Assistant Managing Director, Coalition for Smart Construction

Virginia Tech; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech is seeking a proactive Assistant Managing Director to provide strategic oversight for the Coalition for Smart Construction and the Smart Construction Lab. You will anchor day-to-day operations, chair a Launch Working Group, and coordinate across research, facilities, communications, and workforce development to launch core infrastructure and scale initiatives.

The role emphasizes fast-paced collaboration, exceptional organization, and disciplined execution across multiple

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or Bachelor’s degree with significant related experience in business/management/construction/administration.
• Experience in project management, operations, or coordination roles.
• Ability to manage complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders and priorities.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Collaborative work across interdisciplinary teams and levels.
• Experience coordinating fast-paced, evolving projects.
• Attention to detail in schedules, deliverables, and follow-up activities.
• Demonstrated professionalism and interpersonal effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate CSC setup and operational readiness for the Smart Construction Lab.
• Integrate Digital Commons Portal build into CSC operations.
• Manage timelines and deliverables across multiple stakeholders and consulting leads.
• Translate designed processes into routinized operations and ensure strategic priorities are executed.
• Lead cross-functional coordination and chair the Launch Working Group on a regular cadence.

Skills

Project management

Operations coordination

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication skills

Organization & detail-orientation

Problem-solving

Scheduling & deadlines

Discretion & professionalism

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Business/Management/Construction/Administration

Tools

CRM systems

Databases

Operational-management software

Job description

Job Description

Virginia Tech is committed to shaping the future of industry, innovation, and workforce development through bold interdisciplinary collaboration and applied research. The Coalition for Smart Construction (CSC) is an emerging initiative designed to accelerate innovation across the construction industry through research, technology integration, talent development, and industry partnership. Operating across Virginia Tech and industry hubs in Northern Virginia and Blacksburg, CSC is building a collaborative ecosystem that connects academia, industry, and government to solve major challenges in the built environment.

To support this rapidly growing initiative, Virginia Tech seeks a full-time Assistant Managing Director to provide strategic operational leadership, organizational coordination, and program management across the Coalition for Smart Construction and the Smart Construction Lab. The Assistant Managing Director anchors CSC's day-to-day operations and chairs a CSC Launch Working Group that includes two specialist consulting leads and a domain advisor, helping launch core infrastructure, including CSC's Digital Commons Portal and the Smart Construction Lab in Falls Church, Virginia. This position is restricted; therefore, continuation of this appointment is subject to the availability of funds, the need for services, and satisfactory performance.

Reporting to the Managing Director of the Coalition for Smart Construction, the Assistant Managing Director serves as the central operational and strategic coordinator and the single point of accountability for day-to-day execution. This role aligns activities across research, operations, facilities, communications, memberships, workforce development, budgeting, and industry collaboration while ensuring that strategic priorities are executed efficiently and effectively. The Assistant Managing Director coordinates cross-functional efforts among faculty, university leadership, industry partners, consultants, vendors, and operational teams, and integrates the work of the consulting leads (Operations & Process; Digital Commons & Education) and the domain advisor into a coherent whole.

The Assistant Managing Director oversees organizational workflows, meeting coordination, project tracking, operational planning, communications, and implementation activities associated with CSC and the Smart Construction Lab, chairing the Launch Working Group on a regular cadence. Particular emphasis will be placed on:

• Coordinating Smart Construction Lab setup and operational readiness
• integrating the Digital Commons Portal build into CSC operations as it goes live
• managing timelines and deliverables across multiple stakeholders and the consulting leads
• converting designed processes and systems into running, routinized operations
• and ensuring effective execution of strategic priorities

The role requires an individual who thrives in fast-paced, highly collaborative environments and who can balance strategic thinking with operational excellence. The successful candidate must be highly organized, proactive, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree or Bachelor's degree with significant relavant experience in a related field, such as Business, management, construction, or administration.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, operations, organizational coordination, or similar roles.
• Proven ability to manage complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across interdisciplinary teams and organizational levels.
• Experience coordinating projects in fast-paced and evolving environments.
• Ability to manage schedules, deliverables, operational systems, and follow-up activities with strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education, research, innovation, or industry-partnership environments.
• Familiarity with construction, engineering, manufacturing, technology, or innovation ecosystems.
• Experience supporting facility operations, research infrastructure, laboratory coordination, or capital projects.
• Experience with digital collaboration platforms, Customer Relationship Management (CRM)systems, databases, or operational-management software.
• Demonstrated success coordinating interdisciplinary teams and large-scale initiatives.
• Familiarity with strategic planning, budgeting, operational scaling, or startup-style organizational growth.
• Experience supporting applied research, workforce development, or innovation-focused initiatives.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$95,000 - $135,000

Hours per week

40

Review Date

Open until filled, applications will be reviewed starting August, 28, 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Erin Poff at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.