Capital Projects Specialist V

Socket.dev; Cookeville (TN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and life insurance

Educational benefits

Retirement plan (401k)

Job summary

Tennessee Tech University is seeking an Assistant Director of Capital Projects & Planning to lead the Capital Projects & Planning Department, oversee capital improvement, renovation, and infrastructure projects, and support campus planning, budgeting, and strategic initiatives.

You will supervise project managers and staff, set priorities, develop standards, coordinate with university leadership and external partners, and act as Acting Director when required, ensuring projects meet goals and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with 10 years of related experience or a master's degree with 8 years of related professional experience.
• Professional registration as an Architect, Professional Engineer or Interior Designer is preferred.
• Experience with Tennessee State Building Commission procedures, public procurement requirements, and state-funded capital projects is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Capital Projects & Planning Department and provide supervision for staff.
• Oversee capital, maintenance, renovation, infrastructure, and facility projects across all phases.
• Coordinate with university leadership, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and state officials.
• Develop and implement project management standards and monitor performance against budgets, schedules, and quality goals.
• Act as Acting Director in the Director's absence and ensure continuity of leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Project management

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Description of Job Duty:

The Assistant Director of Capital Projects & Planning assists in the leadership, administration, and operation of the University's Capital Projects & Planning Department. The position provides management and oversight of capital improvement, renovation, infrastructure, and facility projects while supporting departmental strategic initiatives, campus planning efforts, budget development, and organizational objectives. The Assistant Director serves as a senior representative of the department and acts on behalf of the Director as assigned.

The Assistant Director is responsible for overseeing project managers and support staff while providing technical leadership and guidance in the planning, execution, and delivery of the University's capital projects. The position assists with departmental planning and administration, develops and implements project management standards, monitors project performance, and coordinates departmental operations to ensure projects are delivered in accordance with University goals, State requirements, budget constraints, and established standards. The Assistant Director works collaboratively with University leadership, faculty, staff, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and state officials to support the University's strategic facilities planning and capital development initiatives. In the Director's absence, the Assistant Director serves as Acting Director and provides continuity of leadership for the department.

Tennessee Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

Leadership and Administration

• Assist the Director in the overall leadership, management, and administration of the Capital Projects & Planning Department.
• Provide direct supervision, guidance, mentoring, and performance management for assigned professional and support staff.
• Establish departmental priorities, workloads, and project assignments to ensure effective utilization of resources.
• Serve as Acting Director during the Director's absence or as delegated.
• Assist in developing departmental policies, procedures, standards, and operational goals.
• Support strategic planning initiatives and continuous improvement efforts related to project delivery and departmental operations.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for University leadership, governing boards, and state agencies.

Project and Program Management

• Provide oversight and management of multiple capital, maintenance, renovation, infrastructure, and facility projects through all phases of development and implementation.
• Direct and coordinate project programming, planning, design, bidding, construction, occupancy, and closeout activities.
• Oversee project managers and consultants to ensure project objectives, schedules, budgets, and quality standards are achieved.
• Serve as the University's representative with architects, engineers, contractors, regulatory agencies, and campus stakeholders.
• Review and approve project scopes, budgets, schedules, procurement strategies, and consultant recommendations.
• Monitor project performance and implement corrective actions when necessary to address schedule, budget, or quality concerns.
• Review and approve change orders, payment applications, contract modifications, and construction administration documents.
• Facilitate executive-level project meetings and communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to university leadership.

Planning and Budget Development

• Assist with development and implementation of the University's capital improvement program and long-range facilities planning initiatives.
• Participate in campus master planning, facility condition assessments, space utilization studies, and infrastructure planning efforts.
• Assist in preparing capital budget requests, funding strategies, project justifications, and supporting documentation.
• Evaluate facility improvement needs and develop recommendations for future capital investments.
• Coordinate project prioritization and resource allocation efforts in support of institutional objectives.

Regulatory and Compliance Oversight

• Coordinate project approvals and reporting requirements with the State Building Commission, Office of the State Architect, Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Tennessee Board of Regents, and other governing entities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable building codes, life safety regulations, accessibility requirements, environmental regulations, and University standards.
• Oversee procurement and contract administration activities in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and University policies.
• Ensure accurate maintenance of project records, reporting systems, and documentation required by University and State agencies.

Technical and Professional Support

• Provide technical expertise regarding facility planning, design, construction, building systems, and campus infrastructure.
• Review architectural and engineering documents for compliance with University standards and project objectives.
• Assist in developing and maintaining campus design standards, construction guidelines, and project management procedures.
• Foster collaborative relationships with campus departments to identify facility needs and develop effective project solutions.

Physical Demands:

Work is performed in office, meetings, and construction site environments. Position requires frequent interaction with campus departments, consultants, contractors, and regulatory agencies. Periodic travel throughout campus and attendance at meetings, construction sites, and governmental agency meetings is required. Occasional lifting, climbing, and exposure to active construction environments may be necessary.

Work Hours:

Typical hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.

Salary:

Level P5, Grade 16.

Benefits:

• Tennessee Tech offers a competitive benefits package. Benefits include the accumulation of two vacation days per month and one sick leave day per month, and thirteen University holidays.
• Other benefits include medical and life insurance (shared cost with the university), retirement, optional 401k, and educational benefits.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited intuition with 10 years of related experience or a master's degree with 8 years of related professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional registration as an Architect, Professional Engineer or Interior Designer.
• Experience in higher education, government, or public-sector facilities management and capital project delivery.
• Experience with Tennessee State Building Commission procedures, public procurement requirements, and state-funded capital projects.
• Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Facilities Management Professional (FMP), or similar credential.
• Experience with campus master planning and capital budget development.
• Experience with facilities management, project management, and capital planning software systems.