Director, Capital Projects & Design Leadership

University of Rochester; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Rochester seeks a Director of Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) to lead a portfolio of capital projects across Medical Center, Academic, and Research campuses. This role oversees planning through occupancy, partnering with stakeholders to ensure safety, schedule, budget, and alignment with institutional priorities.

The successful candidate will manage a multidisciplinary team, foster collaboration, and advance sustainable, high-quality project delivery across a diverse academic

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive experience leading complex capital planning, design, and construction projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project management teams and developing staff.
• Experience managing large capital project portfolios with responsibility for budget, schedule, quality, and risk.
• Experience working in healthcare, higher education, research, or similarly complex institutional environments preferred.
• Strong knowledge of construction delivery methods, regulatory requirements, and project governance.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence diverse stakeholder groups.

Responsibilities

• Lead a complex capital project portfolio valued between $100M–$250M annually.
• Oversee projects from planning and design through construction, commissioning, and occupancy.
• Ensure successful delivery of scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of project management professionals.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
• Support staff development, succession planning, and resource allocation across the portfolio.
• Provide oversight of capital budgets, consultant selection, procurement, contracts, and financial performance.
• Monitor project risks and implement mitigation strategies throughout the project lifecycle.
• Drive operational consistency and continuous improvement across Planning, Design & Construction.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related discipline

Job description

University of Rochester seeks a Director of Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) to lead a portfolio of capital projects across Medical Center, Academic, and Research campuses. This role oversees planning through occupancy, partnering with stakeholders to ensure safety, schedule, budget, and alignment with institutional priorities.

The successful candidate will manage a multidisciplinary team, foster collaboration, and advance sustainable, high-quality project delivery across a diverse academic