Director, Architecture & Engineering

Build your career while building NYC Public schools and impacting the learning environments of the next generation! The SCA’s Architecture and Engineering Department is responsible for development of scope, design, and construction documents for new school buildings, additions, lease conversions and renovation work of existing schools for New York City’s approximately 1.1 million students. Our projects are intentionally and thoughtfully designed; positive impact design is at the forefront of all our projects. Our In-House studio is a multidisciplinary practice that is responsible for designing some of the largest and most complex schools in our 1,500+ school portfolio as well as renovation work to existing schools. Our other two studios manage external consultants from design inception to completion. Our three studios are comprised of talented architects and engineers who are driven to deliver high quality custom designed, sustainable, and resilient public schools. Come and join our continuing journey towards design excellence in the K-12 education sector. Be impactful! Job Description Summary The Director, Architecture and Engineering, DCMS-Capacity, reports to the DCMS-Capacity Studio Lead and provides senior design and management leadership for Capacity projects, stand-alone buildings for CIP projects, path-of-travel CIP projects, and Playground and Athletic Field projects within an assigned borough. The Director supports the Studio Lead in delivering these project typologies while ensuring alignment with Authority standards, Department of Education requirements, regulatory requirements, project schedules, and quality expectations. This role requires strong architectural judgment and a sophisticated understanding of high-quality design. The Director will manage and provide informed design oversight of nationally and internationally recognized architectural practices, including firms led or founded by architects who have received the profession’s highest honors, such as the AIA Gold Medal or the RIBA Royal Gold Medal. Accordingly, the Director must be able to engage accomplished design teams credibly, critically assess design quality and technical rigor, and ensure that design excellence is achieved within the practical requirements of public-school delivery, including constructability, durability, maintainability, schedule, budget, and regulatory compliance. The Director establishes priorities for the assigned unit, ensures that staff effectively manage consultants under contract to the Authority, and holds both internal staff and external consultants accountable for the quality, completeness, coordination, and timely delivery of their work. Job Description Responsibilities include: Manages staff within the designated architectural and engineering unit of DCMS-Capacity and supports the Studio Lead in establishing priorities, workload, and project delivery expectations. Directs the activities of the unit in providing pre-design, design, and construction-phase support services for Authority projects. Provides senior-level design leadership and exercises sound architectural judgment in reviewing consultant work for design quality, technical rigor, functionality, constructability, durability, maintainability, and coordination across disciplines. Manages sophisticated architectural and engineering consultants and engages senior design principals effectively, ensuring that design excellence is advanced while Authority standards, public-sector requirements, schedule, budget, and operational needs are met. Ensures that consultant submissions are complete, coordinated, code-compliant, responsive to project requirements, and suitable for review and implementation at each phase of design and construction. Ensures that scope development and design services are delivered in a timely, cost-effective manner and meet Authority quality standards. Ensures that projects meet Department of Education requirements and capital plan timeframes. Reports to the DCMS-Capacity Studio Lead regarding unit activities, including project status, staff utilization, implementation of Authority design standards, quality control, consultant performance, and material risks requiring escalation. Serves as a member of the Department’s Operations Committee and contributes to development of strategies, policies, procedures, design standards, and priorities for the Department of Architecture and Engineering. Assists in developing and improving technical and design standards and specifications, including evaluation of new systems and materials. Ensures that pre-design programming and scope-development activities are consistent with Department of Education priorities, Authority policies, and Operations Committee standards. Plans, directs, monitors, reviews, and evaluates work performed by unit staff and establishes clear expectations for project management and design oversight. Ensures adherence to consultant contractual requirements and holds consultants accountable for the quality, completeness, coordination, and timeliness of required deliverables. Holds internal staff and external consultants accountable for their work product and ensures that identified design, coordination, and delivery issues are addressed promptly. Makes recommendations regarding recruitment, hiring, promotion, reassignment, and discipline in accordance with Authority policies and procedures. Mentors staff, supports professional development, and strengthens the unit’s design, technical, consultant-management, and project-management capabilities. Performs related duties, as assigned. Preferred Skills and Experience: Demonstrated design acumen and the ability to recognize, evaluate, and advocate for high-quality architecture and design excellence. Significant professional experience in architectural design, preferably including complex institutional, civic, educational, or other public-facing projects. Ability to lead design dialogue with nationally and internationally recognized architectural practices and provide credible, constructive direction to senior design professionals. Strong knowledge of architectural design processes, design rigor, multidisciplinary coordination, quality assurance/quality control, constructability, and design documentation. Strong understanding of project management, including scope, schedule, budget, risk, consultant performance, and issue escalation. Demonstrated experience managing teams of 10 or more staff and leading through professional accountability, coaching, and clear performance expectations. Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, internal stakeholders, consultants, and other project participants. Ability to balance design quality with the operational realities of public-school capital delivery, including regulatory compliance, durability, maintainability, cost, and schedule. Working knowledge of Bluebeam Revu and strong proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools. Education and Licensure: Eleven years of full-time architectural experience on major building projects, including all design phases of construction and renovation of school facilities. Five years must have been in an administrative or management capacity. Bachelor of Architecture (professional five-year degree) or Master of Architecture from an accredited program. Architectural licensure required. Additional Information: Financial Disclosure Required: Policy/Negotiation. Officials & Administrators (US EEO-4). Field visits are required. Civil Service Classification: Non-Competitive Posting End Date: 11/02/2026 Salary Range: $131,026 - $223,098 Education Baccalaureate: Architecture, Engineering or related field Certifications (if required) NYS Professional Engineer or NYS Registered Architect - New York State Department of Education Work Experience Eleven years of full time, architectural and/or engineering experience on major building projects, including all design phases of construction and renovation of school facilities; five years must have been in an administrative or management capacity in an architectural, architectural/engineering or engineering/architectural design organization or a satisfactory combination of education and experience; however, qualifications #1 and #2 must be met. It is the policy of the New York City School Construction Authority (NYCSCA) to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, the NYCSCA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals. We offer exceptional benefits including: * Medical (100% employer paid for basic coverage available) * Prescription Drug Options * Dental & Vision Coverage * NYC Qualified Pension Plan (QPP) * Optional Retirement Savings Plans including 401K, 457 and IRA options * Transit Check Program * Public Loan Forgiveness Program * Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) Benefits As part of our ongoing commitment to employee growth and development, the SCA’s Learning and Development (L&D) program offers a variety of valuable benefits. These include tuition reimbursement for continued education that is directly related to your current role, as well as access to a broad range of individual and organizational training opportunities. Trainings on leadership development, technical skill-building, compliance, personal and professional growth. These programs are designed to strengthen performance, boost engagement, and ensure our workforce is fully equipped to meet both current and future organizational goals. The SCA is interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. The SCA is not able to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. We participate in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: https://www.e-verify.gov/employees The School Construction Authority's (SCA) mission is to design and construct safe, attractive and environmentally sound public schools for children throughout the many communities of New York City. We are dedicated to building and modernizing schools in a responsible, cost-effective manner while achieving the highest standards of excellence in safety, quality and integrity.