Associate Director Project Delivery

University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Iowa in Iowa City is looking for an Associate Director to lead capital project delivery within a large healthcare environment. You will oversee budgeting, scheduling, and compliance across complex projects while guiding design and contract management through a staff team.

You will partner with clinical, operational, and administrative leaders to align investments with priorities, mentor staff, and ensure projects meet scope, quality, and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in project management, engineering, architecture or equivalent.
• 7–10 years of direct, enterprise healthcare project leadership.
• Experience leading capital projects within a complex health system.
• Strong budgeting and financial analysis capabilities.
• Effective communication and stakeholder facilitation.
• Commitment to inclusive, respectful work environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital construction project delivery and staffing.
• Oversee estimating, scheduling, and budget adherence.
• Coordinate with clinical, operational, and administrative leaders.
• Provide design, contract, and risk management guidance.
• Report progress to executives and governance committees.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Budgeting

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Diversity and inclusion

Education

Master's degree in project management, engineering, architecture or similar field

Job description

• Contact Email: [e-mail]

This position will reports directly to the Executive Director of Capital Management & Facility Planning and serves as a key leader responsible for Capital Project delivery across a large academic medical center environment. This position supports the process of capital improvements assuring projects are designed in compliance with UI, state and federal standards and programmatic requirements and completed on schedule, within budget and in compliance with a contractually defined scope and quality standards.

The Associate Director will provide leadership and oversight for capital construction project delivery, estimating, project management, schedule management, staff engagement, training and mentoring. Key areas of responsibility include types of projects, design management, contract management, communication, coordination, schedule management, leadership, human resources, and financial responsibility.

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

• Types of Projects: Responsible for making final decisions on project planning and programming and ensuring the successful management of projects by staff. Assigns and manages project workload of staff.
• Communication: Provide progress reports to administration and leadership committees. Determine expectations for functional area and monitor and evaluate performance of team.
• Assess project development and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and UI Health Care standards and guidelines. Provide direction to staff to ensure compliance.
• Ensure staff are communicating effectively with stakeholders and coaches staff if issues are noted.
• Assures communications are clear, well thought out and helpful.
• Design Management: Approve the final design process including budget, schedule, design, and contract management. Provide expert advice on development/interpretation of design documents. Ensure the successful management of project designs by staff. Resolve dispute resolution as required.
• Contracts Management: Review and approve contracts for projects. Review and analyze contract documentation for compliance with regulations. Authorize change authorization requests. Provide expert advice on development/interpretation of contract documents. Review and approve department processes and procedures.
• Coordination: Assure an environment of trust through open communications. Set course and maintain standards for department. Encourage and provide structures and practices which empower and recognize staff. Provide and promote professional development opportunities for staff. Assure completion of comprehensive training. Motivate and support staff engagement.
• Empowers staff to manage projects in an effective and efficient manner through the use of training and mentoring.
• Budget Management: Advocate, defend, and approve unit financial position. Establish short- and long-term budget priorities, allocate resources and finalize/approve all budgets. Contribute to UI budget development and policy. Communicate UI budget decisions and processes. Establish accounting controls. Perform complex financial analysis.
• Human Resources: Provide supervision of staff, conduct yearly performance evaluations, serve as a mentor and trainer.
• Leadership: Hold unit leaders accountable for a high performance and high engagement by articulating expectations, monitoring performance and providing feedback consistently across areas of responsibility.

Pay Scale: Pay Grade 7A - $100,000 to commensurate

Education: Master's degree in project management, engineering, architecture or similar field and/or an equivalent level of education and experience.

Required Qualifications:

7-10 Years of Directly Related Experience which includes:

• Leadership experience within complex healthcare organizations
• Strong Project Management Skills which include the ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control project delivery across an enterprise wide health care system.
• Expert Budgeting Experience
• Effective Communications which includes: ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills
• 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.

Highly Desirable Qualifications:

• Prior Experience in a Health Care Setting managing projects and staff at an enterprise wide level. Including highly complex, impactful projects.
• Prior experience developing and reviewing construction project estimates for complex health care capital construction projects.
• Knowledge of healthcare regulatory and accreditation requirements
• Prior experience acting as an Owner's representative in a Health Care setting

Desirable: Demonstrated 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

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]

Position will be advertised for

Contact Information: Carmela Lovelace, [e-mail]

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.