Senior architecture architect

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

Ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.Power 2024 and 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, John Wayne Airport (JWA) has been a major cornerstone of Orange County for more than 100 years. Located in beautiful Southern California, we currently serve approximately 11.8 million annual passengers. We strive to provide a superior guest experience to ensure travel is convenient and stress‑free. As a medium hub airport, we have commercial flights to more than 40 nonstop destinations in the U.Eleven commercial airlines and two air cargo airlines fly out of the Airport. It is home to nearly 500 general aviation (private, non‑commercial) aircraft, representing 60% of total operations, and includes two full‑service fixed base operators and one limited use general aviation facility.

E Environmental Stewardship

The newly reformed Planning and Development Division oversees and delivers the airport's $700 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which includes airside, landside, and terminal renovations, as well as major utility projects and long‑term infrastructure planning. This Division’s functional areas include engineering and A/E design, land use and airport planning, environmental compliance, capital project programming, project management, project controls, and project Coordination and Logistics Management (CALM).

John Wayne Airport has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Architect. The ideal candidate is a seasoned Senior Architect with experience planning, designing, and managing non‑capital, capital, and maintenance improvement projects of varying scale and complexity. The Senior Architect serves as the architectural lead for the Airport, providing oversight and direction on architectural design, building systems, and airport‑wide design standards. This position supervises technical staff, provides direction to contract architects and consultants, may oversee other staff, and manages complex or specialized assignments from concept through construction. Reviewing, developing, and approving architectural components of construction documents.

The Senior Architect supports a wide variety of Airport projects within the Planning and Development Division, including vertical facilities such as terminal buildings, passenger‑facing environments, and other airport buildings, as well as projects requiring architectural integration with airfield and landside infrastructure. This role ensures that facilities are functional, code‑compliant, accessible, aesthetically coherent, and aligned with Airport design and operational goals.

The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of eight (8) years of qualified architectural experience, with at least two (2) years as a licensed Architect, with a background in planning, designing, and managing a variety of complex project types. Experience should include work on airport vertical facilities or comparable complex public‑use buildings, such as terminal buildings, passenger processing areas, security screening checkpoints, concourses, concessions and retail areas, administrative spaces, operations facilities, parking and transportation structures, and other technically sophisticated facilities with advanced building systems and life‑safety requirements. Ideal candidates will also have strong experience with government contracting, procurement, and contract administration, including the selection and oversight of architectural, engineering, and specialty consulting services, as well as the preparation of bidding and construction documents.

however, candidates with strong backgrounds in comparable complex public‑use facilities are also encouraged to apply.

Additional professional certifications—such as Certified Member (CM) through AAAE, Certified Construction Manager (CCM), or Project Management Professional (PMP)—are desirable but not required.

Extensive knowledge and experience in professional public works, planning, engineering, architecture, construction, and/or project management, ideally in an airport/airfield environment, as well as comprehensive expertise in contract administration and administration of airport and/or public works projects.

Ability to provide sound management and leadership skills to lead, guide, evaluate, and supervise a team of internal and external staff of professional construction managers, architects/engineers, project managers, construction and building inspectors, etc.

Work independently to provide planning, programming, administrative, and technical review/expertise for the development of and/or design and construction of non‑capital, capital, and maintenance improvement projects.

Extensive knowledge and experience with California Public Contracting Code, California Building Codes, Caltrans Standard Plans and Specifications, Cal‑OSHA building construction regulations, Federal (i.e., FAA Advisory Circulars (AC), Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), TSA requirements, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), etc.), state and local codes and regulations and other pertinent safety rules and regulations, including regulatory clearance and compliance requirements (e.g., Ability to apply Project Management industry standards and practices in the areas of project planning, coordinating, budget management, scheduling, and monitoring.

Knowledge and literacy in the use of project management application software.

Ability to read, understand, interpret, and develop design and construction plans, specifications, cost estimates, and schedules for a wide variety of project types.

Extensive working knowledge and application of architectural/engineering design and construction as it relates to varying types of projects, ranging from airport infrastructure to building systems.

Extensive working knowledge of construction industry standards, materials, practices, testing/inspection requirements, and methods (ideally in an airport/airfield environment).

Ability to develop and assist in the preparation of planning and/or design concepts/schematics (including renderings), technical reports/standards, feasibility studies, and construction documents.

Working knowledge and experience with the latest technical design software and computer‑aided design and drafting software (CADD), among others, such as Microstation, AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, SketchUp, and ArcGIS.

Proficiency in using MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project, Primavera P6, MS Outlook, Bluebeam Revu (Adobe Acrobat Professional), and other common office software, with the willingness and ability to learn and become proficient in using other software applications and tools.

Ability to manage project scope, schedule, and budget, and provide recommendations as needed.

Ability to lead the project team and coordinate with stakeholders from project concept to completion.

Assist executive management in developing departmental business objectives and specific project strategies.

Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to internal and contracted staff to achieve project and developmental goals that are aligned with overall business objectives.

Understand and address customer/tenant needs within the guidelines of policy.

Analysis & Problem‑Solving

Ability to understand, interpret, and enforce compliance with plans, specifications, schedules, and contract provisions.

Ability to recognize and anticipate problems of project scope, budget, schedule, plans, and specifications, and determine necessary changes.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external staff, architects/engineers, contractors, airport tenants, and representatives of other agencies and departments.

Ability to research, evaluate, estimate, and accurately interpret and apply technical data and policy information to solve problems and make recommendations to management.

Coherently analyzes and presents cases for and against given approaches for accomplishing business objectives and project needs based on available information and circumstances, while supporting such analysis with clear, concise, and accurate reasoning and justification.

Ability to think critically and to ask appropriate questions and discern when data is enough or sufficient to make appropriate decisions.

Analyzes and evaluates various project issues and scenarios to help weigh available options, and to develop rational technical and professional strategies and approaches to optimize favorable outcomes while curtailing potential adverse consequences.

Planning & Organization

Complete assignments on time and within budget and policy.

Ability to manage multiple projects at one time.

Experience in presenting orally and in writing, proposals, progress reports, and recommendations to the highest levels in the organization, including the Board of Supervisors, Airport Commissioners, County executive management, private sector executives, contractors, airport tenants, and other external stakeholders.

Demonstrate political savvy when dealing with both internal and external stakeholders, including other staff from other County agencies/departments, the public, community groups, city staff, Airport Commissioners, airport tenants, and the Board of Supervisors.

Communicate in an effective manner to individuals and groups with diverse interests, including architects/engineers, contractors, and departmental representatives.

Composing written, business‑style correspondence, reports, memos, and other documentary material in a direct, clear, concise, and grammatically and punctually correct manner.

Minimum qualifications and physical & mental requirements, as well as environmental & working conditions, apply to the Senior Professional Engineer/Architect position. (The successful candidate must possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License, Class C or higher, by date of appointment.

The successful candidate must possess and maintain a valid license as a Registered Architect (RA) from the California Architects Board or equivalent recognized state‑regulated authority. The successful candidate must clear a background check which includes a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Security Threat Assessment (STA).