Design Manager III

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager III Company: CLMI Group, LLC Location: Los Angeles, California, United States Job Type: Full-Time Category: Design Management / Operations Oversight Date Posted: February 18, 2026 Experience Level: 15+ Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the enforcement of architectural and engineering review procedures to ensure adherence to contractual best practices and standards, vital for project success and compliance.
• Provide comprehensive oversight for design support management, scope of work definition, and the intricate process of design review and approval, directly impacting project timelines and quality.
• Facilitate permitting processes and coordinate with agencies, acting as a critical technical liaison to bridge communication gaps between stakeholders and ensure project progression.
• Champion Building Information Modeling (BIM) coordination, working closely with LAWA's Central Building Information Management (cBIM) to define and implement BIM strategies aligned with project needs and industry standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Design Manager III," the core responsibilities heavily lean into operational oversight of the design and construction process for a large-scale infrastructure project (LAX Terminal 7 & 8 Refresh). This role requires a strong understanding of project management principles, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional coordination, making it highly relevant for operations professionals with a background in large-scale project execution, construction management, or infrastructure development. The "III" designation suggests a senior-level role with significant responsibility and autonomy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee the meticulous review and approval of all technical documents, ensuring compliance with project specifications, contractual obligations, and LAWA standards.
• Lend critical expertise to manage and resolve comments arising from design reviews, facilitating timely feedback loops and ensuring that all stakeholder concerns are addressed.
• Act as the primary technical liaison between Developers/Design-Builders and LAWA's Subject Matter Expert teams, fostering clear communication and collaborative problem-solving.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager to define, review, and approve design requirements, responsibilities, and program consistency, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
• Provide expert guidance to the Project Manager on potential ambiguities or deficiencies in design requirements within project documents, proactively mitigating risks.
• Perform technical reviews of changes to the scope of work for each project, assessing their impact on budget, schedule, and overall project goals.
• Establish and enforce submittal approval procedures, ensuring uniformity and efficiency in the review approach across all project disciplines.
• Audit project team comments and designer responses to ensure quality, accuracy, and adherence to project standards for the Terminal 7 & 8 Refresh project.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with architectural and engineering guidelines, maintaining consistency and high design quality throughout the project lifecycle.
• Monitor and manage the permitting information and process required from the design team, ensuring timely submissions and approvals.
• Support the Project Manager in ensuring that all design reviews are completed punctually and within budgetary constraints.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive Terminal 7 & 8 Project scope tracker to verify that all scope elements are accounted for and assigned appropriately.
• Provide guidance related to functional requirements outlined in technical specifications and other project documents supplied by LAWA.
• Monitor BIM productions from all designers and contractors, ensuring adherence to LAWA BIM Standards and the BIM Execution Plan.
• Serve as the technical lead for design review processes and comment resolution, in close coordination with the Project Manager and the Design Review Team (DRT).
• Provide technical support and coordination between the Terminal 7 & 8 Project team and other TDIP project teams to ensure program consistency across all disciplines.
• Contribute technical support for adjacent LAWA projects as needed to ensure accurate interface management.
• Prepare and review briefings, meeting agendas, and supporting materials for critical meetings, including Board presentations, Steering Committee meetings, and stakeholder outreach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive list of responsibilities highlights a highly operational role focused on process execution, stakeholder management, and quality assurance within a complex construction environment. Emphasis on "monitoring," "overseeing," "enforcing," and "coordinating" points to a need for exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously. The focus on "LAWA standards" and "contractual best practices" underscores the importance of compliance and rigorous process adherence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a closely related field is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 15 years of experience managing the design of large, complex building projects, utilities, and infrastructure improvements is mandatory.
• Demonstrated experience with complex aviation improvements is a critical requirement.
• Proven track record with projects exceeding $100 million in value.
• Experience with various project delivery methods, including Design-Bid-Build, Design+CMAR, and Design/Build, is essential for understanding diverse project structures.

