Department:
Architecture
Location:
Pittsburgh, PA or Washington, DC
Description
JOIN OUR TEAM!
Our team is redefining building design and engineering.
AE Works is an award-winning firm ranked among the top U.S. A/E firms by
Architectural Record
and
ENR East
. AE Works is recognized for our commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional results.
Our mission is straightforward:
to make building projects a better value. We thrive on solving complex challenges and creating solutions that enhance the built environment, enabling our clients to succeed in their most important endeavors.
WHY AE WORKS?
Our strength lies in our people. We offer a collaborative environment where expertise is shared, and ideas drive progress. You’ll work alongside architects, engineers, cost estimators, and construction managers with deep experience across higher education, government, engineering & infrastructure, healthcare and commercial markets. Together, we apply leading-edge technology and a passion for design excellence to projects that shape the future.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Director of Project Operations owns the operating system AE Works uses to manage its active project portfolio. The role is responsible for maintaining a trusted view of project schedule, budget, percent complete, staffing, and delivery risk across the firm.
Project Managers remain accountable for the performance and delivery of their individual projects. The Director of Project Operations owns the standards, controls, portfolio visibility, and operating cadence that allow those projects to be managed effectively.
The role works closely with Project Managers, the Project Accountant, discipline leadership, the Operations Excellence Leader, and the SVP of Operations to identify issues early, coordinate resources, improve how work moves through the firm, and strengthen project management practices.
Because not all projects carry the same strategic, financial, client, or delivery importance, this role helps establish and maintain clear portfolio priorities so resources and leadership attention are directed to the work that matters most.
A central objective of the role is to strengthen the capability of the PM group rather than create a centralized layer of project management. Processes, tools, and information should increasingly allow Project Managers to make decisions and manage their work directly.
Above all, this role exists to keep work moving. It identifies projects that are falling behind, ensures the responsible PM has a clear recovery plan, helps remove organizational roadblocks, and escalates issues when necessary.
LOCATION:
Pittsburgh, PA, Washington DC, or Remote
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Project controls and portfolio visibility (30%)
Establish and maintain standards for project setup, WBS structure, schedules, budgets, staffing plans, and percent complete.
Maintain a reliable portfolio view of project performance using ERP actuals and other approved project data.
Review material schedule, budget, and percent complete exceptions with the responsible PM before billing.
Ensure project information is structured consistently and supports financial and operational management.
Portfolio prioritization and resource management (25%)
Own the firmwide resource allocation process and portfolio staffing view.
Work with Project Managers and discipline leadership to identify near term staffing needs, capacity constraints, overbooking, and delivery risks.
Apply established portfolio priorities when allocating constrained resources, recognizing that staffing decisions should reflect strategic importance, client commitments, financial impact, schedule urgency, and delivery risk rather than treating all projects equally.
Facilitate regular resource and prioritization discussions and ensure unresolved conflicts are elevated to the appropriate leader.
Improve the visibility and efficiency of resource planning without creating unnecessary administrative burden or centralized decision making.
Operational improvement and PM capability (25%)
Continuously evaluate how AE Works manages project intake, controls, staffing, prioritization, progress tracking, and portfolio information.
Partner closely with the Operations Excellence Leader to identify, design, and implement practical improvements to project operations.
Work with Project Managers, finance, discipline leadership, and the SVP of Operations to ensure improvements are practical and integrated into how projects are actually delivered.
Determine which activities require centralized standards and controls and which should increasingly move into the normal workflow of the PM group.
Build processes, tools, and operating routines that allow Project Managers to assume greater ownership over time.
Project progress and accountability (20%)
Identify projects that are not progressing as expected using schedule, budget, staffing, priority, and other delivery indicators.
Require the responsible Project Manager to establish a clear recovery plan when performance begins to deteriorate.
Help resolve organizational roadblocks and coordinate support where necessary.
Escalate persistent delivery risks to the SVP of Operations or other firm leadership.
QUALIFICATIONS
Degree from an accredited institution in Architecture or Engineering. Minimum of six (6) years of experience in both design and construction. Focus must be in medical facilities.
Must be a professional licensed Architect (RA) or a Professional Engineer (PE).
OR
Fifteen (15) years of direct related experience. Seven (7) years of experience must be in managing construction projects, including the supervision of engineering, design, and construction with the understanding of scheduling, cost control/budgeting, and project management.
Ability to present at least three completed projects of comparable scale/complexity in a similar role.
Must be able to understand the requirements of the local state and federal jurisdictions and the requirements
Working knowledge of construction practices: construction contract documents, front end and technical specifications. Understanding of the drawings with the ability to assess for requirements.
Knowledge of engineering services, building codes, budgeting, and scheduling of a project.
AE WORKS' PERKS:
At AE Works, we believe in supporting each person in their professional and personal journey. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k), and a collaborative culture built on mentorship, accountability, and technical excellence. Our team enjoys generous paid time off, including a company-wide break from Christmas through New Year’s Day, a flexible hybrid schedule, and resources that promote mental health, financial wellness, and professional growth through training, education, and licensure support.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.
EEO is the law
. AE Works uses
E-Verify
. You have the
Right to Work
.