Position Summary
Great States Construction, a leading commercial general contractor based in Fargo, ND, is seeking a licensed Project Architect to support the design of multifamily and commercial construction projects across North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana. Working in an integrated design-build environment, this individual will contribute to projects from schematic design through construction administration, partnering closely with senior leadership, in-house project management, and field teams to deliver buildings that are constructible, on budget, and on schedule. This is a regional role with project work spread across four states, making it ideal for a licensed architect ready to build deep multi-jurisdictional code experience and grow toward a senior design leadership position. This role will report to the VP of Construction.
Compensation Structure
$90,000k/yr+ depending on experiencePerformance-based bonus opportunitiesProject Portfolio
Ground-up multifamily and commercial construction projectsOpportunity to lead larger-scale, mixed-use developments across the Upper Midwest and Northern RockiesKey Responsibilities
Site Selection and Preliminary Layout
Assist with evaluating potential development sites from an architectural, planning, code, and constructability perspective.Develop, review, and refine preliminary layouts, test fits, access points, circulation, parking, building placement, and site efficiency.Identify early constraints such as zoning, setbacks, easements, utilities, drainage, grading, access, code issues, and permitting challenges.Design Management and Brand Consistency
Work with outside architectural firms to maintain project uniformity, design standards, schedule, and conformance with brand expectations.Review drawings, elevations, details, specifications, finish selections, and design decisions for quality, consistency, and constructability.Help create, maintain, and improve company standards, prototype details, preferred materials, and lessons learned for future projects.Consultant and Entitlement Coordination
Manage and coordinate architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, MEP consultants, landscape consultants, surveyors, and specialty consultants.Support the entitlement process through city, county, and state approvals, including planning, zoning, permitting, utilities, and agency reviews.Track design deliverables, review comments, consultant responses, and approval milestones to keep projects moving forward.Bidding, Value Engineering, and Material Approvals
Assist with bidding by reviewing drawings and specifications for completeness, coordination, missing scope, and constructability concerns.Support value engineering efforts that improve cost, availability, efficiency, durability, and long-term maintenance without sacrificing quality or brand standards.Review proposed substitutions and material-as-equal requests for performance, appearance, compatibility, availability, and brand conformance.Construction-Phase Support and QA/QC
Serve as an owner-side design and quality resource throughout construction.Work with contractors and consultants to verify that work conforms to approved plans, specifications, codes, and Great States standards.Act as the QA/QC manager for Great States Construction by documenting observations, tracking issues, and confirming corrective action.Review RFIs, submittals, shop drawings, field conditions, proposed changes, and coordination conflicts as needed.Closeout, Punch List, and Turnover
Assist with punch list development, quality verification, follow-up, and final completion.Coordinate closeout documentation, as-builts, warranties, manuals, certificates, and owner/management company turnover materials.Help turn completed projects over to the management company in an organized, complete, and operations-ready condition.Qualifications
5-8 years of architectural experience with demonstrated exposure to multifamily and commercial projects.Strong working knowledge of IBC, ADA, and multi-state building code amendments (ND, MN, SD, MT)Demonstrated ability to lead projects with increasing design and coordination responsibilityAbility to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, design-build environmentExcellent communication, graphic, and problem-solving skills.Bachelors or Masters degree in Architecture from a NAAB-accredited program.Current architectural licensure required with active NCARB record; North Dakota licensure or ability to obtain via reciprocity within 90 days of hire; willingness and ability to pursue MN, SD, and MT licensure via reciprocity as project needs require.Clean driving record and willingness to travel regionally to project sites.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required
Revit and AutoCAD proficiency required must be able to produce production-level documents independently.Bluebeam Revu for markups, submittal review, and document control.Procore experience for construction administration, RFIs, and submittals (preferred).Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) for presentations and client deliverables.Familiarity with SketchUp, Enscape, or similar visualization tools is a plus.Strong time management and multi-tasking abilities across concurrent project phases.Team-oriented with a commitment to design quality, constructability, and professional growth.Benefits and Perks
Health, dental, and vision insurance with HSASupplementary insurance401k with a match of 4%Flexible time off and 9 paid holidaysPaid volunteer hoursContinuing education (HSW) and professional development supportAIA membership dues, NCARB record fees, and multi-state licensure reimbursement (ND, MN, SD, MT)Performance-based bonus opportunities tied to project successPhysical Demands
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.Regular regional travel to active construction sites across ND, MN, SD, and MT, including standing/walking, climbing ladders, and navigating uneven terrain.Why Join Us
Rare opportunity to work across full project lifecycles in-house at a growing design-build GCWork side-by-side with construction teams see your drawings get builtBuild a uniquely broad multi-state portfolio across the Upper Midwest and Northern RockiesExposure to both multifamily and commercial project types across diverse marketsClear path toward Senior Project Architect and Director-level design leadershipWork on meaningful, visible projects in a high-growth regional marketWE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
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