Project Manager - PreK- 12

Job Description

Job Description

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

Our Pre K-12 education sector in San Francisco is seeking an experienced team member (minimum 10 years in the A/E industry, post-graduation) to our group of talented Project Managers. The candidate should have broad management expertise, with a focus on DSA-permitted Pre K-12 projects, and extensive experience (minimum 5 years) leading and directing multi-disciplinary teams as an A/E or Client-Side Project Manager with direct responsibility for risk, resource, schedule, and financial management. Extensive knowledge of all aspects of professional services is required, including client and contract requirements. Competitive salary and excellent benefits, including a flexible hybrid work schedule, are available. This position is open to individuals located near our office in Sacramento or San Francisco.

At HED, we believe great design has the power to improve lives through positive impact. Our PreK–12 practice creates inspiring learning environments that support educational excellence, community engagement, and student success. As an integrated design firm, we bring together architects, engineers, planners, and designers to solve complex challenges through collaboration, innovation, and technical excellence.

Our culture is guided by six core values:

• Do It as a Team – We believe the best solutions emerge through collaboration, trust, and shared accountability across disciplines and project teams.
• Be You With Us – We value diverse perspectives, experiences, and ideas, creating an inclusive environment where individuals can bring their authentic selves to work.
• Make a Mark – We are driven to create meaningful impact through design, delivering projects that strengthen communities and improve lives.
• Embrace Change – We approach challenges with curiosity and adaptability, continuously evolving our thinking, processes, and solutions.
• Thrive With Growth – We invest in mentorship, professional development, and lifelong learning, empowering our people to reach their full potential.
• Strive for Performance – We pursue excellence in design, technical execution, client service, and project delivery, holding ourselves to the highest standards.

When you join HED, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Design impactful educational environments that serve students, educators, and communities.
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver thoughtful, sustainable, and high-performing solutions.
• Partner with school districts, educational stakeholders, consultants, and regulatory agencies to achieve successful project outcomes.
• Contribute to a culture that values mentorship, professional growth, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
• Work in a flexible hybrid environment that balances autonomy with meaningful in-person collaboration.
• Be part of a team committed to design excellence, technical rigor, and creating lasting positive impact.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist the Principal-in-Charge with the professional services proposal process and in negotiating the Agreement with the owner.
• Lead and direct multi-disciplinary A/E teams and all project activities, interfacing with the project team, clients, contractors, consultants and all authorities having jurisdiction, through all phases of a project including programming, schematic design, design development, construction document and construction administration services
• Prepare, implement, and monitor project plans and strategies
• Lead and manage client activities and contracts. Identify and secure, prior to doing the work, additional service fees for activities outside the Owner Agreement and any previously approved work requiring changes
• Manage overall project schedule and develop, coordinate and manage short-term schedules, next steps, and tasks with project team
• Establish and monitor discipline hour budgets and staffing needs, with assistance from the discipline leads, to meet profit goals
• Manage and monitor the gathering of owner required data
• Prepare contract forms for both owners and any consultants, and monitor adherence to those contracts
• Schedule, coordinate, and manage all required design and technical reviews through all phases of the project to meet the established policies and procedures for quality
• Manage the project team during the bidding and construction administration phase in accordance with the requirements of the Owner Agreement
• Participate in marketing efforts including client maintenance, proposals and interviews as directed by the Sector or Business Leader
• Assist the Principal-in-Charge in the post-construction evaluation process when requested
• Interact daily with Operations Leaders and Business Leaders in regard to metrics for project success, issue resolution, and strategic goals of your managed projects
• Guide and monitor A/E project teams’ use/adherence to the HED Project Design Process

SKILL, KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum ten years' post-graduate professional experience in the A/E industry required
• Minimum five years’ experience working as an A/E or Client-Side Project Manager with direct responsibility for project financial and risk management
• Experience with DSA-permitted Pre K-12 projects in California
• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture or Engineering.
• Professional Licensure in California
• LEED Accreditation preferred
• Extensive knowledge of all aspects of professional A/E services from marketing through project close-out
• Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of the coordination of all design disciplines
• Strong business acumen, demonstrated in your day-to-day activities
• Strong leadership and teamwork skills, including the ability to lead, motivate, and work well with others in a design-focused environment under deadline situations
• Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills
• Proactive, self-motivated, enthusiastic, and flexible approach
• Strategic outlook, with an eye for detail
• This is a senior level position, highly visible to clients and employees, that requires maturity, assertiveness, integrity and the ability to lead, influence, and persuade. A strong, concise, and forthright communication style is required

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• We embrace a hybrid model that promotes both autonomy and collaboration, including the freedom to work from home, with regular in-office days to connect with teammates and build culture.
• The office is a professional, open-space environment for collaborative and independent work.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Capable of traveling to and from project sites, both locally and across the US; attending client, project, and construction meetings
• Ability to access existing and new project sites for observation, investigation, and evaluation purposes
• Ability to use office equipment for communication and documentation purposes
• Visual acuity to perform responsibilities

In compliance with all applicable or other employment requirements, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status or status as an individual with disability and arrest and conviction records.

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