Sr Director, Design

University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

On-site

USD 135,000 - 175,000

Full time

10 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending

Tuition benefits

Retirement plans

Flexible work hours

Job summary

The University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine is seeking a Sr Director of Design & Construction (Space Planning & Operations) to lead the design, planning, and delivery of PSOM facilities projects, coordinating with SPO, FRES, REDC and external partners to ensure high-quality spaces for research, teaching and clinical work.

This hands-on, strategic leader will oversee a team of project managers, develop scopes and budgets, monitor schedules, and drive sustainable, compliant

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering or related field is preferred, or equivalent work experience required.
Master's degree is preferred.
10-13 years of experience; 10+ preferred in a medical school or academic environment.

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and supervise the design & construction team in support of PSOM's capital projects.
Direct all phases of capital projects from concept development through design, construction, commissioning, occupancy, and closeout.
Establish project management standards, construction quality controls, and risk mitigation strategies.
Monitor project performance, budgets, schedules, and construction activities with senior leadership updates.
Coordinate construction activities to minimize disruption to ongoing research, teaching, and clinical operations.
Champion sustainable design, energy efficiency, resilience, and campus master planning.

Skills

Written and oral communication

People management

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

MS Project

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Sr Director, Design & Construction (Space Planning &Operations)

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer inPhiladelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research,and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranksamong the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & WorldReport survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provideopportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education,all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach toscholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been rankednationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbeswho named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city ofPhiladelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urbancampus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, andrecreational activities. With its historical significance andlandmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety ofatmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home forwork and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includesexcellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and theirfamilies, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety ofprofessional development opportunities, supportive work and familybenefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources,and much more.

Posted Job Title

Sr Director, Design & Construction (Space Planning &Operations)

Job Profile Title

Director D, Facilities

Job Description Summary

The Sr Director of Design and Construction works closely with theExecutive Director of Planning, Design & Construction and PSOMadministrative management, department chairs, and UniversityFacilities and Real Estate Services to oversee all capital projectimplementation for the Perelman School of Medicine ("PSOM"). Theposition directs/leads PSOM staff engaged in design andconstruction oversight to oversee and ensure the success of allactivity related to design and construction at the PSOM andcoordinates all activity as appropriate with School and Universityadministration and support agencies. The Sr Director is the keyadministrative point of contact with external parties and PSOMconstituents related to facilities renovations and / or newconstruction issues. The Sr Director tracks project status,budgets, schedules, resolves conflicts, and reports to PSOMAdministration. This position is "essential" The Sr Director Design & Construction is the senioradministrative leader and functional subject matter expert for thePerelman School of Medicine ("PSOM") campus design and constructioninitiatives. This position oversees a team of project managerswhose work supports the PSOM Dean's Office, including the SeniorVice Dean of Finance & Operations, the Chief ScientificOfficer, all Research and Medical Educational Department Chairs,faculty and staff as an expert advisor for PSOM facilities designand construction excellence.

The Space Planning and Operations organization serves as thefacilities management arm of PSOM working in full partnership withUniversity and Health System facilities service providers offacilities and capital planning, design & construction projectmanagement, as well as operations & maintenance for on-campus,leased properties, and PSOM space within health system buildings.The University Facilities & Real Estate Services (FRES) andUniversity of Pennsylvania Health System Real Estate, Design &Construction (REDC) are the two primary facilities managementservice providers for which daily liaison and partnership arecritical. Other key partners having jurisdiction on campus and forwhich liaison is important include Environmental Health andRadiation Safety (EHRS), Fire and Emergency Services (FES),University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR).

The Senior Director Design & Construction collaborates with andbetween internal and external parties to provide strategicdirection and tactical oversight for PSOM facilities initiatives.The position executes projects on the annual capital plan andassigns and oversees staff managing the projects for infrastructurerenewal, wet and dry biomedical laboratory research, academicteaching and support space for faculty recruitment, largerdepartmental space reconfigurations and building renovations,including new fit-outs and new construction, reporting to seniorleadership, ensuring alignment with long-term institutional goalsin partnership with the Dean's key administrators.

