Design and Construction Manager

Central Piedmont Community College; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC seeks a senior planning, design, and construction leader to translate priorities into coordinated design solutions. You will serve as technical design authority, guiding conceptual design, bid-ready documents, and construction coordination across the college's capital program.

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will collaborate with project managers, architects, engineers, and college staff to ensure scope clarity, code compliance,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Building Construction, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum four years of progressive experience in architectural design and higher education project coordination.
• Professional licensure in Architecture or Engineering preferred.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide architectural and construction planning expertise for new construction, renovations, and capital projects.
• Coordinate with designers, engineers, and consultants through all design phases.
• Review design documents for compliance with codes and standards.
• Support master planning, sustainability, and long-term facility functionality.
• Assist in development of project scopes and coordination with project managers.

Skills

Architecture

Budgeting

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Architecture/Engineering/Building Construction

Master's Degree (preferred)

Tools

Design software review

Spreadsheets

Presentations

Project documentation systems

Job description

Provides senior-level planning, architectural, and construction oversight, expertise in support of the College's capital and renovation portfolio. Serves as a technical design and construction leader responsible for translating institutional priorities, master planning direction, and capital authorizations into coordinated design solutions.

Works consultatively with the Executive Director - Planning, Design and Construction, and in partnership with project managers to ensure that scope clarity, design integrity, construction coordination, and long-term functional and institutional goals are met and maintained throughout the project lifecycle. This position does not independently authorize capital projects or supervise project managers; rather, it serves as a subject-matter expert and technical authority in architectural design and construction coordination.

1. Provides architectural and construction planning expertise for new construction, renovations, and capital improvement projects authorized through institutional governance processes.
2. Assists in the advertising for and selection of designers, suppliers, and construction consultants. Works directly with third-party architects, engineers, and design and construction consultants to coordinate scope pre-design, schematic design, design development, and construction documentation phases.
3. Reviews design documents for compliance with institutional standards, NC Building Codes, Community College Laws of NC, ADA requirements, life safety standards, and local and state ordinances.
4. Ensures that design solutions align with long-range master planning principles, sustainability goals, durability standards, and long-term facility functionality.
5. Assists in the development and refinement of project scopes to ensure functional clarity, feasibility, and alignment with approved institutional priorities.
6. Collaborates with assigned project managers who are responsible for holistic project delivery, including schedule, budget, and consultant coordination.
7. Provides technical consultation during planning, design, bidding, and construction to support resolution of changes, conflicts, and budget challenges.
8. Participates in coordination meetings with college staff, project managers, contractors, suppliers, consultants, and local building code and state construction representatives to ensure feasibility of design intent and concept code compliance.
9. Reviews cost estimates, value engineering proposals, and change orders to ensure technical soundness and alignment with project scope.
10. Supports construction accounting and financial transparency efforts by providing technical validation of scope and budget modifications.
11. Facilitates cross-divisional design coordination to ensure projects support academic programming, student experience, operational functionality, and institutional mission alignment.
12. Incorporates relevant facilities condition data, operational insights, and enterprise analytics into design recommendations and renovation planning.
13. Maintains high-quality architectural standards in material selection, space functionality, longevity, and aesthetic coherence across campus facilities.
14. Assists the Executive Director – College Planning, Design, and Construction in providing project-level analysis to support capital planning discussions with senior leadership.
15. Other duties as assigned.

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution in Architecture, Building Construction, Engineering, or related field; professional licensure in Architecture or Engineering preferred; a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in architectural design, construction planning, and higher education project coordination.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's Degree from an accredited institution in Architecture, Building Construction, Engineering, or related field. Considerable experience in the design, development, budgeting, and construction of Higher Education architecture.

Direction Received:

Reports to Executive Director - College Planning, Design and Construction

Direction Given:

Provides technical direction and consultation to project managers and external design professionals; does not exercise direct supervisory authority over project managers.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Work Characteristics:

• Demonstrated expertise in architectural design and higher education construction planning
• Knowledge of budget development processes, cost estimation, and construction administration practices
• Comprehensive knowledge of NC Building Codes, ADA requirements, Mecklenburg County and NC State Construction Office permitting procedures
• Ability to operate consultatively within a multi-tier governance and project management structure
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Proficiency in project documentation systems, design software review, spreadsheets, and presentations

Working Conditions:

Requires frequent visits to construction sites and campus facilities. May experience exposure to construction environments, including heat, cold, humidity, noise, and physical site conditions. Requires travel between campuses and occasional coordination with local utilities, Mecklenburg County, and state agencies.