Director, Public Arts and Design (Public Art Program)
LA Metro
Salary $120,993.60 - $181,459.20 Annually
Location Los Angeles, CA
Job Type Regular Employee
Cabinet CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OFFICE
Opening Date 05/07/2025
Closing Date 5/21/2025 5:00 PM Pacific
FLSA Exempt
Bargaining Unit Non-Contract
Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.
Description
Directs and administers quality management and construction of assigned capital projects and related planning, percent for art, design, asset management and/or public engagement programs and initiatives.
The position will lead the integration of public art into a range of transit capital projects, curate impactful arts programs, and develop innovative arts partnerships and community engagement initiatives.
Recruitment Timelines: Interviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of June 2nd, 2025. These dates are subject to change. We encourage you to monitor your governmentjobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.
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Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program. Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.
Examples of Duties
Develops and implements policies and procedures for the planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling of assigned major construction projects associated with public art and design
Formulates and implements strategies, procedures, and guidelines promoting the enhancement of the visual quality of the transit system
Plans, organizes, and supervises arts and outreach programs
Manages the public arts aspect of large-scale and highly visible capital and operating projects to ensure that expenditures are on-time and under budget
Coordinates transit design and construction activities with utilities, public and private organizations, and other individuals
Develops quality control and curatorial standards and oversees the conservation and maintenance of artworks in the transit system
Directs the development of Requests for Proposal/Qualifications (RFP/RFQ) and oversees artist selection processes/procurements
Oversees preparation of final design documents, bid forms, pre-bid conferences, and evaluation of received proposals
Negotiates, develops, and manages complex contractor/consultant contracts, including technical reviews of bids, materials, milestones, and schedules
Manages coordination of complex projects between structural civil engineers, architects, landscape architects, lighting designers, safety personnel, and artists
Negotiates scope of work and associated costs for Design Services (DS) consultants and Construction Management Support Services (CMSS) consultants
Oversees the Design Services consultants and Construction Management Support Services consultants in the execution of DS and CMSS
Ensures contracted work is on schedule, within budget, and complies with technical and legal requirements
Reviews architectural designs of major transit development construction projects
Develops design criteria for artwork materials, finishes, and placement within the Metro system
Interfaces with design professionals to ensure quality and integrity of design projects
Assists in negotiating with contractors regarding changes to design, construction work scope, and schedules
Interfaces with other internal departments and serves on various task forces to provide technical advice on artwork and design features
Prepares technical analysis of complex art project budgets and bids, including comparative pricing and overall fair price analysis of art projects
Supervises preparation of public information materials with Metro Design Studio and Marketing
Prepares and presents reports to management, Board, outside agencies, and the public
Researches applicable laws and regulations
Coordinates contractual matters with County Counsel, including copyright and artist’s rights issues
Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency’s safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees
Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
May be required to perform other related job duties
Special Conditions
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Working Conditions
Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
Sitting at a desk or table
Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
Walking (distance 5’ to 100’)
Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances
Color recognition (e.g., distinguishing wires, resistors, containers, light signals, etc.
Minimum Qualifications
A typical combination includes:
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Art, Architecture, Design, Transportation and/or Urban Planning or Design, Arts Administration, or a related field; Master’s Degree in a related field preferred
Experience
- Five years of relevant management-level experience in public art, design, and construction of capital projects and related public engagement initiatives, or closely related
Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements
- A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
Preferred Qualifications
Experience leading and delivering high visibility, large scale percent-for-art capital projects in public places
Experience curating and implementing a range of impactful transit related art exhibition programs
Experience leading arts programming partnerships with major arts organizations and cultural institutions
Experience leading procurements of artists services and managing compliance with artist rights, artwork licensing agreements, copyright and intellectual property requirements
Experience managing, evaluating and providing guidance to staff, artists and contractors
Knowledge of
Transportation design, construction methods, practices, and processes
Concepts, practices, and procedures of architecture, environmental design, navigational schemes, user interaction, industrial design, urban planning and design, landscape architecture, and materials and fabrication techniques and processes
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and funding governing the design and construction of capital projects for a public transit agency
Art law, artist moral rights, and copyright issues
ADA standards and foreign language requirements
Theories, principles, and practices of project planning, budgeting, and cost estimating
Public sector procurement, contracting, budgeting, and accounting processes
Financial and analytical methods/processes
Modern management theory
Skill in
Developing and implementing policies and procedures for the planning, organization, coordination, and control of major construction projects
Planning, organizing, and directing the total activities of a design and construction department for a large public agency
Reading and analyzing architectural/construction drawings and specifications
Analyzing contract requirements and developing construction strategies
Resolving legal and contractual issues
Determining strategies to achieve goals
Analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes
Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions
Negotiating consensus solutions
Communicating effectively orally and in writing
Communicating design concepts and construction scenarios effectively to the public and elected officials
Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees, the Board of Directors, elected officials, and outside representatives
Ability to
Demonstrate/communicate an overall appreciation of quality design and construction methods in the built environment
Direct and oversee external consultants
Negotiate contract terms and monitor multiple contracts to ensure compliance with schedule, budget, and specifications
Represent Metro before the public
Plan financial and staffing needs
Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence
Think and act independently
Be innovative in leveraging limited resources
Make financial decisions within budget
Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
Supervise, train, and motivate assigned staff
Read, write, speak, and understand English
Selection Procedure
Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.
Application Procedure
To apply, visit Metro’s website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.
Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro location:
METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.
All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.
*Open to the public and all Metro employees
This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.
Employer Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CA)
Address
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, California, 90012