Architect (Director of Facilities Planning & Management) (0080767)

University of Hawaii•Hilo, HI

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) is a public liberal arts and sciences university on the Island of Hawaii, known for its unique blend of cultural immersion and research opportunities, leveraging the island's extraordinary geological, biological, and cultural diversity. It is a comprehensive, regional university within the ten-campus University of Hawaii System, focusing primarily on high-quality baccalaureate and select postgraduate education, including distinctive programs in areas like marine science, geology, astronomy, and Hawaiian language revitalization. The UH Hilo Division of Administrative Affairs serves as the central administrative and operational backbone of the campus, providing executive leadership and non-academic affairs program management. This division is responsible for critical functions including budget formulation, fiscal management, human resources, facilities planning and construction, physical plant operations, information technology, campus security, and environmental safety and health. The UH Hilo Facilities Planning and Management Office plays a vital behind-the-scenes role in transforming the high-level objectives of the UH Hilo Strategic Plan into tangible, physical realities that support student success and campus vitality. Through long-range planning and capital project development to the stewardship of campus infrastructure, the office ensures that UH Hilo’s physical environment evolves in alignment with its academic mission and institutional priorities. Its work provides the essential foundation upon which teaching, research, student life, and community engagement can thrive. The Director of Facilities Planning & Management will play a pivotal role in advancing this mission by providing strategic leadership, technical expertise, and informed decision-making across planning, design, construction, and operational domains. By guiding complex projects, aligning resources with institutional goals, and fostering effective collaboration with campus and system partners, the director strengthens the unit’s capacity to support UH Hilo’s long-term vision. This leadership position contributes directly to the university’s overall effectiveness by ensuring that the physical campus continues to develop in a manner that supports excellence, sustainability, and the broader mission of UH Hilo.