Required Skills:

• Design Management: Proven ability to lead and manage design processes for large-scale, complex projects.
• Architectural & Engineering Review: Expertise in evaluating and approving architectural and engineering plans and specifications.
• Scope Management: Skill in defining, tracking, and controlling project scope to prevent scope creep and ensure alignment with objectives.
• Permitting & Agency Coordination: Strong understanding of permitting processes and effective strategies for coordinating with regulatory agencies.
• BIM Coordination: Proficiency in overseeing and ensuring compliance with BIM standards and execution plans.
• Comment Resolution: Demonstrated ability to facilitate and manage the resolution of technical comments from multiple stakeholders.
• Technical Liaison: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to serve as an effective technical bridge between diverse teams.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for documentation, reporting, and communication.
• Bluebeam: Expertise in using Bluebeam Revu for document review, markup, and collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Professional Licensure: A Professional Architect (RA) or Professional Engineer (PE) license is strongly preferred, indicating a deep understanding of design principles and professional standards.
• Project Management Information Systems (PMIS): Familiarity with PMIS platforms for managing project documentation, schedules, and communication.
• CAD/Revit: Basic ability to work with or understand CAD or Revit software is a plus, aiding in the interpretation of design documents.
• Airport Project Experience: Specific experience on airport infrastructure projects is highly desirable, given the project's context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "15 years or more" experience requirement, coupled with the specific mention of "large, complex building projects, utilities and infrastructure improvements, preferably on airport projects" and "projects more than $100 million in value," clearly positions this as a senior-level role demanding extensive, hands-on experience in managing high-stakes, complex operational environments. The preference for professional licensure emphasizes the need for deep technical and regulatory understanding.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies of Large-Scale Project Design Management: Showcase detailed examples of managing the design phase for complex building projects, utilities, or infrastructure, particularly those exceeding $100 million in value. Highlight your role in defining scope, managing reviews, and ensuring compliance.
• Demonstrations of Process Enforcement & Standardization: Present evidence of establishing and enforcing procedures for architectural and engineering reviews, submittal approvals, and comment resolution. Quantify improvements in efficiency or quality where possible.
• Examples of BIM Implementation & Coordination: Include projects where you were instrumental in overseeing BIM coordination, adhering to specific standards (e.g., LAWA BIM Standards), and managing BIM productions. Detail your role in strategy development or implementation.
• Documentation of Permitting & Agency Coordination Successes: Provide examples of successfully navigating complex permitting processes and coordinating with various agencies for large infrastructure projects.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their methodology for designing, documenting, and optimizing workflows for design review, submittal processes, and comment resolution.
• Implementation & Automation: Demonstrate experience in implementing new processes or utilizing technology (like PMIS or Bluebeam) to streamline design management tasks and improve efficiency.
• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Be ready to discuss how you measure the effectiveness of design management processes, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and use data to drive improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role of this seniority and scope, a portfolio is not just desired but essential. It should not only list responsibilities but demonstrate tangible achievements and a systematic approach to managing complex design and operational processes within large infrastructure projects. The emphasis on "enforcing procedures," "monitoring compliance," and "managing comment resolution" means the portfolio should showcase structured problem-solving and meticulous execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $162,000 per year

Benefits:

• Health Care Plan: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage to support employee well-being.
• Retirement Plan: A 401k plan to help employees save for the future.
• 401k Matching: Employer matching contributions to enhance retirement savings.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous PTO package including vacation, sick days, and public holidays, promoting work-life balance.
• Disability & Life Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability coverage, along with life insurance, providing financial security.

Working Hours:

• This is a salaried position based on 40 hours per week.
• Work is primarily Monday-Friday, in the office or on the project site at LAX.
• After-hours or weekend work may be required to fulfill position duties and is considered part of the salary.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $150,000 - $162,000 for a Design Manager III with over 15 years of experience on large-scale projects in Los Angeles aligns with industry benchmarks for senior-level project and design management roles in high-cost-of-living areas. The benefits package is standard for a full-time salaried position, with a strong emphasis on health and retirement savings. The expectation of after-hours work is typical for project-critical roles in construction and infrastructure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Construction Management / Project Management Services (CLMI Group, LLC likely serves clients in infrastructure, aviation