Senior Design Manager, A/E Services

Location: Los Angeles, CA (on-site) | Type: Full-time

About the Role

The Maintenance and Operations branch of LAUSD oversees approximately a thousand campuses, most of which are decades old. This role focuses on seismic work, critical repairs, and retrofits to ensure buildings remain safe and functional for students. As Senior Design Manager for A/E Services, you will lead the design side of these projects, managing and coordinating the District's design process to ensure plans adhere to program requirements, budget constraints, environmental regulations, and legal standards.

You will supervise a team of design professionals through the design review process, overseeing multiple projects simultaneously. Your responsibilities include collaborating with architects, consultants, and District staff to meet project deadlines, selecting the most suitable architecture firm for each project, and providing clear direction on goals, standards, site requirements, schedules, and budgets. You will also conduct design reviews to ensure compliance with LAUSD’s educational and building standards, evaluate design changes to maintain budget integrity, and report on the status of planning and design while offering actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Manage seismic, critical repair, and retrofit projects, handling several at once.
• Lead a team of design professionals and oversee the design review process.
• Coordinate the District’s design process for A/E Services, from initial drawings to final, buildable plans.
• Select architecture firms best suited for each project based on their ability to deliver.
• Provide clear direction to architects on project goals, standards, site requirements, schedules, and budgets.
• Conduct design reviews to ensure compliance with LAUSD standards and value for money.
• Review design changes to keep projects within budget.
• Report on the status of planning and design, including findings and recommendations.

Requirements

• 14 years of full-time paid professional experience managing facilities design or planning and coordinating capital projects, including overall design, contract administration, cost estimating, and scheduling.
• 4 years of experience specifically in the design, planning, and construction of schools or similar public agencies.
• A bachelor’s degree in architecture or engineering (required).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills (a stated requirement).
• Experience leading other design professionals, not limited to your own projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree in architecture or engineering.
• A current California Certificate of Registration as an Architect or a Professional Engineer license.
• Experience with seismic retrofit and structural repair work on occupied buildings.
• Familiarity with DSA, the state office that approves public school construction.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range: $185,000 to $203,000 per year, based on experience.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits at low cost.
• 401k retirement plan.
• Three weeks of paid time off (PTO).
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) at no cost to you, with a 3% Safe Harbor contribution vested on day one.

About the Company

MAAS has nearly 40 years of experience serving over 50 educational institutions across California, managing more than $10 billion in projects. This track record ensures stable, funded, and meaningful work without the uncertainty of chasing contracts. As a MAAS employee, you become an owner through a 100% employee-owned ESOP, a retirement benefit provided at no cost. The company is profitable and well-run, with its ESOP share price more than doubling since inception and continuing to grow annually. Your ownership stake increases with tenure, and ESOP participants nationally accumulate 2.5 times more in retirement savings than employees at non-ESOP companies. Despite industry norms, 96% of MAAS employees describe it as a great place to work, and 100% say people genuinely care about one another.