Director, Capital Projects, Planning & Analysis
About The Position
The Director of Capital Projects, Planning & Analysis provides strategic leadership for planning, designing, developing, and executing major capital projects, campus infrastructure improvements, exhibit initiatives, and organizational planning across the New England Aquarium’s campuses. The role oversees projects that advance the Aquarium’s mission, guest experience, operational effectiveness, animal habitats, and resiliency goals. As a partner to senior leadership, the Director advances master campus plan investments and resiliency strategies. The position leads cross-functional teams and external partners through project delivery from concept development through implementation and post-occupancy evaluation, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, on budget, and in alignment with institutional priorities. This is a full-time regular position with a comprehensive benefits package. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the option of a hybrid schedule. On-site presence is required during planning, coordination, and execution of major renovation, construction, and capital improvement projects. Remote work is available only to residents of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, and Vermont.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- At least 8 years of progressive job-related experience.
- Advanced project management skills and demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-year capital projects with budgets ranging from several hundred thousand to millions of dollars.
- Advanced strategic planning skills, including developing capital plans and prioritizing investments across competing needs.
- Advanced project management proficiency, including project governance, risk management, procurement practices, contract administration, and construction project delivery methods.
- Advanced financial analysis skills, including budget development, capital expenditure monitoring, and cost/benefit evaluation.
- Presentation skills to communicate effectively with executive leadership, boards, public agencies, consultants, and contractors.
- Advanced technical writing skills for producing and reviewing feasibility studies, business cases, specifications, and project documentation.
- Performance management and coaching skills to direct, develop, and evaluate staff and multidisciplinary project teams.
- Proficiency with project tracking and collaboration tools, such as Smartsheet, to manage schedules, budgets, and reporting.
- Exceptional stakeholder management, facilitation, and consensus-building skills, with the ability to balance strategic vision and operational execution in a dynamic environment.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in an aquarium, zoo, or museum setting.
- Architecture or design background.
- Project Management certification.
- Specialized knowledge of infrastructure modernization, climate resilience, sustainability initiatives, and business continuity planning.
- Knowledge of AutoCAD and REVIT.
Responsibilities
- Lead planning, design, development, and execution of capital projects, including exhibits, facility renovations, infrastructure upgrades, site improvements, and resiliency initiatives.
- Direct all phases of project delivery, including planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, occupancy, and post-occupancy evaluation.
- Partner with leadership to set project priorities, define scope, assess risk, develop budgets, and align capital investments with master planning and long-term operational needs.
- Lead projects that strengthen infrastructure, mitigate climate-related risk, improve business continuity, and advance the Aquarium’s resiliency strategy.
- Maintain accountability for scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk, and stakeholder satisfaction across the project portfolio.
- Ensure compliance with regulations, permitting, grant obligations, environmental standards, and organizational policies.
- Oversee project documentation, including feasibility studies, business cases, design packages, schedules, budgets, risk assessments, procurement documents, and post-project evaluations.
- Lead multidisciplinary teams of staff, consultants, architects, engineers, contractors, and specialty vendors.
- Oversee procurement, bidding, contract negotiation, and vendor performance for quality, safety, schedule, and budget.
- Review design concepts, construction documents, technical specifications, and project deliverables for alignment with institutional standards.
- Collaborate with Campus Operations, Animal Care, Guest Experience, and other departments to identify and prioritize investments.
- Support short- and long-term capital plans addressing deferred maintenance, climate resilience, energy efficiency, campus modernization, and operational reliability.
- Participate in institutional master planning and long-range planning, assessing emerging needs, opportunities, and risks to inform capital investment decisions.
- Lead planning, design, and implementation of new exhibits and major exhibit renovations.
- Translate internal stakeholders’ programmatic and operational needs into exhibit concepts and design solutions that balance animal, guest, staff, infrastructure, accessibility, sustainability, and maintenance considerations.
- Manage external exhibit designers, fabricators, and specialty consultants from concept through installation and opening, integrating exhibits with building systems, life support systems, and campus infrastructure.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits package
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
