Director of Facilities Planning and Construction

Director Of Facilities Planning And Construction

Santa Monica College is currently undergoing one of the largest new construction developments in its history, and is seeking a new Director of Facilities Planning and Construction to lead the charge in its endeavors. In this capacity, the incumbent will be responsible for overseeing District-wide facilities planning, design, and construction activities for a multi-campus college, which includes substantial responsibility for monitoring, directing, and evaluating the work of multiple independent construction firms.

This role requires direct, hands-on experience managing projects through the full California Division of the State Architect (DSA) process — submittal, plan review and back-check, construction administration, and closeout/certification. This is not a delegated-oversight role; the Director is personally responsible for DSA outcomes, not as a supervisor of consultants who handle the DSA process on the District's behalf, but as the person accountable for getting projects through the process.

We are looking for a candidate who has significant personal experience:

• Preparing or directing DSA submittal packages and managing plan review/back-check cycles
• Coordinating with an Inspector of Record (IOR) and ensuring compliance with testing lab documentation requirements on construction projects
• Assembling and reconciling documentation to bring a project to DSA Certification of Compliance
• Managing field changes and determining when DSA notification or resubmittal was required

The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience administering a District-wide facilities planning and construction program in a California K-14 educational environment, which included primarily responsibility for coordinating communication, and planning and project implementation with the Division of the State Architect (DSA). This individual will have experience performing the full scope of construction management activities, from design through completion, as well as prior experience balancing numerous large-scale construction projects (e.g., new construction) at different stages in the planning and development process.

The ideal candidate will be able to effectively manage the activities of construction contractors, hold contractors accountable for their work, and serve as an ardent advocate for the District's best interests in interactions with contractors and stakeholder groups. Additionally, this individual must be able to deliver presentations to the Board of Trustees, City and community groups, and appropriate planning committees regarding facilities planning and development.

Please note that all candidates must have authorization to work in the United States; the District does not have the ability to provide sponsorship.

In an effort to address budget shortfalls and ensure the long-term financial health of the College, the Board of Trustees has approved cost saving measures for the 2026-27 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. These measures consist of:

The posted salary for this role does not reflect the two unpaid furlough days per month that took effect on July 1, 2026. Please note that the District will continue to offer fully paid health, dental and vision benefits for employees and their eligible dependents. The salary for this position has been recommended for an increase, but this increase is currently on hold pending approval by the Board of Trustees.

At SMC, you will work beside a diverse group of colleagues who leverage their combined talents and passions to accomplish something great. No matter what department you are in, or what job you have, your contributions will be critical to helping our students fulfill their dreams - landing that new job, or breaking through the cycle of poverty.

• We are currently the number one transfer college to UCLA, USC, the University of California system, and Loyola Marymount University
• We are dedicated to sustainable practices and are accessible via environmentally-friendly transportation options, including the Expo Line and Big Blue Bus.
• We are one of the select community colleges in California approved to award a Bachelor's degree. SMC currently awards a Bachelor's degree in Interaction Design.

We value our employees as people, and recognize the value of work-life balance, the health of you and your family, and professional development. We offer a variety of benefits and perks to support new members of our team, including:

• 18 paid holidays*
• 24 paid vacation days*
• 12 paid illness days*
• Fully paid medical, dental, and vision-care coverage (including eligible dependents)
• Free mental health assistance through the Employee Assistance Service for Education (EASE) program.
• Membership in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CALPERS)
• 5%…