Senior Design Manager

Element Consulting•Los Angeles, CA

6d•$175,000 - $195,000•Onsite

About The Position

Element Consulting is seeking a Senior Design Manager to plan, organize, and direct design activities for the School Upgrade Program and critical repair projects. This role functions as the lead design professional within the Design Department, responsible for quality review, policy implementation, and coordination with the Division of State Architects (DSA). The Senior Design Manager will manage, develop, and coordinate the District’s design process for the Facilities Planning and Development Division, ensuring projects align with functional program, budgetary, environmental, and legal requirements. This includes managing multiple projects from conception through final approval, overseeing compliance with LAUSD standards, selecting architectural firms, and providing clear direction to design professionals. The role also involves establishing an effective design review process, ensuring timely decision-making, maintaining project documentation, reviewing design changes, and participating in community outreach. Additionally, the Senior Design Manager will coordinate with various District organizational branches and departments and develop continuing education opportunities for staff.

Requirements

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 educational facilities or similar public agencies.
Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor’s degree in architecture or engineering.
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.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in architecture or engineering is preferred.

Responsibilities

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.
Manages multiple projects through interaction with Architects, consultants, and District personnel from project conception, through draft to final review, approval, and handoff to Project Execution.
Oversees the building design process to ensure compliance with LAUSD’s standards and guidelines for the District by working with design professionals and various District administrators to ensure that new and modernized structures meet both educational and building standards 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.
Establishes and follows an effective and efficient design review process to ensure that the design meets the overall goals and objectives for the project, provides maximum value for dollars budgeted, and are appropriate and enduring to meet the functional needs of the District, the local community, and the environment.
Ensures that decisions are made in a timely manner.
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.
Participates in community relations and outreach programs to create understanding and acceptance of District building projects design within the community.
Coordinates with a host of professional staff who support the design function for the District.
Develops continuing education opportunities, i.e., seminars and workshops, to learn and share up-to-date 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.