The Senior Director is expected to be a hands-on leader whobalances strategic vision with a willingness to understand thedetails, tackle challenges directly, and support the team whereverneeded to ensure project success. They participate in capitalproject formation, scope and budget estimate development forproject initiation, and sustainability for PSOM facilities-relatedinitiatives. The position works in close collaboration with thePSOM and SPO leadership and cross-functional teams, ensuring thedesign and construction program meets high expectations anddelivers exceptional customer focused solutions in partnership withconsultants, contractors, and vendors that meet operational,research, and educational needs at the School and Universitylevels.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and supervise the design & construction team insupporting the project delivery of PSOM's capital projects acrossits ~2.9M NSF built environment campus.
Direct all phases of capital projects from concept developmentand programming through design, construction, commissioning,occupancy, and project closeout.
Establish and implement project management standards,construction quality controls, and risk mitigationstrategies.
Monitor project performance, budgets, schedules, and constructionactivities, providing regular updates to senior leadership.
Coordinate construction activities to minimize disruption toongoing research, teaching, and clinical operations.
Champion sustainable design, energy efficiency, resilience, andcampus master planning initiatives.
Oversee the design of specialized environments including wetlabs, vivaria, clean rooms, imaging suites, and other advancedresearch facilities.
Work with both University Facilities and Health System partners(FRES and REDC) providing design & construction projectmanagement and operations & maintenance services to PSOM in the management of external architects, engineers, consultants,contractors, and vendors to deliver high-quality projects on timeand within budget.
Collaborate with university leadership, faculty, researchers, andoperational stakeholders to align facility projects within institution research, education, and strategic objectives.
Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, and resource planswhile ensuring adherence to financial and operational goals.
Lead by example with a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach,actively engaging in project challenges and contributing whereverneeded to ensure successful outcomes, addressing critical projectissues, removing obstacles, and supporting team members in meetingproject objectives, deadlines, and stakeholder expectations.
Balance strategic leadership with day-to-day operationalinvolvement, providing practical guidance throughout planning,design, construction, and occupancy phases.
Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic researchenvironment, taking ownership of challenges and ensuring continuityof project progress.
Build strong relationships across the institution by beingaccessible, responsive, and willing to assist at both strategic andtactical levels.
Leverage and develop the talent of the design & constructionteam, fostering a culture of service-oriented collaboration,accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement in solvingcomplex problems and continually lead the pursuit of enhancedsynergies and connections within SPO and PSOM, as well as with thegreater University and Health System partners andstakeholders.

Job Description

Education and Experience

Education: Bachelor's degree in architecture,engineering or related field is preferred, or equivalent workexperience required. Master's degree is preferred

Professional Experience

10-13 years required. 10+preferable of relevant work experience preferably in a medicalschool or academic environment

Job Knowledge and Personal Skills

Excellent written and oral communication skills. Goodmanagerial and people skills. Accurate and precise, organized, andwilling to follow procedures/regimen. Ability to manage concurrentprojects while meeting project deadlines and navigating a politicallandscape with internal and external stakeholders. Ensuresaccountability, demonstrates self-awareness and resilience, andvalues differences. Strong critical thinking and problem-solvingskills. Ability to manage conflict and ambiguity. Nimble learningand self-development skills. Ability to work in a collaborativeenvironment and instill trust with supervisor, peers, andconstituents.
Dynamic leader with excellent communication skills. Outstandingorganizational skills, resilience, and an inclusive attitude.Understands the commitment to client service, and desire to workwithin a diverse, collaborative, and professional environment. Aself-motivated professional, who can work independently. Ability towork with a team, build relationships, and interact effectivelywith diverse stakeholder groups. Flexible enough to adapt toshifting priorities. Ability to effectively manage time, prioritizedeliverables, organize workload.
Proficiency with MS Office Suite (MS Project, PowerPoint, &Excel)

Special Requirements

The Perelman School of Medicine is a multi-building research andteaching complex with emphasis on biomedical research. As such, andto ensure successful fulfillment of its mission (research andeducation), the School Community requires a much higher level ofsupport service delivery than usually experienced in a typicalacademic environment. Problems that would be mere annoyances insome facilities have the potential of destroying thousandsofdollars and months or years of often-irreplaceable work. TheDepartment of Space Planning & Operations is responsible forcoordinating and assuring uninterrupted delivery of the necessaryutility and other support services.

The above statement is included in this position description in anattempt to provide the reader with an understanding of: 1) The responsibilities of this Office; 2) The importance to both the School and the University of the workperformed; 3) The stress and pressure placed upon employees by the emergencysituations to which they must repeatedly respond. 4) All employees of the Space Planning & Operations departmentare considered to be "essential".

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$135,327.00 - $175,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications,experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to therequirements of the position, and in alignment with salary rangesbased on external market data for the job's level. Internalorganization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenshipstatus, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer ismade. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to therequirements of the job.

University Benefits

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Pennoffers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health,dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and yourfamily's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spendingaccounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent careexpenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuitionbenefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can gettuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are alsoeligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans tohelp you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, andSupplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on apre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investmentoptions through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with asubstantial amount of time away from work during the course of theyear. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personalaffairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time withfamily-whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with GenworthFinancial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible familymembers) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of thecosts of long-term care services received at home, in the communityor in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, youwon't have to provide proof of good health or be subject tounderwriting requirements. Eligible family members must alwaysprovide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed tosupporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competingdemands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a widevariety of programs and resources to help you care for your health,your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides anarray of resources to help you advance yourself personally andprofessionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community,you have access to a wide range of University resources as well ascultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of theUniversity's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit ourarboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on atPenn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latestmusic or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the PennRelays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a memberof the Penn community, you're right in the middle of theexcitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of theseactivities for free.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts andentertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find greatdeals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts andcultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admissionand memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoysubstantial savings on other goods and services such as new carsfrom Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movietickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offercreative approaches for completing work while promoting balancebetween work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or jobstructures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivableloan for eligible employees interested in buying a home orcurrently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used forclosing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligibleemployees on qualified expenses in connection with the legaladoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for upto two adoptions in your household.