Senior Design Manager (Planning)

Description

Kitchell seeks an experienced and dedicated Senior Design Manager (Planning) to join our Southern California region in Los Angeles and build a long-term career at one of the most innovative and growth-oriented building companies in the United States.

This opportunity is embedded at one of our core regional clients with a well-financed backlog of work.

Responsibilities

• 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

Requirements

Education and Experience

• 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 is required
• 5 years of this experience must be with the design, planning and construction of K-12 educational facilities is required
• Bachelor's degree in architecture, urban planning, or a related field is required (Master's Degree is preferred)
• Continuing education and training specific to educational facilities planning is preferred

Licenses and Certifications

• A credential as a Certified Architect in the State of California is preferred
• Accredited Learning Environments Planner (ALEP) designation is preferred
• A valid California driver's license free from suspensions or restrictions is required

Travel Requirements

These positions are executed on site in person at the client's downtown Los Angeles, CA office.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office environment and frequently works in a construction environment. Conditions occasionally include exposure to outdoor elements, hot/cold temperatures, wet conditions, noise, atmospheric conditions, and cramped quarters. The noise level in the work environment is regularly moderate and occasionally loud.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the position is moderately active and the employee is required to regularly sit, talk or hear and use hands to finger, feel and handle; frequently stand, walk and reach with hands and arms; occasionally climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Must frequently lift and or move 5 pounds and occasionally lift and or move up to 20 pounds.