Project Designer

Description

Are you looking to join a larger firm that still has a small, family feel?  We are seeking a creative, innovative and talented Project Designer to join our Charleston team! The ideal candidate will possess prior project management experience and a passion for working across a variety of projects with a diverse team. The Project Designer will be involved in all phases of projects from initial proposal through project completion. Opportunities exist for Corporate Industrial projects. 

About McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS): McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture is a studio-based, client-focused and community-oriented firm founded in 1955. The firm represents a collaborative group of dedicated and enthusiastic design professionals who believe function, beauty, constructability and cost-effectiveness are integral attributes of good environmental design. McMillan Pazdan Smith has 280+ employees across seven locations in the South East. 

What it’s Like to Work Here: Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at MPS is “People.”  Our team members all share a commitment to building positive relationships with the clients we serve and meaningful connections together within their teams inside of the firm through our core values of Collaboration, Fairness, Community, Client Focus and Good Design. We are firmly rooted in the communities we serve and have a deep commitment to making the communities around us better as design professionals. Our welcoming, down to earth culture, plus opportunities for all team members to be creative and challenged to learn and experience a multitude of diverse projects, have resulted in industry-low turnover. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to grow your career with us!

A Day in the Life as a Project Designer: As a Project Designer you will assist the production process, taking an active role in solidifying plans, navigating owner and contractor interactions, completing code analysis, and partaking in construction administration. Here is a list of other responsibilities related to your role as a Project Designer:  

• Provide production support 
• Review shop drawings, submittals, and respond to RFIs 
• Produce construction documents, revisions, and addenda 
• Take responsibility for finished plans, specifications, and approval of materials and construction 
• Assist with budget management 
• Prepare design presentation materials 
• Work directly with client and/or user group to develop schematic design concepts and programming studies 
• Provide professional architectural consultation in the planning, design, and coordination of large, complex projects
• Write specifications as assigned 
• Conduct code research and analysis and review with various agencies for approval 
• Collaborate with engineers, consultants, contractors and/or clients 
• Assume project manager role as necessary 
• Prepare project proposals, design team budget, schedule, and workforce projections 
• Supervise and provide guidance regarding overall objectives, critical issues, new concepts, and policy matters 
• Ensure that the project meets environmental, safety, structural, zoning, and aesthetic standards 
• Manage and nurture the client relationship 
• Supervise design team members as necessary 
• Perform construction administration to include facilitation of project communications, maintenance of project records, review and certification of amounts due to contractors, and preparation of change orders
• Support business development activities as necessary.
• Perform other duties as directed

Requirements

 About You: The qualifications of a Project Designer are multi-faceted. The ability to effectively and confidently prioritize and execute tasks with many competing priorities and absorb new ideas and concepts quickly is a key skill for the Project Designer. Here is a list of other required skills:   

• Bachelor of Architecture or equivalent 
• Registered as a licensed architect preferred, but not required
• Minimum five (5) years combined experience as an intern architect and/or architect  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel software 
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite software 
• Proficiency in Revit 
• Experience with Newforma Project Center
• Experience with Newforma Project Analyzer (Planifi) 
• Experience with Bluebeam PDF Revu 
• Firm grasp of building technology fundamentals 
• Thorough knowledge of relevant codes, operations, processes, and trends 
• Excellent time management skills 
• Ability to effectively and confidently prioritize and execute tasks with many competi