Associate Director, Planning, Design & Space Management

The University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Iowa Health Care (UI Health Care) seeks an Associate Director, Planning, Design & Space Management to lead strategic facility planning, healthcare design, and space management across a large academic medical center.

The role reports to the Executive Director of Capital Management & Facility Planning and partners with clinical, operational, and administrative leaders to align investments with priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture or equivalent experience.
• Master’s degree in architecture preferred.
• Experience in healthcare facility planning and design.

Responsibilities

• Lead healthcare facility planning and programming initiatives.
• Provide oversight of healthcare planning and design activities.
• Direct space planning, allocation, and utilization strategies.
• Support development and implementation of capital planning initiatives.
• Coordinate planning efforts with clinical and operational stakeholders.
• Ensure facility planning and design solutions support patient care, operational efficiency, and future growth.
• Guide planning and design standards across the health system.
• Support master planning and strategic growth initiatives.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in architecture or equivalent experience.
• Preferred: Master’s degree in architecture.

Skills

Healthcare design

Space management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s in architecture

Master’s in architecture (preferred)

Job description

Associate Director, Planning, Design & Space Management

University of Iowa Health Care (UI Health Care) Capital Management and Facility Planning is seeking to engage an executive search firm to assist with the recruitment of an Associate Director, Planning, Design & Space Management. This position will report directly to the Executive Director of Capital Management & Facility Planning and serve as a key leader responsible for strategic facility planning, healthcare design, space management, and capital planning initiatives across a large academic medical center environment.

The Associate Director will provide leadership and oversight for healthcare facility planning, design, and space management activities supporting various portfolios of inpatient, ambulatory, research, and support facilities.

This position will work closely with clinical, operational, and administrative leaders to align facility investments and space utilization strategies with organizational priorities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead healthcare facility planning and programming initiatives
• Provide oversight of healthcare planning and design activities
• Direct space planning, allocation, and utilization strategies
• Support development and implementation of capital planning initiatives
• Coordinate planning efforts with clinical and operational stakeholders
• Ensure facility planning and design solutions support patient care, operational efficiency, and future growth
• Guide planning and design standards across the health system
• Support master planning and strategic growth initiatives
• Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in architecture or equivalent experience
• Preferred Education: Master’s degree in architecture

Professional experience fostering or promoting a welcoming and respectful working environment where people of all backgrounds and perspectives feel welcomed and appreciated; or demonstrated ability to do so.

• 7-10 Years of Directly Related Experience which includes:
  • Healthcare facility planning and design experience
  • Space management and utilization planning expertise
  • Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills
  • Leadership experience within complex healthcare organizations
  • Knowledge of healthcare regulatory and accreditation requirements
• Candidates should possess experience in one or more of the following environments:
  • Academic medical centers
  • Integrated health systems
  • Healthcare consulting organizations
• Candidates should demonstrate familiarity and working knowledge of:
  • Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines
  • American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) standards and best practices
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes
  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements
  • The Joint Commission standards and survey processes

Additional Information

• Classification Title: Assoc Dir, E&A Project Mgmt
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Modality Options: On Campus

Equal opportunity employer

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, [phone] or [e-mail] . For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543 .

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check. This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization.