Director of Real Estate Transition & Activation

Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 147,000 - 228,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems is seeking a Director of Transitional & Activation Planning to lead enterprise-wide transition and activation for new facilities, expansions, and relocations. This role ensures operational readiness, regulatory compliance, and safe patient care activation across the system.

Develop standardized frameworks for Operational, Activation, and Building Readiness, and oversee governance structures with multidisciplinary teams to align milestones,

Qualifications

• Requires 5+ years of healthcare facility transition and activation experience.
• Experience with clinical, operational, and regulatory environments.
• Mentor and develop leaders in activation disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Direct enterprise-wide transition and activation planning for facilities.
• Develop standardized activation frameworks and policies.
• Lead activation governance structures and escalation pathways.
• Oversee integrated Project Master Activation Schedule and milestones.
• Coordinate design/construction with clinical readiness and IT.

Skills

Clear communication

Mentoring

System-wide readiness

Leadership

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

Reading drawings

Equipment data sheets

MS Project

Job description

The Director of Transitional & Activation Planning provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the planning, activation, and stabilization of new and renovated healthcare facilities across the health system. This role ensures that clinical, operational, regulatory, and building readiness activities are fully integrated with design and construction delivery to support safe, compliant, and effective patient care on day one. Operating at a system level, the Director leads multidisciplinary teams through complex transition and activation efforts in an academic medical center environment, aligning stakeholders across Real Estate Services, clinical operations, facilities, IT, compliance, and executive leadership.

Essential Job Statement

Directs enterprise-wide transition and activation planning for new facilities, expansions, renovations, and relocations to ensure operational readiness, regulatory compliance, and safe patient care activation.

Develops standardized frameworks, policies, tools, and methodologies for Operational Readiness, Activation Readiness, and Building Readiness across the health system.

Leads activation governance structures, including steering committees and multidisciplinary work groups, establishing clear decision authority, accountability, and escalation pathways.

Oversees development and execution of the integrated Project Master Activation Schedule, coordinating construction turnover, equipment installation, IT readiness, training, regulatory approvals, and departmental go-live milestones.

Provides strategic coordination between Design & Construction Project Management and clinical/operational stakeholders to align building completion with operational and clinical readiness.

Establishes and maintains standardized activation tools, including activation checklists, RACI matrices, milestone plans, assumptions logs, and operational readiness issue tracking systems.

Oversees department-level occupancy planning, workflow validation, staffing readiness, and dual-operations planning to support uninterrupted patient care during transitions.

Directs regulatory and accreditation readiness activities in collaboration with compliance, safety, and clinical leadership, supporting licensure, permitting, life-safety readiness, and survey preparedness.

Documents post-activation stabilization outcomes through final transition reports capturing lessons learned, unresolved operational items, budget considerations, and system improvement recommendations.

Ensure responsibility and visible commitment of diversity equity and inclusion programs/initiatives through collaboration and implementation of initiatives across the health.

Patient Population:

N/A

Employment Qualifications

Required Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Construction Management, Architecture, Public Administration, Biomedical Engineering, Project Management or related field

Preferred Education: Master's Degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Construction Management, Architecture, Public Administration, Biomedical Engineering, Project Management or related field

Licensing/ Certification

Licensure/Certification Required: N/A

Licensure/Certification Preferred: PMP, CAPM

Minimum Qualifications

Years and Type of Required Experience: 5+ years of experience in healthcare facility transition and activation, medical equipment planning, or clinical background, architecture, or construction project management

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: Communicates clearly and consistently across diverse audiences. Thinks and acts beyond individual projects to advance system-wide readiness capabilities. Mentors emerging leaders in transition, activation, and operational readiness disciplines. Models collaborative behaviors consistent with academic medical center values. Communicates complex issues with clarity, confidence, and credibility. Builds internal capability and reduces reliance on external activation consultants over time. Integrates clinical, operational, and facility planning into cohesive activation strategies. Demonstrates deep understanding of healthcare operations, clinical workflows, and regulatory environments. Proactively identifies schedule conflicts, risks, and resource constraints. Drives accountability for milestone achievement across multidisciplinary teams. Facilitates complex decision-making in high-pressure, time-sensitive environments. Leads without direct authority, influencing clinical, operational, and technical leaders.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: Proficient in working in Excel, Power point, MS Project. Proficient in reading drawings, specifications and equipment data sheets

Working Conditions

Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur.

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (50-100 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Climbing, Balance, Bending

Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards

Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Perform shift work,Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder, Reach above shoulder, Finger Dexterity, Color Vision,
Hazards: Exposure to dust/fumes

Mental/Sensory -Emotional

Mental/Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking

Emotional: Fast paceenvironment, Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change

Compensation Range

$147,180.80 - $228,134.40

Actual salary offers will be based on several key factors to include relevant work experience, credentials, and qualifications.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran