Project Director Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established March 28, 1989

Scope

This series specification describes classes used by the Department of General Services for managing capital outlay projects from their inception through completion.

Definition of Series

Incumbents plan, organize, monitor, coordinate and administer the work on capital outlay projects from the planning/budget phase through the completion of construction. Incumbents review capital outlay project planning guides prior to the budget phase from an architectural, program, scope and cost standpoint; direct the preparation of cost estimates, surveys, environmental impact reports, preliminary plans, working drawings and other documents; review drawings and specifications for conformance to the authorized scope and�programs; represent the State in the selection of consultants, fee negotiations, and administration of contracts for architectural and engineering services; identify and take appropriate action to correct any issues that have effects on environmental documents; make policy recommendations to management on sensitive capital outlay project issues; assist in obtaining approval of changes in the scope of a project; work with control agencies to resolve budgetary issues associated with changes in the scope of a capital outlay project; assist in establishing project priorities; establish schedules for projects and monitor projects for compliance with the approved schedules; and�schedule post-contract items prior to the expiration of the guarantee/ warranty periods.

Entry Level

Entry into this series is typically at the level of Project Director I.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Level, variety, complexity of work, independence of action and decision making, supervision received, and degree of lead responsibilities.

Definition of Levels

Project Director I

This is the entry level into the series. In this class, incumbents, under close supervision, provide oversight and management of the less complex and�less sensitive capital outlay projects. Types of projects assigned to Project�Directors I would be smaller Employment Development Department, Department of Motor Vehicles, and California Highway Patrol field offices, and�installation of smaller water treatment and sewage systems. It also includes new or replacement construction of smaller warehouses, single-story office structures, smaller parks and recreation projects, and individual support facilities at the various types of institutions. The common denominator for these types of projects is that they tend to be new construction and types of facilities which have been constructed many times previously.

Project Director II

This is the full journey level. Under limited supervision, the Project Director II is responsible for providing oversight and management of major capital outlay projects from the planning phase through the design and construction phase. The Project Director II is assigned several projects, the�number of which depend upon their size and complexity. Incumbents in this�class may act independently as the Department's representative with consulting firms and are responsible for ensuring that the final product reflects the original scope and budget requirements. Incumbents manage projects which have greater levels of difficulty than the type of project described above. These projects are larger in scope and size and involve difficult issues such as asbestos removal, involvement with a toxic substance, a significant environmental issue, projects which are sensitive in the local community, or ones involving a very tight time frame for completion. Types of projects assigned to Project Directors II would include 3-or 4-story office buildings, larger water treatment and sewage systems, and the construction of one or more support facilities at the same location for various institutions. They also include sensitive projects such as installation of personal alarm systems or security systems in prisons or mental hospitals, smaller remodel or�rehabilitation projects involving existing structures, parks and recreation projects involving significant environmental issues, smaller garage structures larger warehouse facilities and smaller specialized projects such as barns, exhibit halls, and communication installations. These projects tend to be larger in scope and dollar amount, thereby increasing the potential for larger change orders, and consequence of error.

Project Director III

Incumbents in this class will supervise the Project Support Section or manage the most complex and sensitive Capital Outlay projects. Examples of these types of projects are the construction of multitenant, multi-story office structures in a major urban environment, new institutions (e.g., Youth Authority facility), large specialized facilities (e.g., grandstands, large laboratories, etc.) and projects which are more sensitive to local communities or State Government. They also include large scale remodeling projects, renovation and/or removal of toxic substances, and the construction of large and/or complicated energy or treatment facilities.

Many projects assigned to incumbents in this classification, by their magnitude or program complexity, require that more than one person be involved. The Project Director III provides a lead role in this circumstance and directs the work of one or more Project Directors II or I. The Project Director III has the authority to act independently or as a team leader representing the Department with consulting firms and is responsible for ensuring that the final product of the project or program team reflects the original scope and budget requirements.

Incumbents are responsible for preparing, or directing the preparation of, policy recommendations to top management on the most sensitive issues related to the State's capital outlay process, or on particularly complex individual projects; performing the lead role in developing and implementing solutions to difficult issues and problems associated with capital outlay projects; representing the Department in the selection, fee negotiations, negotiation of contract terms and provisions, award, and administration of contracts for architectural and engineering services.

