Design Assistant/CAD Drafter

Job Description

Job Description

About Tierra Encantada

Tierra Encantada, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN is the leader in Spanish immersion early education®, and provides high-quality language immersion education and care to children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. At Tierra Encantada, we believe the earliest years should open a world of possibilities. As the Leader in Spanish Immersion Early Education®, we nurture the whole child through joyful play-based learning and a globally inspired culinary program featuring wholesome meals prepared from scratch each day. By fostering curiosity, confidence, cultural understanding, and healthy habits, we prepare children for a lifetime of learning while creating warm, engaging environments that families trust. Join us and be part of a mission-driven team that is committed to making a lasting impact-one child, one family, and one community at a time.

Position Overview

Tierra Encantada is hiring for a Design Assistant/CAD Drafter to support the development of new Tierra Encantada locations. This is a hands-on, detail-oriented role supporting the design of new corporate and franchise Tierra Encantada childcare centers nationwide. This position will create preliminary layouts and block fits, review architectural plans and finish selections, maintain Tierra Encantada's design and brand standards utilizing clear, current design documentation. This position will also assist with research into childcare facility requirements as the company expands into new states and jurisdictions.

This position will utilize CAD regularly, comparing drawings against established standards, identifying inconsistencies or omissions, researching unfamiliar requirements, and clearly documenting corrections for architects, franchisees, and internal team members. This position will read commercial architectural plans, and dig into fine details for the projects assigned. This is primarily a production and quality-control role supporting the Sr. Project Manager, Design and Construction.

Pay and Schedule

This is a part-time, non-exempt position typically working around 25 hours per week.

The starting pay for this position is between $34.00 an $38.00 per hour depending on experience, education, and certifications and/or degrees.

Key Responsibilities

• Create preliminary block fits, test fits, and floor plan layouts for prospective corporate and franchise locations using AutoCAD or comparable design software.
• Translate site information, existing-condition drawings, surveys, and leasing plans into preliminary layouts that evaluate whether a location can appropriately accommodate the TE program.
• Develop and revise preliminary plans based on feedback from the Development team, Operations, franchisees, architects, and other stakeholders.
• Review architectural plans throughout design development and construction-document phases to verify alignment with Tierra Encantada's approved preliminary layout, program requirements, and design standards.
• Review franchisee architectural plans and identify items that do not conform to Tierra Encantada requirements, including room layouts, classroom configurations, circulation, support spaces, fixtures, millwork, equipment, and other design elements.
• Perform detailed quality-control reviews of finish plans, finish schedules, elevations, millwork, flooring, paint, countertops, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, lighting selections, and other interior design elements to ensure specified materials match approved Tierra Encantada standards.
• Compare successive drawing sets to confirm requested changes have been incorporated and identify unintended changes or inconsistencies between plans, schedules, elevations, and specifications.
• Prepare clear plan redlines, comments, markups, and review summaries for architects, franchisees, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain Brand Connect and other design-standard resources, ensuring current finishes, products, specifications, details, approved vendors, design requirements, and reference materials are accurately documented and easy for internal teams and franchisees to use.
• Update design standards and supporting documentation when new products, finishes, details, or approved design changes are adopted.
• Maintain organized CAD files, standard plan components, blocks, templates, finish information, and other reusable design resources to improve speed and consistency across projects.
• Research child care licensing and facility design requirements in new states and jurisdictions as Tierra Encantada enters new markets, including requirements that may affect classroom design, child capacity, square footage, outdoor space, natural light, and other physical facility requirements.
• Summarize new-market design requirements in clear, usable reference materials and identify requirements that differ from Tierra Encantada's existing prototype or brand standards.
• Support the Real Estate and Development teams with preliminary design analysis when evaluating prospective sites.
• Help identify design conflicts, missing information, or potential problems early enough to avoid unnecessary redesign, change orders, permitting delays, or construction costs.
• Maintain accurate design-review records and track open design comments through resolution.
• Assist with finish packages, design presentations, specification sheets, design standards, and other design-related documents as needed.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Architectural Technology, Drafting, or a related field; equivalent professional experience will also be considered.
• 2+ years of experience in architectural drafting, space planning, commercial design, or a related field.
• Strong proficiency with AutoCAD required; experience with Revit is preferred.
• Ability to independently create and revise commercial floor plans, block fits, and test fits.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural construction documents, including floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, elevations, finish plans, schedules, and details.
• Strong understanding of basic commercial space planning and interior design documentation.
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to identify inconsistencies across large drawing sets.
• Ability to work from established design standards while recognizing when a condition requires escalation or additional review.
• Comfortable researching regulations, licensing requirements, and technical standards and translating them into practical design requirements.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and drawing reviews simultaneously.
• Clear written communication skills, particularly when preparing plan comments, redlines, and design-review notes.
• Ability to work independently, follow projects through multiple revisions, and proactively identify missing information or unresolved issues.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office; experience with Bluebeam, Smartsheet, and/or similar project collaboration tools preferred.
• Experience with childcare, education, retail, restaurant, healthcare, or other multi-location commercial environments is preferred but not required.

Physical Requirements

• This position will be sedentary for the majority of the time, but requires occasional movement round the office to access file cabinets and office supplies.
• Requires the ability to frequently walk, stand, climb stairs, crawl, sit, squat, stoop, bend, reach, kneel, rise from the floor, and twist.
• Requires the ability to carry and lift 25 pounds or less, use repetitive or fine hand movements, and occasionally push, pull, run short distances, and carry and lift 25 pounds or less.

Benefits

• Medical insurance