Signage and Wayfinding Program Manager-30445

Rush University Medical Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 62,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Rush University Medical Center in Chicago seeks a Program Manager for Signage & Wayfinding to lead a systemwide strategy across hospitals, ambulatory sites and parking facilities. You will establish sign families, mapping, governance and implementation strategies for a consistent patient journey.

You will collaborate with Marketing, Facilities and external partners, manage budgets, and ensure accessibility compliance, while directing vendors and installers to deliver projects on time and on

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, interior design, environmental graphic design, graphic design, industrial design, construction management or a related field.
• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in signage, wayfinding, environmental graphics, interior design, facilities planning or a related field, including three (3) years managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and vendors.
• Experience developing or implementing signage standards, wayfinding plans, message schedules, sign-location drawings and fabrication or installation packages.
• Working knowledge of accessibility requirements, sign permitting, fabrication methods, installation coordination and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Ability to interpret architectural plans, design drawings, specifications, sign schedules and vendor proposals.
• Strong project management, budgeting, prioritization and communication skills, with the ability to manage concurrent initiatives and present clear recommendations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and relevant design, drawing, mapping or project management tools.

Responsibilities

• Enterprise Signage & Wayfinding Strategy: Lead a systemwide signage and wayfinding strategy across Rush facilities.
• Establish and maintain sign families, destination naming, location plans, message schedules, maps, technical standards and implementation guidance.
• Define governance, intake, approvals, exceptions and phased priorities with Marketing & Communications and operational leaders.
• Patient Access, Arrival & Experience: Improve the patient and visitor journey from transit to destinations.
• Coordinate routes, entrances and temporary navigation changes during construction or disruptions.
• Capital Project Planning & Delivery: Integrate signage and wayfinding into project programming and turnover.
• Develop scopes, location plans, schedules, and cost estimates for installations.
• Coordinate consultants, designers, fabricators and installers with compliance reviews.
• Brand, Accessibility & Regulatory Compliance: Align signage with Rush branding and accessibility standards.
• Coordinate codes, permits, landlord approvals and regulatory signage.
• Vendor, Budget & Financial Management: Prepare bids, pricing comparisons and monitor budgets.
• Digital Navigation & Information Alignment: Synchronize physical signage with digital directories and maps.
• Program Operations & Continuous Improvement: Manage signage requests and track implementation and user feedback.
• Support Master Facilities Plan and system initiatives.

Skills

Project management

Budgeting

Communication

Prioritization

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in architecture/interior design/environmental graphic design/graphic design/industrial design/construction management or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Suite

AutoCAD

Revit

Bluebeam

Digital signage platforms

Job description

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Hospital: Rush University Medical Center

Department: RUSH Plnng Design & Construct

Work Type: Full Time

Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:00 AM - 5:00PM)

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

Pay Range: $45.59 - $66.16 per hour

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 Program Manager, Signage & Wayfinding leads Rush University System for Health's enterprise signage and wayfinding program across hospitals, ambulatory sites, parking facilities and other properties. The role establishes consistent standards and improves the patient and visitor journey from arrival through the final destination.

Reporting to the Director, Facilities Activation & Operational Effectiveness, the Program Manager serves as PDC's dedicated resource for physical and integrated digital wayfinding. The role works across Rush departments and with external partners. Marketing & Communications retains ownership of brand standards and approvals, while project managers retain accountability for overall project scope, schedule and budget. This position acts in accordance with the Rush mission, values, policies and procedures.

Other Information

Required Job Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in architecture, interior design, environmental graphic design, graphic design, industrial design, construction management or a related field.

At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in signage, wayfinding, environmental graphics, interior design, facilities planning or a related field, including three (3) years managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and vendors.

Demonstrated experience developing or implementing signage standards, wayfinding plans, message schedules, sign-location drawings and fabrication or installation packages.

Working knowledge of accessibility requirements, sign permitting, fabrication methods, installation coordination and applicable regulatory requirements.

Ability to interpret architectural plans, design drawings, specifications, sign schedules and vendor proposals.

Strong project management, budgeting, prioritization and communication skills, with the ability to manage concurrent initiatives and present clear recommendations.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and relevant design, drawing, mapping or project management tools.

Preferred Job Qualifications

Experience supporting a health system, academic medical center, institutional campus or other complex, public-facing environment, including patient access, arrival planning or facility activation.

Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam, digital signage platforms or related applications.

Experience managing environmental graphic design consultants, sign manufacturers, installers and municipal or landlord approval processes.

Project Management Professional certification, NCIDQ certification, architectural licensure, another relevant credential or active participation in the Society for Experiential Graphic Design.

Experience coordinating digital directories, interactive maps, mobile wayfinding or enterprise destination and signage inventories.

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

Enterprise Signage & Wayfinding Strategy

Lead an integrated, systemwide signage and wayfinding strategy for Rush hospitals, ambulatory sites, academic facilities, parking locations and other properties.

Establish and maintain sign families, destination naming, location plans, message schedules, maps, technical standards and implementation guidance for interior, exterior, vehicular, pedestrian and temporary signage.

Define governance, intake, approvals, exceptions and phased priorities with Marketing & Communications, PDC, Facilities, Real Estate, Parking & Transportation and operational leaders.

Patient Access, Arrival & Experience

Evaluate and improve the complete patient and visitor journey from transit, parking and drop-off through entrances, registration and clinical destinations.

Use clear language, consistent names, understandable symbols and inclusive design to support accessibility, varied language proficiency and health literacy.

Coordinate routes, entrances and temporary navigation changes with operational teams during construction, relocations, phased openings and other disruptions.

Capital Project Planning & Delivery

Integrate signage and wayfinding into project programming, design, budgeting, construction, activation and closeout.

Develop project scopes, location plans, message schedules, quantities, cost estimates, implementation schedules and turnover requirements.

Coordinate consultants, designers, project managers, fabricators and installers. Review drawings, specifications, prototypes, shop drawings and installation plans for compliance with approved requirements.

Track decisions, approvals, procurement, fabrication and installation readiness. Escalate risks and verify punch-list completion, as-built records and turnover to operating teams.

Brand, Accessibility & Regulatory Compliance

Coordinate Rush brand applications, building identification, joint-venture branding and affiliated-provider signage with Marketing & Communications.

Ensure signage meets applicable accessibility standards and supports people with disabilities, varied language proficiency and different levels of health literacy.

Coordinate sign codes, zoning, permits, landlord requirements and public-way approvals, as well as donor, life-safety, emergency, clinical and regulatory signage, with the responsible partners.

Vendor, Budget & Financial Management

Prepare scopes, bid packages, sign schedules and pricing comparisons with project managers, Strategic Sourcing and approved consultants.

Monitor assigned budgets, commitments, changes, invoices and forecasts. Identify opportunities to reduce duplication, rework and lifecycle cost.

Manage vendor performance, schedule, fabrication and installation quality, responsiveness and warranty issues.

Digital Navigation & Information Alignment

Coordinate physical signage with digital directories, maps, kiosks, mobile navigation and patient-facing directions in partnership with the teams that own those platforms.

Maintain alignment among facility names, entrances, parking, clinic destinations, addresses, maps and signage inventories so information remains accurate as facilities and services change.

Program Operations & Continuous Improvement

Manage requests for new, replacement, temporary and corrective signage and set priorities with project and operational leaders.

Conduct site assessments and coordinate correction, maintenance and replacement of outdated, inconsistent, inaccessible or ineffective signage.

Track implementation, deficiencies, vendor performance and user feedback. Provide standards, guidance and training to project teams and operational stakeholders.

Support the Master Facilities Plan, new-market development, acquired or leased locations and other system initiatives as assigned.

Equal Opportunity

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.