Requirements

Possession of a baccalaureate degree in architecture or related field and 6 years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for capital improvement planning, budget development, and facilities maintenance operations; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
Advanced and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of developing and emerging concepts, principle and methodologies in the area of capital improvement planning, budget development, and facilities maintenance operations.
Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of principles, theories, federal and state laws and systems associated with capital improvement planning, budget development, and facilities maintenance operations.
Demonstrated ability to understand problems from a broad interactive perspective and use reasoning to discern underlying principles and issues when problem solving, and apply creative thinking to resolve problems in new and innovative approaches.
Demonstrated written and verbal competence in presenting ideas, concepts and models clearly using persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation.
Demonstrated ability to establish and effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing software and spreadsheet software.
For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
Considerable knowledge of facilities planning, construction management, maintenance operations, infrastructure systems, asset lifecycle management, and preventive maintenance principles.
Considerable knowledge of deferred maintenance strategies, space utilization planning, and project management principles.
Considerable knowledge of applicable building codes, construction standards, environmental regulations, occupational safety requirements, ADA requirements, sustainability practices.
Proficiency managing capital projects through all phases, including planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
Proficiency in the use of computer systems and software applications relevant to facilities management, project management, budgeting, procurement, asset management, and administrative operations.
Ability to provide effective leadership, systems-thinking, organizational development, operational integration, and strategic management within a complex institutional environment.
Demonstrated ability to analyze complex operational, technical, financial, and organizational issues and develop practical, data-informed, and effective solutions.
Demonstrated leadership experience supervising large, cross-functional teams, including professional staff and skilled trades in a facilities-related environment.
Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, laws, regulations, contractual requirements, and collective bargaining agreements.
Demonstrated ability to develop short- and long-range plans, establish priorities, manage competing operational demands, and coordinate multiple projects and strategic initiatives simultaneously.
Ability to lead organizational change initiatives and promote cross-functional collaboration, accountability, customer service, and continuous improvement.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in an environment with frequent interruptions, changing priorities, competing operational demands, and time-sensitive deadlines.
Ability to travel to various work sites, respond to campus emergencies, infrastructure incidents, and operational issues outside of normal work hours, as necessary.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in architecture, construction management, business administration, or public administration.
Experience developing multi-year capital improvement plans for higher educational institutions.
Registration as a professional architect in the State of Hawaii.
Experience with the State of Hawaii or University of Hawaii procurement practices related to consultant selection, construction procurement and contract management.
Proficiency with project management software, computerized maintenance management systems, or related technologies used in planning, construction, and facilities maintenance operations.
Experience developing, executing, and assessing long-term strategic initiatives within a public higher education environment, particularly at a small campus with limited staffing and resources.
Demonstrated ability to develop multi-year capital improvement plans for a campus or institutional property portfolio of at least 115-acres.
Experience managing both capital improvement projects and facilities maintenance operations in an integrated leadership role.
Knowledge of the State of Hawaii capital improvement funding process and reporting requirements.
Proficient in AutoCAD with demonstrated experience producing architectural drawings and construction documents.
Working knowledge of sustainable design practices, energy management, and green building standards (LEED, WELL, net-zero strategies).
Experience with campus master planning, deferred maintenance programs, sustainability initiatives, utilities management, emergency preparedness, energy management, or space utilization planning.
Experience implementing asset management systems, maintenance analytics, key performance indicators, or data-informed strategic planning practices.
Proven ability to inspire and motivate teams, navigate complex challenges with diplomacy, and foster a leadership style that is both approachable and authoritative.
Considerable knowledge of University of Hawaii’s construction procurement policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership, program direction, and administrative oversight for Facilities Planning & Construction and Facilities Maintenance operations.
Serve as principal advisor to the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs on facilities-related matters and ensure effective collaboration across campus leadership, academic units, administrative offices, UH System, government agencies, consultants, and contractors.
Integrate long-range planning, capital improvement implementation, deferred maintenance, space planning, sustainability, and daily operations to support the university’s mission, student success, regulatory compliance, and long-term institutional priorities.
Develop and implement a coordinated facilities management approach that creates synergy between planning, construction, renovation, maintenance, and campus infrastructure stewardship.
Lead organizational change management, cross-functional coordination, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational integration, project delivery, infrastructure performance, and service outcomes.
Develop and implement integrated facilities stewardship strategies aligning capital planning, deferred maintenance, preventive maintenance, lifecycle management, sustainability, and operational service delivery with long-range campus development objectives.
Lead campus master planning, capital improvement planning, infrastructure renewal strategies, and space utilization initiatives supporting academic, research, administrative, and student-support functions.
Advise leadership on facilities utilization, infrastructure capacity, campus development priorities, asset stewardship, and long-range institutional planning.
Monitor emerging trends, technologies, best practices, and regulatory developments in higher-education facilities management and capital project delivery.
Direct and coordinate capital improvement projects, renovations, deferred maintenance initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, and facility renewal efforts using data-informed decision-making grounded in facility condition assessments, performance metrics, lifecycle costing, and institutional priorities.
Oversee project planning, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, contract administration, construction coordination, commissioning, and project closeout to ensure compliance with federal, state, county, UH System, and regulatory requirements.
Provide leadership for planning, design, and construction activities in coordination with consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, utility providers, government entities, and UH System offices.
Ensure compliance with building codes, environmental regulations, occupational safety requirements, ADA standards, sustainability standards, procurement rules, collective bargaining agreements, and UH System policies and procedures.
Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs, work order systems, facility condition assessments, infrastructure reliability initiatives, and asset management practices to maximize lifecycle value, operational continuity, and infrastructure resiliency.
Utilize maintenance analytics, asset condition data, operational trends, and performance metrics to inform capital renewal priorities, deferred maintenance strategies, and long-range capital forecasting.
Ensure maintenance and operations personnel are engaged throughout project planning, design review, construction coordination, and project closeout to improve maintainability and lifecycle performance.
Promote integrated decision-making that aligns planning, design, construction, maintenance, fiscal administration, procurement, and sustainability priorities.
Develop and administer facilities-related operating and capital budgets, deferred maintenance priorities, capital funding plans, fiscal controls, and resource allocation strategies supporting long-term infrastructure sustainability and operational effectiveness.
Monitor expenditures, encumbrances, fiscal projections, and operational performance indicators to ensure accountability, fiscal responsibility, and alignment with institutional priorities.
Oversee procurement and contract administration for construction, professional services, facilities operations, maintenance services, equipment, and infrastructure projects.
Develop technical specifications, scopes of work, and solicitation documents.
Ensure procurement and contract management activities comply with UH System procurement policies, contractual requirements, and regulatory standards.
Lead sustainability, energy management, environmental stewardship, climate resiliency, and operational efficiency initiatives through sustainable design principles, utilities management, and lifecycle infrastructure planning.
Advance policies, procedures, operational standards, KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives promoting accountability, efficiency, customer service, safety, sustainability, and organizational effectiveness.
Establish and maintain collaborative relationships among facilities planning, maintenance, academic units, administration, contractors, consultants, government agencies, community organizations, and UH System offices to improve communication, coordination, and service delivery.
Supervise, mentor, and evaluate professional staff and skilled trades employees; support workforce development, succession planning, safety programs, and professional growth initiatives.
Other duties as assigned.