Senior Professional Architect

CAREER DESCRIPTION

SENIOR ARCHITECT

(Senior Professional Architect)

THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment is open to the public and is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Senior Professional Architect vacancies. The eligible list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment will close on Friday , May 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST .

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

Ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. 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. The County of Orange owns and operates the airport and the service area includes more than three million people within 34 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County and beyond.

As a medium hub airport, we have commercial flights to more than 40 nonstop destinations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. 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.

• Mission: Connecting People, Places and Opportunities.
• Vision: To be an airport of choice by creating exceptional experiences.
• Core Values: REACH
  • R espect
  • E nvironmental Stewardship
  • A ccountability
  • C ollaboration
  • H onesty

To learn more about working at John Wayne Airport, click here. To learn more about the County of Orange, click here.

DIVISION

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. The Division is also a key partner in implementing the General Aviation Improvement Program and the Terminal Tenant Concession Redevelopment Program. This team has 28 professionals in a variety of roles. 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).

THE OPPORTUNITY

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. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and maintaining architectural design standards;
• Leading the Airport’s accessibility program;
• Mentoring lower-level staff;
• 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.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
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. Candidates licensed in another state must obtain California licensure through the California Architects Board by the start of employment. Experience in accessibility compliance is required, and candidates must hold a valid Certified Access Specialist (CASp) certification issued by the State of California.

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.

Experience in an airport environment is highly desirable; however, candidates with strong backgrounds in comparable complex public-use facilities are also encouraged to apply.

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

The ideal candidate must possess and/or demonstrate the core competencies outlined below:

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

• Extensive knowledge and experience in professional public works, planning (i.e., facilities, etc.), 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 technical explanations and recommendations in terms readily understood by executives
• 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., NEPA, CEQA, RWQCB, AQMD, etc.)
• 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)
• Extensive knowledge and experience with accessibility requirements and compliance
• 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

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

• 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
• Ability to make well-informed and objective decisions by perceiving the impact and implications of the decisions in a professional ethical framework
• Make sound business decisions based on limited, complex, or contradicting information while considering relevant public service ethical principles
• Monitor team members and enforce all safety guidelines to ensure safe work practices

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 perform calculations independently necessary to determine quantities and prepare cost estimates
• 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
• Exercises effective problem-solving skills and displays independent, sound judgment and decision-making abilities
• 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

• Plan and organize work effectively to ensure that assignments are on schedule
• Complete assignments on time and within budget and policy
• Ability to manage multiple projects at one time
• Ability to manage changing and competing priorities

COMMUNICATION SKILLS | ORAL & WRITTEN

• 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
• Effective in oral and written communication, including the ability to provide technical information in a clear and concise manner
• Communicate in an effective manner to individuals and groups with diverse interests, including architects/engineers, contractors, and departmental representatives
• Negotiate and manage scope/fee development for planning or design proposals/contracts, including competitive bidding processes for complex contracts
• Demonstrating perceptive awareness of subtle interpersonal communication and interaction nuances, and responding appropriately
• Composing written, business-style correspondence, reports, memos, and other documentary material in a direct, clear, concise, and grammatically and punctually correct manner

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications and the physical & mental requirements, as well as the environmental & working conditions for the Senior Professional Engineer/Architect.

LICENSE REQUIRED
The successful candidate must obtain, possess, and maintain the following licenses:

• The successful candidate must possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License, Class C or higher, by date of appointment
• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Architect (RA) from the California Architects Board or equivalent recognized state-regulated authority. The selected candidate who is licensed by a recognized state-regulated authority other than the State of California must obtain licensure from the Board issued in the State of California by the start of employment
• Possession of a valid certification as a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) from the State of California

AIRPORT ACCESS REQUIREMENTS
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). In addition, the successful candidate in this position must be able to obtain and maintain an airport access badge with driving privileges. Airport Access Badge must be maintained and renewed every two (2) years

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Application Screening | (Refer/Non-Refer)

Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Structured Oral Interview (SOI) | Exam (Weighted 100%)
Applicants will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each applicant's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job.

Eligible List | Score Groups
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Please note: The information you provide on your application and/or response to the supplemental questions may be used as a scoring device, so please be thorough and complete in your response. "See Resume" is not a qualifying response and will not be scored in lieu of the required information.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMAIL NOTIFICATION:
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com .

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Michelle Bocicor at mbocicor@ocair.com or (949) 252-5174.

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer,
encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.



Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: 5/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• County of Orange

• 714.834.5315

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