Chief Asset Development Officer

Bennett College; Greensboro (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Bennett College seeks a Chief Asset Development Officer to lead campus facilities, real estate, and capital projects from Greensboro, NC. The role partners with the President and enterprise leadership to align assets with priorities, sustainability, and growth.

Regular campus engagement and external coordination are required. This senior position emphasizes strategic stewardship, financial oversight, and proactive risk management to ensure safe, accessible, and resilient environments for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Senior-level leadership experience in facilities, grounds, capital projects, infrastructure, real estate, campus planning, or enterprise asset management within a complex organization.
• Experience advising executive leadership, external partners, contractors, or public agencies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for planning, stewardship, development, and optimization of facilities, land, and real estate assets.
• Advise the President and leadership team on campus development, asset investment, deferred maintenance, land use, and long-range infrastructure priorities.
• Evaluate asset conditions, utilization, and opportunities to support growth, operational effectiveness, and financial resilience.
• Provide executive oversight of facilities, grounds, infrastructure, and related operations to maintain safe and welcoming environments.
• Establish service expectations, priorities, performance measures, and accountability for facilities and grounds functions.
• Promote maintenance planning, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, sustainability, energy efficiency, and campus resilience.
• Lead strategic planning and coordination for capital improvements, construction, and infrastructure modernization.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to evaluate project scope, feasibility, sequencing, and delivery.
• Explore opportunities to enhance real estate value and generate revenue, including partnerships and underutilized spaces.
• Develop and recommend facilities and capital budget priorities aligned with institutional goals.
• Oversee procurement, vendor and contract management, asset utilization, and capital project execution.
• Apply financial and operational analysis to support investments and resource allocation.
• Collaborate with Finance, Academic Affairs, Student Experience, Institutional Advancement, and external stakeholders on asset priorities.
• Prepare data-informed reports and presentations for the President, senior leaders, and governance bodies.
• Represent the College in facilities strategy, planning, external partnerships, and community relations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial acumen

Communication and negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Project oversight

Safety and sustainability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in facilities management, architecture, engineering, construction management, real estate, urban planning, business administration, public administration, or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

ABOUT BENNETT COLLEGE:

Bennett College is a private, historically Black liberal arts college for women located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1873, Bennett is committed to empowering women through academic excellence, leadership development, service, and meaningful engagement with their communities. As the College advances its strategic priorities and long-term sustainability, it seeks collaborative and forward-thinking leaders who will steward institutional resources and support a safe, welcoming, and thriving campus environment.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Chief Asset Development Officer serves as a senior executive in the President’s Office of Enterprise and Strategic Initiatives and reports directly to the President. The position provides strategic leadership and enterprise-level oversight of Bennett College’s physical assets, including campus facilities and grounds, real estate, capital projects, infrastructure, and space utilization.

This leader is responsible for developing and executing an integrated approach to asset stewardship, operational performance, capital investment, and long-range campus development. In close collaboration with the President, enterprise leadership team, and internal and external partners, the Chief Asset Development Officer aligns the College’s built environment with institutional priorities, fiscal stewardship, accessibility, sustainability, and long-term growth.

This is a campus-facing executive leadership position based in Greensboro, North Carolina. The role requires regular engagement with campus operations and occasional attendance at meetings or events outside standard business hours, as business needs require. Site visits and movement across campus facilities and grounds may be necessary.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategic Asset Leadership & Campus Planning

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for the planning, stewardship, development, and optimization of institutional facilities, land, and real estate assets.
• Advise the President and enterprise leadership team on campus development, physical asset investment, deferred maintenance, land use, and long-range infrastructure priorities.
• Evaluate asset conditions, utilization, and opportunities to support institutional growth, operational effectiveness, and long-term financial resilience.

Facilities, Grounds & Infrastructure Operations

• Provide executive oversight of campus facilities, grounds, infrastructure, and related operations to maintain safe, functional, accessible, and welcoming environments.
• Establish service expectations, operational priorities, performance measures, and accountability practices for facilities and grounds functions.
• Promote responsible maintenance planning, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, sustainability, energy efficiency, and campus resilience.

Capital Projects, Real Estate & Development

• Lead strategic planning and coordination for capital improvements, construction and renovation initiatives, facilities renewal, and infrastructure modernization.
• Partner with internal stakeholders, consultants, contractors, public agencies, and external partners to evaluate project scope, feasibility, sequencing, and delivery.
• Explore responsible opportunities to enhance the value and utility of institutional real estate, underutilized spaces, and other assets, including public-private partnerships and potential revenue-generating initiatives.

Financial Stewardship & Operational Accountability

• Develop and recommend facilities and capital budget priorities consistent with institutional goals and available resources.
• Oversee performance expectations related to procurement, vendor and contract management, asset utilization, and capital project execution.
• Apply financial and operational analysis to support investment recommendations, resource allocation, and continuous improvement.

Enterprise Collaboration & Executive Reporting

• Collaborate with Finance, Academic Affairs, Student Experience, Institutional Advancement, administrative units, and external stakeholders on institution-wide asset priorities.
• Prepare clear, data-informed reports, presentations, and recommendations for the President, senior leaders, governing bodies, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the College professionally in matters involving facilities strategy, physical planning, external partnerships, and community interests.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Strategic judgment and demonstrated ability to translate institutional goals into actionable asset development and operational plans.
• Knowledge of facilities and grounds operations, capital planning, construction and renovation processes, real estate considerations, procurement, contract administration, and risk management.
• Strong financial acumen, budget planning, analytical thinking, and ability to assess competing priorities and investment tradeoffs.
• Experience collaborating across complex organizations and advising executive leadership, governing stakeholders, external partners, and public agencies.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, relationship-building, project oversight, and organizational leadership skills.
• Commitment to safety, accessibility, sustainability, responsible resource management, and the mission of Bennett College.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in facilities management, architecture, engineering, construction management, real estate, urban planning, business administration, public administration, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Significant senior-level leadership experience in facilities, grounds, capital projects, infrastructure, real estate, campus planning, or enterprise asset management within a complex organization.
• Demonstrated success developing long-range plans, overseeing operational improvement or capital initiatives, and managing competing organizational and financial priorities.
• Experience working with executive leadership, external partners, contractors, governing bodies, or public agencies.