Manager, Signage and Environmental Graphic Design

LA Metro is advancing major capital projects and new transit corridors across Los Angeles, and the design quality of the customer environment is central to that work. In this onsite role, you will manage the planning, conceptualization, design, and development of high-visibility signage and environmental graphic design projects that support clear, consistent customer information throughout the system. You will also ensure design outcomes align with Metro’s Environmental Graphic Design Systemwide Standards while meeting schedule, budget, technical, and regulatory requirements.

Role focus

You will oversee environmental graphic design efforts that extend from early planning through refinements and production, supporting continuity and integration of systemwide standards in stations, facilities, and vehicles. The work includes managing branding and visual information systems for customer environments tied to highly visible capital projects, with an emphasis on compliance and delivery.

Key responsibilities

• Manage planning, conceptualization, design, refinements, and production of environmental graphic design for station, facility, and vehicle construction to ensure integration of Metro’s Environmental Graphic Design Systemwide Standards.
• Lead environmental graphic design and customer environment branding standards for major capital projects, ensuring work stays on schedule, within budget, and compliant with technical and regulatory requirements.
• Manage and evaluate staff and consultants developing complex signage and wayfinding plans, programs, and processes to maintain consistency across the transit system.
• Plan and execute creative strategies and solutions, and communicate them effectively to staff and consultants.
• Analyze complex design problems and recommend visual solutions that convey clear, consistent, and effective information aligned with best industry practices.
• Review design and construction documents, project specifications, and shop drawings for compliance with Metro’s Environmental Graphic Design Systemwide Standards and provide direction to construction design teams.
• Conduct comments resolution meetings with capital project teams, designers, and vendors.
• Perform field audits of signage for capital projects to verify placement, location, quality, and compliance with approved drawings and standards.
• Consult with other Metro departments on best practices and fabrication and installation approaches for illuminated and static signage in new construction and existing stations and facilities.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary stakeholders including Architecture, Maintenance, Operations, Civil Rights, Safety, Security, Fleet Acquisition, and Marketing to incorporate environmental graphic design, signage, wayfinding, and related enhancements.
• Interface with designers, engineers, architects, fabricators, and other design professionals to deliver high-quality customer environments.
• Develop and write complex scopes of work for visible construction projects, prepare cost estimates, and evaluate proposals.
• Facilitate procurement and serve as technical subject matter expert during contract bidding, negotiation, and award; manage contractor and consultant contract implementation.
• Respond to signage requests tied to transit system alterations, with attention to mitigating impacts from regulatory requirements and integrating digital information into the built environment.
• Support seamless integration of environmental graphic design with public art, architecture, and landscape architecture.
• Allocate and manage workflow and contractor resources.
• Develop and manage agency Environmental Graphic Design Systemwide Standards and Fleet Identity Standards.
• Facilitate management-level client meetings to define issues and develop strategies and work plans.
• Collaborate with clients to refine objectives and determine approaches that fit time and budget constraints.
• Work closely with Program Delivery, Operations, and Marketing to help ensure deadlines are met.
• Provide technical support so design activities meet operations, maintenance, and quality standards.
• Manage special signage and environmental graphic design related studies.
• Supervise, train, and motivate assigned staff.
• Prepare and present comprehensive presentations and reports to management, committees, and outside agencies.
• Represent the department at meetings with consultants and the public.
• May perform other related duties as assigned.

Location and schedule

Los Angeles, CA (onsite).

Compensation

USD 109,470 - 164,195 per year.

Minimum qualifications

• 3 years of relevant experience, or 6 years of relevant experience in developing complex, highly visible environmental graphic design programs and products, including 3 years in a supervisory-level role.
• Bachelor’s degree in Urban or Transportation Planning; Public Administration, Public Policy, Visual Communications, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Environmental Graphic Design, Architecture, Urban Design, or a related field.
• Valid California Class C Driver License, or ability to use an alternative method of transportation when needed to perform essential job functions.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience managing complex, high-visibility environmental graphic design programs and products for large-scale public transportation systems or similar environments.
• Experience applying local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing signage and environmental graphic design.
• Experience supervising signage fabrication and installation processes, including selection and use of materials, coatings, and hardware.
• Experience reviewing and applying architectural, engineering, and construction documents and drawings.
• Experience managing projects, budgets, schedules, and stakeholder engagement while aligning with organizational goals and signage and brand standards.

Tools and technologies

Macintosh hardware; Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, Distiller; CAD (Computer-Aided Design) applications and tools; font management utilities; Microsoft Office Suite; desktop publishing tools.

Selection procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in an examination process that may include a combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to evaluate relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Application process

To apply, visit www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

Recruitment timelines

Interviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of 11/9/2026. Dates are subject to change.

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision plan options; health care spending accounts
• Group Life Insurance; Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Holidays (12 days a year); Time off with Pay (TOWP)
• Pension Plan (Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS))
• Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP
• Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay
• Kaiser medical insurance (Temporary employees)
• Public Pension Plan (Temporary employees); 457/401K Plan (Temporary employees)
• Flex Spending (Temporary employees); Paid Sick Time (Temporary employees)
• Fare Media (Temporary employees); Rideshare Subsidies (Temporary employees)
• Metro One Fitness membership (Temporary employees)