Associate Director, Planning, Design & Space Management

University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City seeks an Associate Director, Planning, Design & Space Management to lead facility planning, design, and space management across its academic medical center. You will align investments with organizational priorities and oversee design standards while supporting growth and patient care efficiencies.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in architecture (or equivalent) with 7–10 years of healthcare planning and design experience; Master’s in architecture

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture or equivalent experience is required.
• Master’s degree in architecture is preferred.
• 7–10 years of direct experience in healthcare facility planning and design, space management, and master planning.

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.

Skills

Leadership experience

Stakeholder engagement

Facilitation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in architecture or equivalent experience

Master’s degree in architecture

Job description

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
• Healthcare master planning experience
• 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

Pay Range: 7A - Salary to commensurate

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.

Additional Information

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

Compensation

• Pay Level: 7A

Contact Information

• Organization: Healthcare
• Contact Name: Carmela F Lovelace
• Contact Email: [e-mail]