Capital Outlay Program Manager

Oversees all operations of the Project Control Section. Is responsible for the overall accountability of the capital outlay function. The Capital Outlay Program Manager supervises the activities of all units within the Project Control Section. Specifically, this involves:

-Meeting with client agencies, representatives of the Legislative Analyst's Office and the Department of Finance, private sector professionals, and organizations regarding various aspects of the State's�Capital Outlay Program and its various projects;

-Determining whether projects will be performed by the Office of the State Architect or by a private consulting firm;

-Directing staff in the administration of all capital outlay project contract activities, including the review of scope of services, negotiation of fees, review of evaluations of project costs and administrative costs for management of projects designed by private consultants;

-Overseeing pre-architectural programming, consultant and retainer selection, project planning, monitoring and control, and long-range and�strategic planning;

-Developing and implementing selection procedures and regulations for contract services.

Minimum Qualifications

All Levels:

Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in architecture, engineering, construction management, or closely related field. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education with two years of experience being counted as one year of the required education.)

Project Director I

Either I

Two years of experience in California state service in the class Architectural Project Production Analyst.

Or II

One year of experience in the class Associate Estimator of Building Construction, Associate Construction Analyst, or Architectural Associate.

Or III

Three years of varied experience in architecture, engineering or construction management at least 50% of which shall have been in the planning, estimating or administration of projects resulting in a building or structure being constructed.

Project Director II

Either I

Two years of experience performing duties of a Project Director�I. (Persons within six months of having the required experience may�compete in the examination; however, the required experience must be completed before they are eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Four years of varied experience in architecture, engineering or construction management, two years of which shall have been in planning, estimating or administration of projects which resulted in a building or structure being constructed. (Experience in the California state service applied to this pattern must include two years performing duties in a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to a Project Director I.)

Project Director III

Either I

Two years of experience performing the duties of a Project Director II. (Persons within six months of having the required experience may compete in the examination; however, the required experience must be completed before they are eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Four years of experience performing the duties of a Project Director I. (Persons within six months of having the required experience may compete in the examination; however, the required experience must be completed before they are eligible for appointment.)

Or III

Broad and extensive (more than five years) experience in architecture, engineering or construction management, five years of which shall have been in the�capacity of a project manager of large or complex capital outlay projects which resulted in buildings or structures being completed. (Experience in the California state service applied to this pattern must include either two years in a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to a Project Director II or four years in a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to a Project Director I.)

Capital Outlay Program Manager

Either I

Two years of experience performing the duties of a Project Director III. (Persons within six months of having the required experience may compete in the examination; however, the required experience must be completed before they are considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Four years of experience performing the duties of a Project Director II. (Persons within six months of having the required experience may compete in the examination; however, the required experience must be completed before they are eligible for appointment.)

Or III

Broad and extensive (more than five years) experience in architecture, engineering or construction management, five years of which shall have been in the�capacity of a project manager of large or complex capital outlay projects which resulted in buildings or structures being completed. A minimum of four years of experience shall include direct responsibility for project budget and cost control for multiple projects managed concurrently and for administration of multiple professional design service contracts. (Experience in the California state service applied to this pattern must include two years performing duties in a�class with a level of responsibility equivalent to Project Director III, or four years performing duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to Project Director II.)

Desirable Qualifications

Possession of a valid certificate of registration as an Architect issued by the California Board of Architectural Examiners or a valid certificate of registration as Civil, Structural, Mechanical or Electrical Engineer issued by�the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: All phases of the State's capital outlay process; architecture; details of planning, designing and constructing public buildings; architectural building materials; costs, codes and construction methods; structural, electrical and mechanical engineering as related to buildings; principles of budgeting as related to the capital outlay process; use and application of computers in capital outlay project monitoring.

Ability to: Analyze comprehensive architectural designs; present information clearly and effectively in pictorial and written forms; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.

Project Director III

Capital Outlay Program Manager

Knowledge of: All of the above, and methods of organization and personnel management; principles of budgeting; the Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program, and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: All of the above, and direct the work of a group of Project Directors; effectively contribute to the Department's affirmative action objectives.

Class History