and specifications meticulously for accuracy, completeness, and quality, identifying and resolving discrepancies before and during construction. Provide hands-on detailing support and actively participate in production tasks when required to meet project deadlines and deliverables. Manage time and expectations for self and team members, balancing multiple projects and tasks while meeting client and internal deadlines. Maintain clear, consistent communication and coordination with internal and external team members, including remote colleagues and project stakeholders. Adapt quickly to changing project needs, wearing multiple hats and jumping onto different projects and tasks as priorities shift. Participate in quarterly in-person meetings in the Chicago area and attend local meetings and site visits as required. Contribute positively to a small, people-focused office culture that emphasizes mentoring, development, and long-term relationships. Essential Skills Minimum of 8+ years of experience at an architecture firm working on commercial projects. Strong project management experience, including managing projects independently and conducting regular job site visits. Proficiency in AutoCAD, with the ability to produce complete construction documents and drawings from start to finish. Demonstrated experience working on commercial and prototypical projects, including repeatable retail or corporate environments. Hands-on experience with interior alteration projects, office build-outs, and retail build-outs or renovations. Working knowledge of detailing for interior alterations, including framing details, wall partitions, and general materials and specifications. Solid understanding of ADA requirements for clear floor space and accessibility building codes as they apply to commercial interiors. Ability to review drawings and specifications meticulously for accuracy, quality, and constructability. Strong time management skills, with the ability to manage expectations for self and team members across multiple projects. Clear and effective communication skills for coordinating with internal and external team members, including remote colleagues. Ability to present oneself professionally and positively represent the firm to clients and contractors when in a client-facing capacity. Comfort working within established corporate standards and templates rather than high-end, bespoke design. Ability to thrive in a smaller office environment, working on a small team and handling diverse responsibilities. Additional Skills & Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. Experience working on prototypical projects, retail build-outs, and/or renovation commercial projects is preferred. Prior experience managing projects that involve repeatable commercial work for large retail or corporate brands. Client-facing experience is preferred, including participation in OAC meetings and direct communication with owners and contractors. Experience processing shop drawings, submittals, and RFIs for commercial projects. Background as a project manager, architect, architectural intern, or similar architectural role with commercial project exposure. Ability to work effectively in a remote environment while maintaining high levels of communication with remote team members. Comfort taking on a learning process within established client standards, with the ability to hit the ground running on AutoCAD-based project work. Flexibility to adjust roles and responsibilities as needed to support field work and project demands. No professional licensure is required for this role. Work Environment This is a full-time role based on a standard 40-hour work week, generally following an 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule. Start and finish times are flexible and may adjust based on travel requirements and personal needs. The office operates as a small team of approximately 15 people and emphasizes a people-focused culture that values mentoring, professional development, and strong relationships. Full-time employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, including vacation, holiday pay, and sick time. For this specific role, work will primarily be remote, but the individual must be local to the Chicago area to attend meetings, site visits, and quarterly in-person gatherings. Travel will consist of local day trips by car and occasional air travel within the Midwest, with reimbursement for rental car use, personal vehicle mileage where applicable, and other approved travel expenses. The environment encourages collaboration, internal promotion, and the ability to take on varied responsibilities across multiple projects. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of CHICAGO, IL. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $40.86 - $55.28/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully remote position. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 28, 2026. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.