Design & Construction Project Manager

About the Eames Institute

The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity is a nonprofit public charity dedicated to advancing the dynamic legacy of 20th-century designers Ray and Charles Eames. By sharing the things the Eameses made and loved, along with their joyful and rigorous approach to life and work, we seek to inspire creative problem-solving that positively shapes our world.

With our vast collections, digital and print offerings, an extensive program of events, and the Eames Ranch, we aim to demonstrate the enduring value of the Eameses’ philosophy and invite people to explore their curiosity, ask questions, and implement creative solutions to the challenges of today.

About the Role

We are seeking a Design & Construction Project Manager to ensure success across various planning, construction, landscape, and infrastructure projects. As a member of our staff, you’ll be challenged to take on work that advances design with purpose. You’ll also work with a fun and curious group of makers and builders.

The Project Manager will be responsible for on-site, day-to-day management of various planning, design, and construction projects on current and future properties. The first primary focus will be design and construction project management at our Richmond location, which includes a workspace, a warehouse for the Eames Archives, and several spaces for public programming.

This role will coordinate between existing design firms, contractors, external consultants, public agencies, and other supporting partners to craft a vision and track decisions, permits, budgets, and schedules, while also researching, vetting, and onboarding a cadre of industry leading planning, design, and construction professionals for future projects.

In this role, you will…

Project Management

• Facilitate internal efforts with Project Architect regarding programming, concept, and brief development for Richmond campus development projects.
• Oversee design, planning, and construction schedules and dissemination of milestones, guiding course correction where necessary.
• Monitor, identify, assess, and mitigate project risks to ensure successful project outcomes. Develop and implement contingency plans to address potential issues.
• Conduct design team and vendor selection and contracting.
• Facilitate design direction (internal & external) and oversight, including presentations to key stakeholders.

Coordination & Communication

• Deliver constant and effective communication, serving as the central point person for various projects and maintaining strong collaboration with the client groups, Project Architect, and additional Project Stakeholders.
• Be the trusted representative on site, knowing what’s happening daily and ensuring quality control regarding cost and deliverables.
• Coordinate the workflow of various consultants, architects, landscape architects, engineers, specialty designers, and experts and serve as the primary point of contact representing the organization and managing the flow of information.
• Collaborate with numerous stakeholders across the organization to ensure a high level of communication and coordination regarding updates for workspace, construction schedules, interruptions to programming, etc.
• Coordinate with consultants and public agencies on zoning and permitting.

Administration & System Building

• Strategize, coordinate, and track permits with relevant county and state departments and agencies, as well as implement permitting requirements and conditions.
• Write scopes of work and solicit competitive bids for services and construction ensuring diverse representation in alignment with organization goals.
• Build and maintain systems to track costs, approvals, documentation, and monitoring requirements.
• Manage budgets, proposals, invoices, and payments, ensuring the billing process is accurate with estimates and work completed.
• Establish and enforce quality control and assurance processes to ensure high standards of construction and safety protocols; conduct regular site inspections and audits.

Organization & Culture

• Participate in and contribute to the Institute's culture of curiosity and learning.
• Inspire and teach others about strong execution and project management.
• Develop the organization’s capacity to design and develop spaces that deliver impeccable guest and employee experiences.
• Build and share knowledge, appreciation, and curiosity of the history, contributions, and legacy of Ray and Charles Eames.
• Help cultivate and nurture healthy collaboration and communication between individuals and groups across the organization.

The ideal candidate has:

Required skills, abilities, competencies

• Strong grasp of the Eames Institute, its mission, and its work.
• Highly prioritizes communication and coordination with key stakeholders.
• Confidently navigates ambiguity, uncertainty, evolving needs, and opportunities.
• Owns projects and responsibilities, making informed decisions or recommendations to key stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Seeks out, welcomes, contributes, and integrates creative feedback.
• Understands and embraces the complexity of property development, permitting, and long-term planning.
• Fosters collaborative teamwork and enjoys working with others.
• Can enthusiastically commit to championing and seeing through long-term capital projects.

Education and Experience

• Five (5) years experience serving as an Owner's Representative or Project Manager for an architecture, construction firm, or institutional capital projects department.
• Degree in Architecture, Construction Management or related field, or equivalent related work experience.
• Experience and/or awareness of acquiring permits as well as navigating entitlements and neighbor relations, particularly within Bay Area counties.
• Relevant experience with mid-size properties and facilities related to gallery, library, archives, or museum industry is a plus.

Other duties:

Please note: this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

Work hours, working styles, and additional benefits:

• This role, to start, requires the individual to be onsite at our Richmond facility, Monday through Friday, generally between regular business hours with occasional early or later shifts as needed.

What we offer:

The Eames Institute offers a competitive benefits package, including…

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, for which the organization covers 99% of the cost for employees and 75% of the cost for dependents
• Base salary range: $76,500 - $103,500
• 401k employer match up to 6%, commuting benefits, and parental leave
• Wellness benefit of $600 per year to spend on anything that contributes to your mental and physical wellness
• Professional development benefit up to $600 per year to support your continued learning and career development
• $500 match for charitable giving, for every year of service up to five years
• Unlimited paid time off policy in addition to fourteen paid holidays
• Sabbatical leave after five years of employment

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The Eames Institute values diversity, inclusion & belonging for all, and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We strive to create a workplace that empowers people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to feel respected, valued, and able to contribute at the highest level. If you’re excited by this role but your professional experience doesn’t perfectly align with the qualifications listed, we still encourage you to apply.