Architectural Manager – Quality Assurance & Permitting

Walt Disney famously said, “You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality.” At Disney, our cast are the key to the magic, and we work together to inspire the future generations of guests that visit our theme parks and attractions worldwide. As a critical part of our creative, problem-solving team, you will have a hand in the jar of pixie dust, pushing the limits of entertainment design, innovation and themed architecture.

Architecture & Facilities Engineering (A&FE) is seeking an Architectural Manager to lead Quality Assurance and Permitting efforts for projects across the Disneyland Resort. The A&FE Project Team serves as the Owner's Representative on projects throughout the resort. Construction drawings are primarily produced by external architects and engineers, with whom our team collaborates throughout the project's lifecycle, providing design management and oversight. Occasionally, projects are produced in-house. Our primary objective is to ensure that projects are designed to comply with Disney standards, fully coordinated with other disciplines, and compliant with codes. As the Architectural Manager in charge of QA/QC and Permitting, you will provide strategic leadership, technical expertise, and regulatory coordination for a wide range of projects. This includes acting as the primary liaison with the City of Anaheim and other regulatory agencies, as well as leading QA/QC efforts to ensure design excellence and code compliance within the Architecture department.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with the Sr. Manager of Architecture and the Manager of Architecture to provide a united front to lead our team to success. Effective communication will be paramount, ensuring that all team members are aligned with our goals and strategies. This role will provide technical expertise, design management, problem-solving, and quality assurance review for a broad range of projects, including attractions, shops, hotels, entertainment venues, maintenance facilities, offices, and more. Projects are primarily contracted with external design resources, which are managed by this team. Project scopes vary from large-scale new developments to renovations of historic—and beloved—structures. You will play a key role in mentorship, guiding and supporting team members to help them grow and excel in their roles. Your technical ability will be crucial in solving complex problems and driving innovation within the team. Flexibility will be essential, as you will need to adapt to changing circumstances and challenges, ensuring that the team remains agile and responsive. Together, with the Sr. Manager of Architecture and the Manager of Architecture - Projects, you will create a cohesive and dynamic team environment that fosters success and continuous improvement.

You will report to the Sr. Manager – Architecture.

What You Will Do

Permitting & Regulatory Strategy:

• Serve as the primary voice to the City of Anaheim for all Disneyland Resort projects.

• Act as a key liaison with the City of Anaheim Building, Planning, Fire, and Public Works departments for all project needs at the Disneyland Resort. You will represent Disney’s interests in addressing issues with external regulatory agencies in conjunction with Resort partners including Project Teams, Government Relations, Public Affairs, Operations, and others. This role will also manage the permitting process for all projects at the Resort.  

• Ensure coordination and consistency of permitting strategies across all projects at the Resort.

• Coordinate, prepare and present permitting and regulatory strategy meetings to the City of Anaheim.

• Guide project teams through all phases of permitting: pre-issuance, active construction, and closeout.

• Coordinate mitigation measures, plan checks, inspections, and revisions.

• Maintain permits in good standing and ensure timely acquisition of TCOs and final approvals.

• Provide regular updates to Disney Leadership on City of Anaheim permit status and tracking.

Quality Assurance Leadership:

• Act as Architectural Subject Matter Expert for the department and provide technical design assistance on highly complex and high-risk projects setting strategy and course of action. You will serve as a go-to resource for all conceptual, documentation and/or technical issues, including construction administration. 

• Lead QA/QC efforts for the A&FE team, ensuring consistency and excellence in design documentation.

• Establish and enforce quality standards for design packages and construction documents.

Design Management & Owner’s Representation:

• Act as a Design Manager for the Walt Disney Company on a limited number of projects. Provide architecture and facilities engineering project management and technical leadership from conceptual design through construction of a projects of critical importance to The Walt Disney Company 

• Represent Disney’s interests in all regulatory and design coordination efforts.

• Oversee the work of external architects and engineers to ensure alignment with Disney standards.

• Coordinate multi-disciplinary design integration, including Walt Disney Imagineering, show, ride, and facility systems.

• Support project teams with constructability reviews, code analysis, and stakeholder communication.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Be a Functional leader, mentor and develop a team of facility designers, architects, and permit specialists.

• Lead strategic planning for permitting and QA/QC functions.

• Advance department tools, workflows, and training programs to enhance team efficiency.

What We Look For

• Minimum 20 years of professional architectural experience in design, documentation and construction administration.

• Proven leadership in permitting, QA/QC, and regulatory coordination.

• Strong knowledge of California Building Code, ADA, CalOSHA, and health codes.

• Experience with complex, multi-phase projects in operational environments.

• Extensive, hands on, design experience with all building types and construction type.

• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Office Suite.

• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture from an NAAB-accredited program.

• Architectural License in the State of California required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master Planning Experience

• CASp Certification

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Additional Information

Benefits and Perks: Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

The hiring range for this position in Anaheim, CA is $148,200.00 to $183,900.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographical region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.