Director of Planning & Design - Associate Campus Architect

University of California, Merced; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California - Merced invites applications for a Director of Planning and Design to lead capital project planning, design review, and campus-wide sustainability initiatives on the Merced campus. The role requires licensure by the California Architects Board or the ability to obtain within six months of hire, plus extensive experience in higher education capital programs.

The position oversees project initiation, land-use planning, design reviews, construction phase support, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Urban Planning, or related field.
• Licensed California Architect or ability to obtain license within 6 months of hire.
• Six years of directly related experience in planning and design of capital projects.
• Experience with campus design guidelines, LRDPs, CEQA, and regulatory coordination.
• Strong stakeholder management and alignment of design with programmatic goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiation and planning of capital projects, defining scope and selecting consultants.
• Oversee land use planning, LRDP, CEQA documents, and regulatory coordination.
• Chair campus design review process for architectural proposals and site plans.
• Provide construction phase support with submittal reviews and RFIs.
• Lead consultant selection, contracting, and performance oversight.
• Strategic leadership for campus aesthetics and sustainability.
• Engage stakeholders and community partners to facilitate consensus.
• Prepare executive reports on design quality and project performance.
• Supervise Project Directors and mentor staff.
• Manage FF&E for major capital projects.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Facilitation

Project management

Leadership

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Urban Planning, or related field

Advanced degree in same or related field

Job description

Director of Planning and Design – Merced, Full Time (Job ID: 87307)

Salary: $155,000 - $200,000.

Job is expected to work on‑campus Monday through Thursday with Friday remaining flexible as business dictates.

Initial applicant review will take place on or around August 10, 2026. Posting will close upon satisfactory completion of first‑round interviews.

The ideal candidate will be licensed by the California Architects Board (CAB) or be capable of acquiring the license within 6 months of hire.

About the Job

1. Project Initiation & Planning: Lead management and initiation of capital projects, including defining scope, selecting and onboarding consultants, and conducting visioning/programming to validate user requirements and align with institutional goals and fiscal constraints.
2. Land Use & Planning Oversight: Oversee campus development permits and long‑range planning documents (LRDP), including EIR and other CEQA‑related documents, coordinating with regulatory bodies and ensuring compliance; represent the university in discussions with various regional governmental agencies relating to development projects both on and around the university.
3. Design Review Leadership: Chair and coordinate the campus design review process for architectural proposals, elevations, materials, site plans, and wayfinding, ensuring adherence to campus standards, sustainability goals, and program needs; collaborate with the Campus Architect on design intent, aesthetic stewardship, and technical compliance; maintain and enforce Architectural Design Guidelines, Campus Construction Standards, and Landscape Guidelines.
4. Construction Phase Support: Provide campus‑side support during construction by reviewing submittals and RFIs, participating in construction meetings, and tracking the resolution of field issues and punch lists.
5. Consultant & Contract Stewardship: Lead and manage architect/engineer consultant selection, contracting, and performance oversight, enforcing compliance with campus standards and applicable codes.
6. Campus Architectural Stewardship & Sustainability: Provide strategic leadership for campus aesthetics, design excellence, and institutional identity across all locations; champion integration of sustainable and resilient design, coordinating with sustainability leadership and ensuring compliance with best practices.
7. Stakeholder & Community Engagement: Represent UC Merced in design‑related engagements with colleges, departments, committees, auxiliary units, and external partners; facilitate consensus and clear decision timelines.
8. Governance, Reporting & Standards: Prepare executive‑level reports and briefings for senior leadership and planning committees on design quality, campus plan implementation, and project performance; maintain campus design, construction, and master planning standards; ensure projects comply with applicable codes and policies.
9. Team Leadership & Supervision: Supervise Project Directors and mentor planning/design staff, building professional capability and a culture of design excellence; responsible for supervising, directing, and evaluating the work of subordinate employees, exercising independent judgment in the administration of department policies and procedures.
10. Furniture Program (FF&E) Management: Provide managerial support for the university's furniture program with a primary focus on major capital projects; support the team in stakeholder management, advocacy, and prioritization needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Urban Planning, or related field (required); and/or
• Advanced degree from an accredited university in the same or related field (preferred);
• Six years of directly related progressively responsible experience in the planning and design of capital projects, preferably in higher education or public sector, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience (required);
• Must be a licensed California Architect issued by the California Architects Board (CAB), or be capable of acquiring the license within 6 months of hire (required);
• Demonstrated ability to manage large‑scale design and construction projects and complex stakeholder coordination.
• Demonstrated skill in aligning stakeholder expectations with project realities, ensuring disciplined scope management throughout planning and design.
• Demonstrated skill in coordinating with architects, engineers, and consultants to align design outcomes with programmatic, functional, and operational needs identified by campus stakeholders, including the ability to continuously validate design progress against stakeholder expectations; identify gaps and drive corrective alignment with the design team.
• Strong understanding of construction documents, design phases, building codes, and sustainability practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and project management skills.
• Experience in public university capital programs – preferred.
• Familiarity with UC Facilities Manual, California Building Code (CBC), and State Fire Marshal (SFM) processes.
• Experience with campus design guidelines, master planning, and design review boards.
• Experience with campus planning processes and the development, implementation, or management of Long‑Range Development Plans (LRDPs).

Background check required.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.