Department: Facilities Mgmt EV Salary/Grade: EXS/16
Job Summary:
The Senior Director, FM Design and Construction is responsible for all capital design and construction execution; maintaining design standards, specifications, and code compliance. Ensures university goals are achieved in all capital projects and all processes are transparent and in compliance with the university procurement and conflict of interest policies. Builds effective partnerships with academic and administrative units across the university, surrounding communities and key Chicago and Evanston institutions. As Northwestern continues to grow, the Senior Director will be responsible for design and construction in those footprints to include liaising with those host communities.
Leads a team of staff and contracted project managers in the cost effective and timely delivery of multi-billion dollar construction programs. Responsible for cost estimating and coordinating value engineering exercises with supported customers. Executes utilities and infrastructure recapitalization programs university wide.
Specific Responsibilities:
Manage staff and contracted project managers.
Develops staff to improve technical and managerial skills, identify and correct areas of program execution weakness through training and/or hiring of new staff.
Provides project cost estimates and coordinates value engineering exercises with supported customers to maintain both program and budget.
Ensures contractor safety programs are in place and effective.
Develop, plan, coordinate and implement activities including seminars, conferences, workshops, short courses, public events and other programs related to design and construction at Northwestern.
Liaise with counterparts at other educational institutions, businesses, government, and the community to promote collaboration and information exchange regarding design and construction best practices.
Maintain Northwestern design standards and specifications.
Serve as the clearinghouse for requests for information related to design and construction. Work with Public Relations to secure coverage of design and construction projects as applicable.
Ensures Northwestern business diversity goals for design and construction projects are met.
Manages relationships with architects and constructors to ensure that Northwestern’s interests are best served and goals are achieved. Goals are supported by Key Performance Indicators that will be reported to the University and its communities.
Develops and implements communication strategies to promote broad awareness of construction projects; limits and/or mitigates impact to Northwestern and host communities.
Responsible for advertising and award of construction projects, establishing and maintaining schedules in coordination with supported customers, applying for permits, tracking changes and communicating status and issues on projects.
Responsible for successfully closing out construction projects to include FM Operations training and sign off, punchlist completion, and oversight during the warranty period.
Minimum Qualifications:
Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
Minimum 15 years’ experience of successful leadership of large construction and/or facilities life cycle support organizations.
Experience managing capital cash flows.
Experience managing lifecycle renewal and utilities infrastructure projects.
Experience overseeing design and construction of specialized and/or educational facilities.
Experience in program administration and the ability to plan, coordinate and implement a variety of program activities and events across schools and departments.
Professional Engineer or Registered Architect Licensure.
Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)
Proven track record of successful management of capital construction programs over one-billion dollars.
Proven business skills including the use of key performance indicators.
Proven leader with a track record of developing assigned staff.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work in a team environment, build coalitions, and communicate effectively with a diverse student, faculty, and staff population. Demonstrated public speaking and writing skills required.
Ability to understand and synthesize diverse research and outreach initiatives into a cogent whole
Proven analytical, communication and organization skills and an ability to self-motivate, multi-task and to work in a fast-paced environment under deadlines.
Proven ability to work closely with students, faculty and administrators from various schools and central administration.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with working capital fund and/or reimbursable funding and accruals.
Benefits: At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html tolearn more.
Work-Life and Wellness: Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.
Professional Growth & Development: Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.
Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website.
The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.
Northwestern University is a major private research university with 12 academic divisions located on three campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Education City in Doha, Qatar. We have approximately 2,500 full-time faculty members, 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, and over 5,700 full and part-time staff. Northwestern University combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment. It provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth.
