Senior Project Manager, Architecture

Are you ready to lead transformative architecture projects and build client partnerships that shape communities? AECOM’s Ohio Buildings + Places team is seeking market-facing Senior Project Managers - true seller-doers - who will drive design excellence, deliver complex work, and cultivate lasting client relationships. This is a prestigious leadership role for those who are passionate about elevating project outcomes and inspiring multi-disciplinary teams. This role is located in Columbus or Cleveland, OH.

AECOM is a globally recognized architecture and engineering design firm whose diverse, creative teams deliver positive impact to millions of people worldwide. We operate collaboratively across business lines and regions, trusted to deliver some of the most complex projects on the planet. Our Client Promise - excellence, innovation, measurable value - reflects our dedication to understanding needs, exceeding expectations, and achieving shared goals, grounded in integrity, collaboration, and innovation.

About the Ohio Buildings + Places Team

Our Ohio practice - anchored by large studios in Columbus and Cleveland - is one of the most established and highest-performing B+P practices in AECOM’s West Region. We offer a full suite of services: architecture, interiors, building systems and structural engineering, urbanism and planning (including landscape), workplace transformation, advisory services, technology solutions, and digital delivery - and serve as a Center of Excellence for many of these disciplines.

We work in a flat, collaborative model across the West Region with other B+P practices, as well as with AECOM’s Transportation, Water, and Advisory business lines to support vertical infrastructure and comprehensive solutions. Our Ohio-led client base is global and includes Public Non-Federal, Cultural + Civic, Higher Education, Science & Technology, and Transit, plus a full suite of Federal clients (ANG, NASA, DHS, GSA, NPS, VA, USACE, USAF, USSF). Most clients are repeat partners, recognizing our service model and outcomes as excellent. Design excellence is the north star of the Ohio team - combining ideas, beauty, performance, resiliency, and innovation at every scale and budget. Our Ohio clients’ projects have been awarded almost 30 design awards since 2022 alone. We aim to be the design firm of choice for clients and the employer of choice for diverse, best-in-class talent - doing the work that matters.

Recent/ongoing work in Ohio includes: City of Columbus New Municipal Courthouse; COTA West Broad BRT Corridor; Case Western Reserve University Robbins Laboratories; CCAD Center for Creative Collaboration; Franklin Park Conservatory Palm House & Showhouse Renovations; Ohio University Violet L. Patton Center for Arts Education; Columbus Symphony Orchestra Center of Music Innovation & Education.

What You’ll Do

You’ll lead across two core areas: Client Development & Management and Team & Project Delivery - owning outcomes from pursuit through post-occupancy.

Client Leadership (Seller-Doer)

• Serve as primary point of contact for clients, building trust and cultivating new relationships.
• Lead pursuits (RFP/RFQ): shape win strategies, scope, team composition, fees, and terms & conditions.
• Deliver assigned revenue growth through repeat business earned by exceptional execution.
• Represent AECOM in the marketplace as a trusted advisor, elevating our brand and your network.

Project Delivery & Risk

• Lead interdisciplinary projects from conceptual studies through design and construction administration.
• Own scope, schedule, and budget across the lifecycle; ensure projects are delivered on-time, within scope, and within budget.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, tracking milestones, risks, and performance.
• Manage change (scope/schedule/cost) and coordinate with in-house legal to minimize risk.
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation; ensure quality at every stage.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Inspire and mentor teams; coordinate internal and external partners for high-performance delivery.
• Champion a collaborative, inclusive culture with excellent communication - written, verbal, and presentations.
• Contribute to recruitment of peers and junior staff; grow future leaders.

Design & Technical Excellence

• Advocate for design excellence that earns third-party recognition and client satisfaction.
• Encourage innovation in delivery, including the intelligent integration of AI and digital tools.

Operations & Performance

• Monitor and report budget, deliverables, quality, and client health to senior leadership.
• Use appropriate tools and techniques (e.g., earned value, schedule management) for performance control.
• Leverage Microsoft Project and Power BI for planning, dashboards, and decision support.

Success in the First 12 Months

• Win or expand key client accounts through proactive relationship building and strong pursuit strategy.
• Deliver 2–4 complex projects with clear wins on schedule, budget, quality, and client satisfaction.
• Demonstrate team leadership that improves collaboration, clarity, and efficiency across disciplines.
• Contribute to design recognition (awards, publications, client testimonials) and measurable repeat business.