Director of Design & Construction

Job Description

The Division of Facilities and Campus Operations provides planning and design, construction, maintenance and campus operations services in support of the university’s mission and strategic goals while employing the latest sustainable technologies. Key services include building repair and maintenance, grounds and landscaping, space planning and custodial services. In addition, the division directly supervises all significant capital design and construction activity on campus.

The division is also charged with continuing Stevens’ commitment to sustainability. Stevens currently meets 100% of its annual electricity demand through alternative and efficient energy sources. These initiatives ensure long-term stability of energy costs and reduces the university’s environmental impact. Stevens is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education for 14 years and currently holds a Gold STARS rating.

The Office of Design and Construction provides project management services for capital improvement projects, including new construction and renovation projects, on and around campus. Renovation projects include improvements to classrooms, offices, laboratories, athletics facilities, student housing, site improvements and student services as well as updates to the infrastructure to keep our campus and its buildings operational. Its most recent new construction project is a 397,000 sf University Center Complex and is presently in the final stages of completing the design of a new 238,000 academic and residential building.

Overall Role and Primary Responsibilities

Reporting to the Vice President for Facilities and Campus Operations, the Director of Design & Construction will oversee projects from planning & design through construction, inspections, move-in and closeout and will supervise the work of Senior Project Managers, Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers and Project Coordinators, as well as coordinate closely with the Director of Planning & Design and the Assistant Vice President for Facilities & Campus Operations. The Director of Design & Construction will be expected to act as the primary point of authority and accountability for all capital projects assigned to the department and guide the Design & Construction Department in project management and conflict resolution. This requires the ability to build, lead, and manage a project team, to create a project plan, including project definition, scope and budgets, and to solicit and synthesize input from end-users, departmental leadership, facilities staff, consultants and other key stakeholders. It also requires organizational skills, particularly in tracking the schedules and budgets for all projects in Design & Construction with input from the other department members.

The Director of Design & Construction will be responsible for enforcing and improving protocols to maintain consistency, compliance and efficiency to ensure capital projects are done in accordance with all audit requirements and critical dates and budgets are adhered to. The Director of Design & Construction shall also take a lead role in preparing for the regular Project Management meetings as well as all inter-divisional meetings such as the Capital Budget Working Group, the Capital Planning Weekly Team Meeting, the Monthly Facilities Contract Review Meeting, and the Design & Construction portion of the FY Objectives meeting.

Specific tasks include:

Leadership:

Lead Design & Construction Department meetings to track and report on all project schedules, budgets, and status.

Provide leadership to department to create and maintain an efficient, effective, consistent level of service to the Stevens community end users.

Create and provide leadership to enforce and improving protocols to maintain consistency, compliance and efficiency to ensure capital projects are done in accordance with all audit requirements and critical dates and budgets are adhered to.

Take a lead role in preparing for the regular Project Management meetings as well as all inter-divisional meetings such as the Capital Budget Working Group, the Capital Planning Weekly Team Meeting, the Monthly Facilities Contract Review Meeting, and the Design & Construction portion of the FY Objectives meeting.

Take a lead role in infusing the use of Artificial Intelligence in the department as well as the other departments in the division, with the goal of reducing making repetitive and time-consuming tasks more efficient, saving time and money.

Be the primary point of contact with all SIT divisional leadership to understand and respond to capital needs.

Project Management Direction of Senior Project Manager and Project Manager Projects:

Participate in and assist as required in project team meetings with SIT in-house personnel to schedule work and coordinate shutdowns, tie-ins and contractor access

Participate in and assist as required in cost control activities by seeking the most effective method of delivering services

Review documents for compliance with SIT standards (as well as assist in creating standards), and existing site conditions.

Ensure that projects comply with all applicable guidelines, codes and standards (FGI, NFPA, NJ and local Building Codes, ADA, etc.)

Effectively communicate construction impacts and work collaboratively with SIT leadership and staff to mitigate impacts to ongoing operations

Perform periodic construction site walk-throughs and inspections with project management staff to help ensure safety and prompt correction of deficiencies to instill a culture of cleanliness and safety on all projects

Maintain interface with client and internal business units, ensuring compliance with project performance goals, including quantitative cost and schedule targets, and achievement of SIT quality standards

Key Competencies

Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills including conflict resolution, training and guidance, design, construction, occupancy, schedule and budget management. This includes: Meeting with Department of Design & Construction personnel to mentor and ensure a consistent product delivery to the Stevens community regardless of the Design & Construction staff member assigned to the project, as well as with leadership colleagues within the division

Develop/enhance/improve procedures to move toward and maintain a best-in-class Design & Construction Department

Interfacing with leadership and end-users to define project requirements and establish project work plan and deadlines

Ability to make effective and persuasive presentations to SIT leadership and staff and/or public audiences

Managing the RFP and competitive bid process and participating in selection of design teams

Managing the design development process, ensuring consultant teams and internal partners deliver designs that are responsive to the program, and meet established schedule and budget targets

Ability to apply analytical skills to the bid leveling process

Experience with various contracting models for design and construction

Representing SIT with architects, vendors, consultants, and regulatory agencies

Overseeing consultants and contractors

Strong construction and construction management skills with a thorough understanding of construction means and methods to ensure projects stay on time and on budget.

Familiarity with best practices in construction site safety protocols

Ability to develop and maintain successful user relations to ensure smooth integration and delivery of projects

Ability to identify defects in quality of construction during site walk-throughs

Knowledge of financial terms and principles and enforcement of same as they apply to the design and construction processes

Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret complex business documents. Knowledge of general and industry-specific financial terms and principles.

Ability to set aggressive but achievable deadlines and be accountable for meeting them

Capability and willingness to perform periodic inspections of job site conditions and project progress, which might include climbing stairs and ladders to access areas throughout on-site and off-site properties, accessing roofs, mechanical equipment rooms and electrical rooms

Intermediate to advanced skills with Microsoft Office Suite and presentation skills to present to SIT leadership, internal and external organizations.

Qualities

Apply through the Stevens Institute of Technology careers site.