Design Manager

Vanir; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer matching

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid time off

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Vanir is seeking a Design Manager in Los Angeles to oversee design activities for college campus capital projects. The role involves ensuring compliance with DSA standards and managing the design process from planning through close-out.

The ideal candidate will possess at least a Bachelor’s in Architecture or a related field, with over 10 years of experience in design management, especially in educational settings. A competitive benefits package is offered.

Qualifications

• 10+ years managing facilities design or planning for capital projects.
• 5+ years of design experience in educational facilities or similar.
• Strong knowledge of DSA requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead design for campus capital projects ensuring compliance.
• Coordinate effectively between Capital Program Team and Design Team.
• Ensure quality and timely production of all design deliverables.

Skills

Project management

Design management

Quality assurance

Communication

Knowledge of DSA requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Overview

Vanir is a proud minority‑ and woman‑owned company, recognized as a national leader in program, project and construction management (PMCM) and real estate development. Since 1964, we have consistently exceeded client expectations. Ranked as a top PMCM firm by Engineering News‑Record (ENR) for more than three decades, our award‑winning team provides a full range of services to public and private sector clients in the aviation, healthcare, education (K‑12 and higher), justice and essential services, science and technology, state and local government, transportation, water and wastewater, energy, and commercial, residential and nonprofit markets.

Job Description

The Design Manager plans, organizes, and directs all design‑related activities for College campus capital projects. Serving as the lead design professional, this role provides oversight throughout pre‑construction and design phases, ensuring quality, compliance, and alignment with District standards and regulatory requirements, including coordination with the Division of the State Architect (DSA). The Design Manager acts as the primary liaison between the Capital Program Team (CPT) and the Design Team.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the full design life‑cycle for Campus Projects, from initial planning through close‑out and DSA certification, ensuring compliance with DSA guidelines and bulletins, approved programming and project criteria documents, applicable building codes, project schedules and budgets, District design and construction standards, District policies and procedures, and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Provide pre‑construction and phase management services, including quality reviews and implementation of established policies and procedures.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between the CPT and the Design Team to facilitate effective coordination, communication, and issue resolution.
• Collaborate with CPT members, design consultants, and District stakeholders to define project scope, resolve design‑related issues, and ensure stakeholder expectations are clearly understood and addressed.
• Manage, develop, and oversee the design process to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant production, review, and approval of all design deliverables, including adherence to program, project, and schedule requirements.
• Perform comprehensive QA/QC reviews of plans, specifications, schedules, cut sheets, and other design documents to ensure quality, constructability, coordination, clarity, and compliance with project requirements.
• Provide architects and consultants with clear, consistent direction regarding project goals and objectives, District standards, site requirements, schedules, and budgets.
• During construction, review and provide comments on DSA Construction Change Directives (CCDs) to ensure completeness, compliance, and consistency with approved design intent.
• Guide the Design Team through the DSA review and approval process, evaluate and report on the cost, schedule, and scope impacts of design changes, and manage DSA box submittals.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning, Construction Management, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of full‑time professional experience managing facilities design or planning and coordinating capital improvement projects. Experience must include overall design management, contract administration, cost estimating, and project scheduling.
• At least 5 years of experience in the design, planning, and construction of educational facilities or similar public agency projects, including work requiring DSA or OSHPD/HCAi certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong working knowledge of DSA requirements, including applicable provisions of the California Public Contract Code and regulations governing DSA plan review and approvals.
• Demonstrated experience managing the design of major K‑14 or higher education facilities.
• Familiarity with sustainable design principles and their application in public sector projects.
• Understanding of risk management principles, including identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks.
• Experience with scope definition, scope control, and coordination across multiple project interfaces.
• Current and valid California architectural license issued by the California State Architectural Board.
• Current and valid Professional Engineer (PE) license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Benefits

Vanir offers a comprehensive, competitive benefits package that includes 401(k) savings with employer matching contributions, medical, dental, vision, health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions, life, AD&D and disability benefits, flexible spending account (FSA), voluntary benefits, Teladoc, pet insurance, paid time off, national employee assistance program (EAP) and employee referral program.

EEO Statement

VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals. EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled. Persons with medical limitations may, with reasonable accommodations, be capable of performing the duties of this position. Such a determination must be made on an individual basis considering the person’s limitations, the requirements of the position, and the company’s ability to make reasonable accommodations to the person’s limitations. We participate in E‑Verify. Pursuant to the Ban The Box Act/Fair Chance Initiative, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Posted Salary Range

USD $150,000.00 - USD $168,000.00 /Yr.