Senior Design Manager – Planning (Closed)

Paragon Em; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 206,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Senior Design Manager for the Los Angeles Unified School District. This role involves developing standards for educational facilities, managing design processes, and coordinating with various stakeholders to enhance instructional programs. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in K-12 educational facilities and a strong background in architecture. This position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to make a significant impact on educational infrastructure.

Qualifications

• 15 years of experience managing facilities design or capital projects.
• 5 years in K-12 educational facilities design and planning.

Responsibilities

• Develops and updates LAUSD’s standards and guidelines.
• Coordinates with architects and instructional staff for facility attributes.
• Manages the design process for the Facilities Planning and Development Division.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in architecture

Master’s degree in architecture

Continuing education specific to educational facilities planning

Job description

SENIOR DESIGN MANAGER – PLANNING

Program: Los Angeles Unified School District – Asset Management
Salary Range: $175.8K to $205.2K annual base salary plus benefits
Positions Open: One (1)

DUTIES:

• Develops, coordinates and updates LAUSD’s standards and guidelines, including Educational Specifications, School Design Guide and space program templates.
• Supports leadership with prioritizing capital projects and programs including data driven analysis, managing complicated prioritization methodologies, and preparing and presenting recommendations.
• Meets with instructional staff, school sites, and architects to define facility attributes that will support and enhance the instructional programs.
• Develops standards and guidelines to ensure that both new and modernized facilities meet educational requirements.
• Coordinates with Furniture and Interiors Group to develop furniture and equipment solutions to meet educational needs.
• Conducts post-occupancy assessments with instructional staff to determine necessary improvements or adjustments to District Standards.
• Reviews and supports development of project space programs that align with District standard education specifications and respond to each school’s instructional needs.
• Review project design deliverables and provide comments regarding the appropriateness of the space planning and the physical adjacencies.
• Coordinates with California Department of Education (CDE) requirements. Supports review and submittal for CDE plan approval.
• Plans, organizes, and directs the design activities for the School Upgrade Program and critical repair projects. Functions as the lead design professional in the Design Department providing quality review, implementation of policy and procedures and interface and coordinates with the Division of State Architects (DSA).
• Manages, develops, and coordinates the District’s design process for the Facilities Planning and Development Division to ensure that plans are within functional program, budgetary, environmental and legal requirements.
• Establishes and follows a process to identify and select the architectural firm best suited for each project based on the firms’ qualifications and ability to meet performance standards.
• Provides Architects with clear and consistent direction with regard to goals and objectives, standards, site, schedule, and budget for each project.
• Ensures that all steps within the project are documented and that the documentation meets legal requirements.
• Reviews design changes submitted to ensure project remains within budget.
• Recommends architectural firm assignment from an established list of pre-qualified architectural firms.
• Develops continuing education opportunities, i.e., seminars and workshops, to learn and share updated information on working with architects and contractors.
• Coordinates project activities with other District organizational branches and departments
• such as the Office of the Environmental Health and Safety, A/E Design Services, Maintenance and Operations, School Occupancy Transitional Unit, Asbestos Technical Unit and Local Districts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Fifteen (15) years full time paid professional experience managing the facilities design, or the planning and coordination of capital projects that includes the overall design, contract administration, cost estimating, and scheduling activities
• 5 years of this experience must be with the design, planning and construction of K-12 educational facilities

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, urban planning, or a related field.
• A master’s degree in architecture is preferred
• Continuing education and training specific to educational facilities planning preferred

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES:

• A valid Certificate of Registration as an Architect by the California State Architectural Board or Professional Engineer by the State Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
• Accredited Learning Environments Planner (ALEP) designation

RESUME SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Deadline to submit resume:
Friday May 2, 2025 @ 9:00am (no late submissions accepted)
Please email cover letter, resume, and salary requirements: [e-mail]
Subject line: LAUSD Senior Design Manager, Planning

Approximate Processing Time:
SHORTLIST: Within 1 week after deadline to submit resume.
INTERVIEW: Within 2 weeks after deadline to submit resume.
SELECTION NOTIFICATION: Within 3 weeks after deadline to submit resume.
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Recruitment # CM-SDM-0425-30