Associate Director- Market Sector Lead- Education

Heery•Portland, OR

About The Position

Turner & Townsend Heery is seeking an Associate Director to run our education sector here in Portland. The Market Sector Leader in Education is responsible for driving growth, market visibility, and long-term client partnerships across the Education markets. This leader shapes sector strategy, leads major pursuits, and provides oversight on high-profile programs to ensure consistent delivery excellence. This role sets the tone for professional standards, ethical conduct, and collaborative leadership within the sector. Success is measured not only by revenue growth, but by reputation, repeat work, team development, and the firm’s standing as the preferred advisor in education capital programs. The Education Lead is the firm’s primary subject-matter expert for education market trends, funding models, procurement approaches, and capital program delivery best practices. They partner closely with executive leadership, project delivery teams, and marketing/business development to shape strategy, secure new work, and ensure exceptional performance on client engagements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, architecture, engineering, business, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and professional experience)
Demonstrated experience with positive client and industry references leading program and construction management within the education sector.
Proven track record of business development success and driving measurable revenue growth.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex client-facing engagements.
Strong understanding of capital planning, design and construction processes, project controls, risk management, and quality oversight.
Demonstrated ability to build and sustain long-term client relationships.
Commitment to ethical decision making and adherence to public-sector compliance requirements.
Experience delivering bond-funded capital programs or multi-campus programs within the Pacific Northwest in excess of $200M.
Established network of education-sector clients and industry partners within the Pacific Northwest.
K-12 experience with modernizations, expansions, capital maintenance and green field construction within the Pacific Northwest.
Experience with alternative contract delivery methods (e.g., CM/GC and Design-Build, IPD)
Experience with Oregon public contracting and regulatory compliance.
Relevant Professional certifications (e.g., Assoc. DBIA, CACM, PMP)
Experience mentoring and developing high-performing teams.

Nice To Haves

Professional certifications such as DBIA, CCM, PE, AIA, or equivalent.
Experience leading delivery of bond-funded capital programs or multi-campus programs within Oregon with values of $350M or greater.
Established network of education-sector clients and industry partners within Oregon.
K-12 experience with modernizations, expansions, capital maintenance and green field construction within Oregon.

Responsibilities

Market Strategy & Sector Leadership Develop and execute the sector’s growth strategy aligned with revenue objectives and long-term positioning.
Analyze education market trends, funding environments, and procurement approaches to anticipate change and guide strategic direction Identify emerging opportunities service offerings, and geographic growth opportunities.
Represent the firm externally through industry engagement, speaking engagements, and thought leadership within the education industry and market.
Develop and retain high-performing talent.
Uphold standards of integrity, service, and excellence across all engagements.
Business Development & Revenue Growth Proactively identify, pursue, and secure new business opportunities within the education sector.
Lead major pursuits from early positioning through interview and contract execution.
Maintain and build trust-based relationships with clients, partners, staff, and industry partners.
Achieve sector revenue, backlog, and win-rate targets through disciplined capture planning and collaboration.
Expand services within existing client accounts through strategic engagement.
Client Leadership & Stewardship Serve as executive sponsor for education clients, ensuring long-term satisfaction and repeat business.
Conduct regular client engagement to assess performance, address concerns proactively, and identify opportunities for expanded services.
Resolve complex or escalated issues with transparency and fairness.
Ensure all engagements reflect high standards of integrity, responsiveness, and service.
Project Delivery & Quality Oversight Provide strategic oversight on staffing, project startup, risk management, and quality assurance for major education projects or programs.
Support project teams in project health reviews, ensuring delivery excellence and contractual compliance.
Promote continuous improvement and knowledge sharing across projects.
Hold teams accountable to delivering work that reflects both technical excellence and professional integrity.
Team Leadership & Culture Build and mentor a high-performing, collaborative team environment.
Create conditions where individuals are supported in their development and challenged to grow.
Partner with HR and regional leaders to attract, retain, and develop top talent.
Support staff development through coaching, training, certification pathways, and performance feedback.
Foster an environment where people want to contribute, grow, and remain long-term.