Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: Fairfax, VA 22031Department: Repair & Modernization
Job Summary:
Are you a strong leader who enjoys providing expertise and recommendations to clients? Lerch Bates is seeking a Consultant who would be responsible for identifying, planning, directing, and overseeing all aspects of new design projects. This role will be primarily responsible for overseeing multiple projects and providing solutions and recommendations to clients. The Consultant will provide technical review, mentorship, and training to specialists, engineers, and other team members. The consultant acts as a technical liaison on matters pertaining to the field of practice.
About Lerch Bates
Lerch Bates (LB) is a global technical consulting firm focused on improving how buildings perform—for owners, designers, and the people who use them every day. For more than 75 years we’ve partnered on some of the world’s most complex and high‑profile projects. Today we provide Total Building Performance expertise that pairs Building Science and Building Flow with one integrated team delivery. Our work spans design, construction, investigation, repair, management and modernization with one consistent goal: helping clients make confident, well‑informed decisions in an increasingly complex Built Environment.
We are each 100% equal owners in the LB ESOP, which drives our ownership mindset and shapes everything we do. At Lerch Bates, your expertise matters, your voice carries weight and your work directly contributes to our shared success as OneLB. We invest in professional growth, collaboration, and technical excellence—supporting challenging, meaningful work alongside people who care about getting it right. If you’re motivated by solving real problems, working on impactful projects, and being part of a team that truly owns both the work and the outcome, you’re ready to be more than an employee. You’re ready to be an employee-owner.
What You’ll Do:
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed in this position. They are not intended to prescribe or restrict the assignments that management may make.
Identify, plan, direct, and coordinate each of the critical project life cycle phases. These phases typically involve the following:
Pre-design and design phase consultation and charrette meetings with project teams
Technical 3rd party design phase peer reviews and reports
Writing and/or consulting on building enclosure basis-of-design (BOD), BECx specifications, and BECx plans
Review or develop pre-construction phase QC/QA checklists, review construction documents and specifications, shop drawing/submittals, and lead/participate in project meetings
Developing functional test procedures (FTP’s) and test plans for BECx or project testing regimens
Overseeing on-site construction phase quality assurance observations, reporting, and participating in construction phase meetings
Overseeing On-site building envelope mock-up and field performance testing and reporting
Overseeing As-built building enclosure site condition assessments and reporting
Participate in design, pre-construction, and construction phase meetings to discuss client and project team positions on reviewed documents.
Offer insightful evaluation and sound recommendations to clients while working in a collaborative environment.
Lead (or participate in) pre-construction meetings to ensure that the respective parties are aware of the potential challenges associated with the building envelope.
Act as the on-site liaison for Lerch Bates clients and primary vendors on site.
Provide an expert understanding of enclosure installation quality and timing of events and the upstream and downstream impacts on the schedule.
Perform and/or oversee building envelope-related field testing (ASTM E783, E1105, AAMA 501.2, ASTM E779, etc.) as needed.
Initiate and maintain proactive communication with clients and project team members to facilitate project activities.
Perform design/technical peer reviews of architectural drawings for water, thermal, air, and vapor control systems, including consideration of curtain walls, storefront systems, wall assemblies, waterproofing, material/system selections, condensation risks, and more
Lead post-design review meetings to discuss recommendations made to improve performance of building enclosure
Provide guidance and supervision for up to 3 direct reports.
What You’ll Bring:
Bachelor’s degree in engineering discipline:  Civil, Structural, Construction, Architecture.
P.E./AIA or another relevant Licensure.
A minimum 5 years of experience in the architecture, engineering, and/or construction industry.
A strong understanding of residential, commercial, or institutional building design and construction.
Knowledge of building enclosure design principles.
An ability to communicate complex technical information and build rapport with clients, contractors, sub-contractors, employees, and other industry stakeholders via written & verbal reports and presentations.
Technical competency and an ability to effectively communicate and build rapport with clients, co-workers, and sub-contractors.
Excellent skills in technical writing and communication.
Flexible, responsive, and confident multi-tasking skills.
An ability to work independently, handle multiple deadlines, and accommodate shifting priorities.
An ability to lead and contribute to the team in a collaborative, interactive environment.
A demonstrated commitment to quality, organization, meticulous attention to detail, and consistency in work product.
Previous experience working for a contractor for structural, building envelope, commercial roofing, and/or waterproofing projects.
Previous experience working with project accounting and budget management.
Proficiency in one or more design/modeling software programs, including AutoCAD, Bluebeam®, Revit, WUFI, THERM, etc. (preferred).
Why work with Lerch Bates?
Competitive Compensation
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Employee Stock Ownership program!
Generous PTO
Incentive compensation bonus
401(k) with up to 6% employer match!
FSA and HSA
Charitable paid time off
Birthday Bonus
Paid Parental Leave
Tuition Reimbursement
Learning and Development
An entire internal department dedicated to your learning and career development!
Exceptional company culture
Employee resource groups
Team building and networking activities
And more!
Be more than just an employee…
Lerch Bates is 100% employee-owned! Our employee-owners bring a distinct “we own what we do” brand of technical consulting to every project and partnership. When you work with us, you join a company with an ownership mindset. Expect responsibility, service, and performance in everything we do. So, what does that mean for you? After a certain service time, you are eligible for stock ownership, which essentially works as an additional wealth accumulation and/or retirement account!
CORE Values: Ownership . Community . Integrity . Respect . Optimism
Working Environment:
This role involves both physical and mental demands and may be performed in various settings, including offices, construction sites, and confined spaces like elevator pits. Tasks often require frequent movement in multiple directions. Lerch Bates will provide reasonable accommodations upon request through Human Resources.
Physical Demands:
This role requires regular sitting, talking, and hearing in meetings and by phone. Employees must navigate tight spaces, climb ladders, move around construction sites, take measurements, and travel by car, air, or rail. Duties may involve working at heights and in confined spaces, using hands for tasks like typing and operating elevator components, and applying up to 30 lbs. of force. Close visual attention is also required.
Mental Demands:
This position requires strong written and verbal communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Employees must interpret complex information, apply mathematical and logical reasoning, quickly learn new skills, and manage detailed, multitask workloads under shifting deadlines. Regular interaction with executives, colleagues, clients, and external stakeholders is also expected.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug test. The drug test includes screening for marijuana, regardless of state or local laws permitting its use. A conditional offer of employment will be rescinded if a candidate fails either the background check or the drug test. This requirement is mandated by federal regulations applicable to our government contracting obligations.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.