Associate Director, Design & Construction

Job Summary:

The Associate Director of Design & Construction provides strategic leadership for the planning design and delivery of capital renovation deferred maintenance and infrastructure projects across Rensselaer Polytechnic Institutes campus. Reporting to the Director of Campus Planning & Facilities Design this position oversees projects from concept through occupancy ensuring they are completed safely on schedule within budget and in alignment with institutional priorities campus standards applicable sustainability practices and regulatory requirements.

RPIs project portfolio spans a historic campus core alongside modern research laboratory and instructional facilities requiring the Associate Director to balance preservation of existing building character with the technical demands of research-intensive space.

Serving as the Institutes representative the Associate Director directs an internal team of project managers and engineers while managing the work of external architects engineers consultants contractors and when appropriate owners representatives. The position works collaboratively with campus stakeholders to deliver high-quality projects that support the Institutes academic research and student experience. This role supports the physical realization of the Institutes strategic priorities including those articulated in RPI Forward and the forthcoming campus master plan.

Who we are:

Founded in 1824 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity science and technology together to address societys greatest cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry disciplined practice and hands-on application. Our strategic plan RPI Forward charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI.Explore the RPI Forward plan.

Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY RPI is home tofive schools 32 research centers three makerspaces an observatory one of the worlds fastest supercomputers and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world.

With top notch employee health and retirement benefits Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program tuition remission and opportunities for career growth.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Engineering Construction Management Architecture or a closely related field.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience managing design and construction projects.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple capital projects through planning design procurement construction and closeout.
• Strong knowledge of project management construction administration budgeting procurement and applicable building codes.
• Experience managing architects engineers consultants contractors and construction contracts.

Relevant combinations of education training and experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree in Engineering Construction Management Architecture or a closely related field.
• Experience in higher education research healthcare or other complex institutional environments.
• Experience managing occupied renovation laboratory research or other technically complex capital projects.
• Professional licensure or certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE) Registered Architect (RA) Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Construction Manager (CCM).
• Knowledge of sustainability practices including LEED WELL or energy-efficient building design.

Minimum Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of design and construction project delivery methods construction administration and best practices for continuous improvement in project execution.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing priorities while aligning resources schedules and decisions with institutional goals and measurable outcomes.
• Understanding of building systems infrastructure and applicable regulatory requirements with the ability to review technical drawings specifications cost estimates and project performance data to support informed decision-making.
• Strong financial analytical negotiation decision-making and problem-solving skills including the ability to identify root causes evaluate alternatives and implement effective solutions.
• Demonstrated leadership organizational and communication skills with the ability to foster accountability professional development collaboration and a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted partnerships engage diverse perspectives and collaborate effectively across the Institute and with external stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.

Representative Job Duties:

Leadership & Supervision

• Provide leadership supervision coaching and professional development for project management and engineering staff fostering accountability collaboration and continuous learning.
• Establish departmental priorities assign workloads and align team goals and resources with institutional priorities.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives stakeholder engagement and open communication.
• Promote continuous improvement by evaluating processes implementing best practices and supporting data-informed decision-making.
• Collaborate across Planning Facilities & Campus Services and with campus and external partners to develop and implement capital project priorities and strategies.

Project Delivery

• Oversee the planning design procurement construction commissioning and closeout of capital renovation infrastructure and deferred maintenance projects.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously balancing scope budget schedule quality and institutional priorities.
• Develop project scopes budgets schedules procurement strategies and delivery approaches.
• Identify project risks resolve issues and ensure successful project execution.
• Support alignment of projects with the Institutes strategic priorities and campus master plan.

Design & Construction Management

• Coordinate consultant selection and oversee the work of architects engineers and specialty consultants.
• Review designs for quality functionality maintainability sustainability and compliance with campus standards and applicable codes.
• Manage consultant and contractor procurement contracts construction administration change orders and project closeout.
• Ensure projects are completed in accordance with design intent quality standards safety requirements and project schedules.
• Oversee project commissioning occupancy and warranty closeout.
• Monitor contractor and consultant compliance with OSHA and Institute Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) requirements.
• Incorporate sustainable design and construction practices into projects consistent with Institute priorities.

Financial & Regulatory Oversight

• Develop monitor and forecast project budgets and expenditures throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review consultant proposals contractor bids invoices and payment applications.
• Ensure compliance with applicable building codes permitting requirements environmental regulations ADA and life safety standards.
• Ensure procurement practices comply with Institute policies and applicable funding requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Serve as the primary liaison among project teams campus clients consultants and contractors.
• Communicate project status facilitate decision-making and manage stakeholder expectations throughout project delivery.

Shift:

Business Hours: Monday - Friday

Travel:

Driving:

Driving a personal vehicle for non-passenger use

Starting Salary/Rate:

Expected hiring range: $120000 - $140000

Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidates salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget internal equity and the final candidates qualifications experience education and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaers good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.

Application instructions:

Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile. Please be ready to upload your resume and cover letter.

If you need assistance with the online application process please contact

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Total Compensation and Benefits Information:

Rensselaers Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth a comprehensive and affordable benefits package and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information please visitBenefits Human Resources ().