--- title: 'Project Lead/Senior Project Manager - Architect at DISHER' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/project-lead-senior-project-manager-architect-disher-grand-rapids-54mghms09vrt' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-11' --- # Project Lead/Senior Project Manager - Architect at DISHER - **Company:** DISHER - **Location:** Grand Rapids, MI - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** hybrid - **Posted:** 2026-04-15 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/disher/cc515ef6-e0a8-4f1f-bb37-d349c22c97f4 ## Job description Project Lead / Senior Project Manager - Grand Rapids, MI (hybrid) DISHER is partnering with a growing, design-forward architecture firm in Grand Rapids that specializes in education and community-focused projects in their search for a Project Lead / Senior Project Manager. This firm is about five years old and combines a startup feel with solid systems and processes. This role leads projects from contract through construction, serving as the primary client contact and internal project leader, while working closely with a tight-knit team of architects and designers. What it's like to work here: This is a smaller studio with most of the team in Grand Rapids and a highly collaborative, open-studio environment. The work is heavily rooted in K–12 and private education, with additional projects in healthcare, nonprofit, municipal, and mixed-use spaces. The culture is casual, social, and very people-centered. Leadership is intentional about planning workloads to avoid chronic overtime, and project leaders have a real voice in how work gets done and how processes evolve. What you'll get to do: - Lead architectural projects from contract through construction, acting as the main point of contact for clients and representing the firm’s process and values. - Own project scope, schedule, and fees, including staffing plans and overall project profitability. - Guide and mentor project teams of architects and designers, providing direction while staying close to the work. - Coordinate with engineering and specialty consultants, ensuring alignment between internal teams and external partners. - Oversee construction administration activities, including RFIs, submittals, site visits, and field reports. - Draft and manage professional services agreements and standard AIA contracts. - Facilitate internal and external meetings—setting agendas, documenting decisions, and driving follow-through. - Support and help refine project delivery workflows and tools as the firm continues to grow. What will make you successful: - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture; licensure preferred. - Approximately 8–10+ years of architectural project experience, with at least 5 years in a project management or project lead role. - Experience leading projects through construction administration, ideally in K–12 education and related community-focused sectors; bond work experience is a plus. - Strong understanding of project delivery, A/E fee structures, staffing, and project financials. - Comfortable working with tools like Bluebeam, Google Workspace, and project planning/tracking software (such as Monograph). - Clear, confident communicator who can build trust with clients, internal teams, consultants, and contractors. - Organized, proactive problem-solver who can think on their feet and enjoys being both client-facing and hands-on with the work. - Collaborative, approachable, and energized by working in a close-knit studio environment where culture and relationships matter. ## About DISHER ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: DISHER is an engineering, product development, manufacturing technology, and talent solutions firm that partners with clients to innovate and build custom solutions across diverse industries. - **Entity Type**: Private (Employee-Owned via ESOP) - **Headquarters**: Zeeland, Michigan, USA - **Founded**: 2000 - **Founders**: Jeff Disher ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Engineering Services, Product Development, Manufacturing Technology, Talent Solutions - **Target customers**: B2B, primarily mid-market to Fortune 500 companies across a wide range of industries including automotive, consumer goods, medical, and industrial equipment in the US and globally. - **Mission or purpose statement**: "Making a Positive Difference" — through integral relationships and innovative solutions with customers, coworkers, and communities. Their vision is to leave the world better than they found it. ## Products & Services - **Product Development**: Integrated design and engineering services from concept through production, covering mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. - **Manufacturing Solutions**: Services to streamline processes, boost productivity, and advance manufacturing technology, including automation and process optimization. - **Electronics Engineering**: Design and development of electronic systems and embedded solutions. - **Talent Solutions**: Staffing and consulting to place top engineering, design, and technical talent into client teams (both short-term contractors and permanent hires). - **DISHER Extended Network (DEN)**: A vetted network of freelance and contract professionals (engineers, designers, project managers) who work on a project-by-project basis for DISHER clients. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (Private, ESOP-owned company). No external funding rounds. - **Key Metric**: Core team of 130+ employees, with an extended network (DEN) of over 70 experts. Headcount has grown significantly from a one-person operation founded in 2000. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not applicable (100% employee-owned). Bi-weekly meetings review state of the business, indicating strong internal transparency on financials. - **Growth Signals**: 130+ core team members signals steady, stable growth over 20+ years. They are an award-winning firm that augments teams for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies, indicating strong reputation and demand. ## Competitive Advantages - **Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)**: Every full-time core employee becomes an owner of the company, fostering a strong sense of ownership and alignment with the company’s long-term success. This is a powerful differentiator. - **Strong, Intentional Culture**: Built on 12 core culture characteristics (e.g., Unvarnished Communication, Trusting Relationships, Innovation, Stewardship) that are actively lived out through weekly team lunches, offsites, and ongoing feedback. - **Flexibility & Autonomy**: No fixed start/end times for workdays. Team members are encouraged to work where they are most productive (office, remote, or at client sites). - **High Employee Satisfaction**: 98% of teammates say DISHER is a great place to work, as per their internal Great Place to Work survey. - **Community Commitment**: 10% of profits are given back to community and nonprofit organizations. Employees get 20 paid hours of volunteer time annually. ## Strategic Focus - **Deepening Client Partnerships**: Moving beyond being "extra hands" to becoming true partners that help clients achieve their vision. - **Continuous Improvement**: Using workplace assessments (Great Place to Work, Denison Organizational Culture Survey) to refine culture and operations. - **Talent Development**: Investing heavily in their people through DISHER University, individual coaching, and personal development opportunities to maintain a high-caliber team. - **Expanding the Extended Network (DEN)**: Growing their network of vetted freelance talent to provide flexible, scalable solutions for clients. ## Why Work Here - **Culture is Core**: DISHER intentionally builds a collaborative, transparent, and supportive environment. Their 12 core characteristics guide how employees treat each other and customers. - **Flexible & Remote-Friendly**: They have no fixed daily start/end times and support working from the office in Zeeland, MI, from home, or at client locations, based on what is most productive. - **Exceptional Benefits**: - **Employee Ownership (ESOP)**: Full-time employees are immediately enrolled in an ESOP, providing a unique retirement benefit in addition to a 401k. - **Generous Time Off**: Up to 4 weeks of vacation plus 11 paid holidays. - **Parental Leave**: 2 weeks off after the birth or adoption of a child. - **Paid Impact Time**: 80 hours per year for community service, professional development, and charitable work. - **Insurance**: Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health resources. - **Team Bonding & Events**: Weekly all-team Friday lunches, two companywide offsites per year, a Christmas party, a summer picnic, and group sports sponsorships. - **Growth & Development**: Formal programs like DISHER University, educational reimbursement, individual coaching, and subject matter communities. ## Sources 1. [disher.com - Company Homepage](https://www.disher.com/) 2. [disher.com - About Us](https://www.disher.com/about/) 3. [disher.com - Careers Page](https://www.disher.com/careers/) 4. [disher.com - Our Culture Page](https://www.disher.com/our-culture/) 5. 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