Senior Architect Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Architect Design Manager

Company: Dabri, Inc

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Program & Construction Management / Architectural Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-12

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and manage the end-to-end architectural and engineering design process for a portfolio of complex capital projects, with a strong focus on seismic, critical repair, and retrofit initiatives.

• Direct and mentor a team of design professionals, ensuring adherence to functional program requirements, budgetary constraints, environmental regulations, and District standards.

• Spearhead the selection of qualified architectural firms, providing clear direction and oversight throughout the design lifecycle to guarantee optimal project outcomes and stakeholder satisfaction.

• Drive process optimization within the design review and coordination phases, fostering collaboration between architects, consultants, and internal District personnel to achieve project goals efficiently and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Architect Design Manager, implying a significant level of autonomy and responsibility beyond typical project management. The emphasis on "District's design process" and compliance with "LAUSD's standards" suggests a client-side or agency-focused role, likely within a public sector or large institutional setting, rather than a pure consulting firm role, despite Dabri, Inc. being a consulting firm. The core function is managing the design phase for capital improvements, requiring a blend of architectural acumen, project management rigor, and team leadership.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Manage multiple concurrent capital projects, with a specific emphasis on high-stakes seismic, critical repair, and extensive retrofit initiatives, ensuring project milestones are met and risks are proactively mitigated.

• Supervise, guide, and develop a team of internal design professionals and external consultants throughout the entire design review and coordination lifecycle.

• Develop, implement, and refine the District's architectural and engineering (A&E) design process, ensuring all plans align with functional program needs, established budgets, environmental and legal mandates, and specific District standards.

• Oversee the comprehensive building design process for new constructions and modernizations, ensuring strict compliance with LAUSD's established standards and guidelines, and balancing educational requirements with robust building codes.

• Establish and execute a rigorous process for identifying and selecting the most qualified architectural firms for each project, evaluating their technical expertise, experience, and capacity to meet stringent performance standards.

• Provide architects and consultants with unambiguous and consistent direction regarding project goals, objectives, design standards, site considerations, timelines, and budgetary allocations.

• Implement and maintain an effective and efficient design review process that scrutinizes all project elements to ensure alignment with overarching project goals and objectives.

• Ensure maximum value is delivered for budgeted funds, delivering designs that are not only appropriate and enduring but also meet the diverse functional needs of the District, the local community, and environmental sustainability goals.

• Critically review and approve design changes, meticulously assessing their impact on project budgets and overall project scope to prevent cost overruns.

• Continuously monitor project planning and design status, providing comprehensive reports on findings, recommendations, and project updates to senior leadership and relevant stakeholders.

• Perform other duties as assigned to support the strategic objectives of the design and construction management department.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on the design phase management, including firm selection, directive setting, and rigorous review. The emphasis on "seismic, critical repair and retrofit projects" and "LAUSD's standards" indicates a specialization in complex, potentially public-sector building projects requiring deep technical understanding and regulatory compliance.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Graduation from a recognized college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture or Engineering. Experience:

• A minimum of 14 years of full-time, paid professional experience in managing the facilities design lifecycle or the planning and coordination of capital projects. This experience must encompass overall design, contract administration, cost estimating, and scheduling activities.

• A minimum of 4 years of the required experience must be specifically within the design, planning, and construction of educational facilities or similar public agency projects. Required Skills:

• Expertise in Architectural Design Management: Proven ability to oversee and guide the design process for complex architectural projects from conception through to completion.

• Project Management Proficiency: Strong capabilities in managing multiple large-scale capital projects, including scope definition, planning, execution, and stakeholder coordination.

• Team Leadership & Development: Demonstrated experience in managing, supervising, and mentoring a team of design professionals and consultants.

• Budgetary Control & Cost Estimating: Skill in developing, monitoring, and managing project budgets, with a strong understanding of cost estimating principles and value engineering.

• Contract Administration: Thorough knowledge of contract administration processes, including firm selection, directive issuance, and change order management.

• Regulatory Compliance & Standards Adherence: Deep understanding of building codes, environmental regulations, and specific institutional standards (e.g., LAUSD).

• Seismic Design & Retrofit Knowledge: Specialized understanding of seismic considerations in design and experience managing retrofit projects.

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective interaction with diverse stakeholders, including architects, engineers, administrators, and community representatives.

• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: Ability to analyze complex design challenges, identify solutions, and make informed decisions to keep projects on track.

• Process Optimization: Experience in establishing and refining design review and coordination processes for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Preferred Skills:

• Professional Licensure: A valid Certificate of Registration as an Architect by the California State Architectural Board or as a Professional Engineer by the State Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

• Construction Management Experience: Familiarity with construction methodologies and their impact on the design process.

• Public Sector Project Experience: Extensive experience with projects in the public sector, particularly educational institutions.

• Advanced Degree: Master's degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a related field.

📝 Enhancement Note: The minimum experience requirement of 14