Construction Contract Administrator

McMillan Pazdan Smith is an award‑winning architecture, interior design, and advisory services firm with eleven studios in the Southeast. With 300 employees and a boutique atmosphere, the firm emphasizes strong client relationships, community partnerships, and collaborative, well‑constructed environmental design.

Responsibilities

• Support project teams and provide project process guidance.
• Assist with construction administration activities, including reading and interpreting plans, specifications, and contract documents.
• Understand terms and conditions of owner‑architect agreements, owner‑GC agreements, and Construction Manager (CM) contract requirements.
• Communicate with project architects, other contract administrators (CAs), and consultants to resolve issues promptly and in an organized manner.
• Perform quality control throughout the project life cycle.
• Participate in mandatory monthly CA meetings covering technology, best practices, lessons learned, and related topics.
• Attend CA, design studio, and project team meetings.
• Conduct field verification of existing conditions, alone or with architects and other CAs.
• Assist with pre‑construction specification and drawing quality control, constructability reviews, and identification of engineering coordination, code compliance, and construction method concerns.
• Participate in design‑to‑CA hand‑off with the Project Manager (PM) and Project Architect (PA), reviewing schedule, design intent, special features, budget, and client expectations.
• Maintain MPS record set documents, including filing, organization, revisions, and RFI responses.
• Monitor projects for compliance with construction documents and client standards.
• Issue document revisions, process shop drawings and submittals promptly.
• Travel to project sites for visits and meetings; prepare field observation reports with photographs.
• Attend Owner/Architect/Construction (OAC) meetings, record accurate minutes, and help close action items.
• Serve as liaison between owners and contractors; generate and issue punch‑lists.
• Receive, review, and distribute third‑party and special inspection test reports; log deficiencies for correction.
• Review change order requests, provide recommendations, and track engineering scope change orders.
• Review payment applications for certification.
• Assist with closeout activities, including review of as‑builts, O&M manuals, warranties, attic stock transmittals, financials, and lien releases.
• Facilitate GC financial closeout after all other closeout tasks are completed.
• Participate in post‑construction closeout, lessons‑learned discussions, and perform post‑construction services or investigations as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or associate degree in construction science, management, architecture, engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years combined experience in construction administration and/or architecture.
• Previous experience in an architecture, engineering, or construction industry firm.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to read and understand plan documents and building technology fundamentals.
• Excellent time‑management, prioritization, and multitasking skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication, attention to detail, and organizational abilities.
• Self‑motivated, able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Bluebeam Revu.
• Experience with Newforma Project Center.
• Experience with PlanGrid document management system.

Physical Demands

• Occasional standing, walking, sitting, reaching, balancing, kneeling, or crouching.
• Occasional lifting or carrying of up to 25 pounds.
• Vision requirements: close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and focus adjustment.
• Exposure to construction site conditions, including loud noise levels.

Workplace Environment

The role involves occasional exposure to hazardous conditions on construction sites, with typically loud noise levels. In the office setting, the environment is moderate in noise and free from hazardous conditions.