Senior Design Manager
Job Description
PADCOM is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to support the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Facilities Services Division – Asset Management. This leadership role is responsible for directing design activities for major capital improvement, modernization, and critical repair projects while ensuring compliance with District standards, Division of the State Architect (DSA) requirements, budgets, schedules, and educational program objectives.
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Position Summary
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The Senior Design Manager serves as the district's lead design professional, managing multiple capital projects from concept through design completion and transition into construction. This position oversees consultant performance, design quality, architectural firm selection, design reviews, stakeholder coordination, and regulatory compliance while providing technical leadership to support successful delivery of LAUSD's Capital Improvement Program.
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Key Responsibilities
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Design Leadership
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- Plan, organize, and direct design activities for school modernization, upgrade, and critical repair projects.
- Serve as the lead design professional responsible for design quality and implementation of District design policies.
- Coordinate with the Division of the State Architect (DSA) throughout project development.
- Provide technical leadership and design guidance across multiple concurrent projects.
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Design Management
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- Manage projects from planning and conceptual design through final design approval and handoff to Project Execution.
- Coordinate activities with architects, consultants, engineers, District staff, and stakeholders.
- Ensure projects satisfy educational, operational, environmental, legal, budgetary, and functional requirements.
- Review design modifications to maintain scope, schedule, and budget objectives.
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Consultant Management
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- Lead the architectural firm selection process using District pre-qualified consultant lists.
- Provide clear direction regarding project scope, design standards, schedules, budgets, and performance expectations.
- Evaluate consultant performance throughout project delivery.
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Quality Assurance & Compliance
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- Implement comprehensive design review processes to maximize project value.
- Ensure compliance with LAUSD standards, DSA requirements, applicable building codes, and educational facility guidelines.
- Maintain complete project documentation that satisfies legal and regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate with Environmental Health & Safety, A/E Design Services, Maintenance & Operations, School Occupancy, Asbestos Technical Unit, and Local Districts.
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Stakeholder & Community Coordination
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- Participate in community outreach efforts supporting District building programs.
- Coordinate with District leadership and project stakeholders.
- Facilitate timely design decisions and issue resolution.
- Develop continuing education opportunities related to design, construction, and industry best practices.
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Minimum Qualifications
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- Bachelor's degree in architecture or engineering.
- Minimum 15 years of professional experience managing facility design or capital improvement projects involving:
- Design management
- Capital planning
- Contract administration
- Cost estimating
- Project scheduling
- Minimum 5 years managing the design, planning, and construction of K-12 educational facilities.
- Current California Registered Architect license or California Professional Engineer (PE) license.
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Preferred Qualifications
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- Master's degree in architecture or engineering.
- Extensive experience with Division of the State Architect (DSA) processes.
- Experience leading large educational capital improvement programs.
- Experience managing multiple architectural consulting firms.
- Strong knowledge of educational facility planning and design standards.
- Experience with community outreach and stakeholder engagement.
- Familiarity with sustainable design and modernization programs.
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Software Skills
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- Microsoft Office Suite
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Project
- Bluebeam Revu
- Adobe Acrobat
- AutoCAD (Preferred)
- Revit (Preferred)
- Project Management Information Systems (PMIS)
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