AVP, Facilities, Planning and Capital Construction

Rice University•Houston, TX

About The Position

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities. Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence. Role: The Associate Vice President for Facilities, Planning, and Capital Construction is a senior campus leader responsible for developing confidence in the University’s ability to plan, deliver, and maintain high-quality physical infrastructure. The AVP provides end-to-end leadership for campus facilities operations, energy and utilities, capital planning, and capital construction, ensuring disciplined and transparent communication, as well as strong campus partnerships. Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Operations, Finance, and Support, the AVP serves as the University’s accountable leader for on-campus infrastructure performance and delivery. Scope of Responsibility: The AVP has executive responsibility for: Campus facilities operations (maintenance, custodial, grounds, utilities) Energy management and infrastructure resilience Capital planning, design, and construction for on-campus projects Collaboration with Real Estate for campus use of leased facilities Facilities service delivery and customer experience Capital project execution, sequencing, and standards Operationalizing and the University’s sustainability goals The AVP collaborates closely with academic and administrative leadership, serving as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees’ Buildings & Grounds Committee and its related subcommittees. Authority and Accountability: The AVP has decision-making authority over campus facilities operations and capital project execution and is accountable for: Cost, schedule, and scope performance Service delivery quality and responsiveness Safety, compliance, and risk management Workforce performance and engagement Clear, board-ready communication and recommendations

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred in construction management, facilities management, engineering, or a related field.
Significant senior-level experience leading facilities operations and capital construction in a complex organization.
Demonstrated success in delivering large capital programs and managing complex portfolios.
Strong financial, organizational, and leadership skills.
Proven ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, boards, and diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a high-performing facilities and capital organization.
Establish clear expectations, accountability, and professional development pathways.
Lead large-scale operational and organizational change initiatives, including service model evolution and workforce transitions.
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and high-impact teamwork.
Develop systems for growing managers and individual contributors.
Establish effective relationships with internal and external constituencies (including faculty, students, and staff) and serve as an effective campus representative.
Lead all campus facilities operations, ensuring safe, reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective service delivery.
Lead the transition to a zone-based management model while maintaining strong academic and administrative partnerships.
Integrate custodial, maintenance, grounds, utilities, and related functions through a unified, campus-wide operating model.
Lead effectively within a matrixed organizational structure, balancing functional excellence with geographically focused service delivery.
Establish service standards, performance metrics, and response expectations.
Implement and oversee a disciplined work-control and work-intake system.
Ensure timely and effective response to maintenance needs and emergencies.
Partner with building managers, faculty, and administrators to enhance the campus experience.
Lead the planning, design, and execution of capital projects from concept through completion.
Establish clear project milestones, delivery standards, and reporting cadence.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with institutional priorities.
Implement consistent project management and delivery methodologies.
Translate institutional priorities into executable capital plans and programs.
Develop and steward a multi-year capital and facilities plan aligned with institutional strategy.
Identify the sequencing, trade-offs, and resource implications of capital investments.
Ensure lifecycle cost considerations inform all capital and facilities decisions.
Identify opportunities for process optimization, cost savings, and resource efficiency.
Stay current with industry best practices to drive continuous improvement.
Lead campus energy management and utilities strategy.
Advance sustainability goals through operational execution and capital investments.
Oversee infrastructure resilience, reliability, and long-term system planning.
Track, analyze, and report on energy performance and sustainability metrics.
Identify and implement cost-effective sustainability initiatives to reduce environmental impact.
Oversee the maintenance of facilities to ensure a safe, functional environment for employees, visitors, and stakeholders.
Develop and implement preventive maintenance programs to extend the lifespan of facilities, systems, and equipment.
Optimize the use of energy and utilities across campus operations.
Stay informed on local, state, and federal construction and facilities regulations.
Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, codes, and standards.
Mitigate operational, safety, and regulatory risk.
Lead, mentor, and motivate a diverse team of facilities and capital construction professionals.
Provide guidance, coaching, and opportunities for professional growth.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and results-oriented work environment.
Provide regular, data-driven reports to senior leadership on project progress, budgets, risks, and key performance indicators.
Communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders to address concerns, share updates, and align on goals and expectations.