Exec Dir Planning Design Construction-28696

Rush University Medical Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 116,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

Rush University Medical Center in Chicago seeks an Executive Director of Planning, Design & Construction to provide enterprise leadership for capital project delivery across Rush University System for Health, including oversight of a large, multi-site capital portfolio supporting the $3B+ Master Facilities Plan. This role drives performance across cost, schedule, safety, quality, and risk.

The Executive Director leads the Facilities Project Delivery division, managing project management, design

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in healthcare planning, design, and construction.
• 5+ years directing capital project delivery within a healthcare organization.
• Professional licensure (Architect or Engineer) or equivalent leadership experience in healthcare PDC.
• Experience leading large, complex capital programs (e.g., $500M+ portfolio) in healthcare or similar environments.
• Experience establishing capital governance, portfolio oversight, and enterprise reporting.
• Experience leading complex external partner ecosystems across large-scale capital programs.
• Strong financial, analytical, and capital forecasting capabilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, physicians, and operational stakeholders.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in complex, matrixed healthcare environments.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for enterprise capital delivery across a multi-site portfolio, including cost, schedule, safety, and quality.
• Leads project management teams delivering design, construction, and renovation projects.
• Establishes delivery standards and performance expectations across the capital portfolio.
• Leads relationships with architects, engineers, contractors, and construction managers.
• Provides enterprise oversight of the capital portfolio, including budget, schedule, and risk performance.
• Establishes and maintains portfolio-level reporting and dashboards for executive decision-making.
• Partners with Finance, Strategy, and Operations to align capital planning, prioritization, and sequencing.
• Establishes capital project governance, including project initiation, scope control, and delivery oversight.
• Drives standardization and scalability of delivery processes across the system.
• Ensures compliance with design standards, regulatory requirements, and safety expectations.
• Leads the evolution of delivery practices, systems, and organizational capabilities to support system growth
• Develops and mentors project management and construction leadership staff.
• Leads the Facilities Project Delivery division, accountable for system-wide capital execution.
• Builds and develops a high-performing, multidisciplinary team across multiple campuses.
• Oversees alignment with planning, activation, and operational readiness leadership.
• Represents Rush in relationships with architects, contractors, and external development partners.
• Builds and maintains high-performing external partnerships that support consistent, high-quality project delivery.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic thinking

Financial forecasting

Communication with execs

Stakeholder management

Education

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

Job description

• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Business Unit: Rush Medical Center
• Department: Capital Projects
• Work Type: Full Time
• Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM)
• Pay Range: $83.98 - $125.13 per hour

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits).

Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case. This role has a corresponding incentive plan based on multiple factors. incentive compensation and additional benefits can be found on our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits)

Summary

The Executive Director of Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) provides enterprise leadership for capital project delivery across Rush University System for Health, including oversight of a large, complex, multi-site capital portfolio supporting the $3B+, 10-year Master Facilities Plan and system growth initiatives. This role is accountable for capital delivery performance across cost, schedule, safety, quality, and risk.

The Executive Director leads the Facilities Project Delivery division within PDC, with responsibility for project management, design and construction execution, consultant and contractor oversight, capital portfolio reporting, and project governance. This role partners with clinical, operational, and administrative leaders to translate strategic priorities into executable capital programs.

The Executive Director leads a multidisciplinary department and ensures alignment between capital delivery, planning, activation, and operational readiness across the facility lifecycle. This role requires demonstrated experience leading large-scale capital programs and building or transforming delivery organizations to support enterprise growth.

Required Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in healthcare planning, design, and construction.
• 5+ years directing capital project delivery within a healthcare organization, including oversight of internal teams and external design and construction partners.
• Professional licensure (Architect or Engineer) or equivalent leadership experience in healthcare PDC.
• Demonstrated experience leading large, complex capital programs (e.g., $500M+ portfolio or multiple concurrent major projects) in healthcare or similar environments.
• Experience establishing capital governance, portfolio oversight, and enterprise reporting.
• Experience leading complex external partner ecosystems across large-scale capital programs.
• Strong financial, analytical, and capital forecasting capabilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, physicians, and operational stakeholders.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in complex, matrixed healthcare environments.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Related industry certifications (i.e. CHFM, PMP, LEED AP, EDAC).
• Leadership experience within academic medical centers or large healthcare systems.

Physical Demands

• TBD

Disclaimer

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.

Responsibilities

Capital Project Delivery

• Accountable for enterprise capital delivery across a complex, multi-site portfolio, including cost, schedule, safety, and quality.
• Leads project management teams delivering design, construction, and renovation projects.
• Establishes delivery standards and performance expectations across the capital portfolio.
• Leads relationships with architects, engineers, contractors, and construction managers.

Capital Portfolio Oversight

• Provides enterprise oversight of the capital portfolio, including budget, schedule, and risk performance.
• Establishes and maintains portfolio-level reporting and dashboards to support executive decision-making.
• Partners with Finance, Strategy, and Operations to align capital planning, prioritization, and sequencing.

Project Governance and Standards

• Establishes capital project governance, including project initiation, scope control, and delivery oversight.
• Drives standardization and scalability of delivery processes across the system.
• Ensures compliance with design standards, regulatory requirements, and safety expectations.
• Partners with Facilities Management to align construction standards with operations and maintainability.
• Leads the evolution of delivery practices, systems, and organizational capabilities to support system growth

Organizational Leadership

• Develops and mentors project management and construction leadership staff.
• Leads the Facilities Project Delivery division, accountable for system-wide capital execution.
• Builds and develops a high-performing, multidisciplinary team across multiple campuses.
• Oversees alignment with planning, activation, and operational readiness leadership.

External Partnerships

• Represents Rush in relationships with architects, contractors, and external development partners.
• Builds and maintains high-performing external partnerships that support consistent, high-quality project delivery.

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.