Director, Construction - Real Estate Development

Western Governors University•Salt Lake City, UT

13d•$168,100 - $302,500•Remote

About The Position

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Management_Executive 612 Pay Range: $168,100.00 - $302,500.00 Job Description Reporting to the Head of Global Real Estate, this executive-level role leads construction strategy execution and governance, for a large-scale, multi-phase development program. The Construction Executive (Owner’s Representative) is accountable for end-to-end construction performance, including cost, schedule, quality, safety, risk management, and operational readiness, ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives and long-term asset value. This role operates as the owner’s senior construction representative, providing strategic direction, executive oversight, and leadership across all construction activities. The position establishes delivery standards, project controls expectations, governance protocols, and performance accountability across internal and external partners while ensuring disciplined execution throughout the full project lifecycle.

Requirements

Strong executive leadership and decision-making capabilities in complex, high-value construction environments.
Deep expertise in construction delivery methods, procurement strategy, project controls, contracting approaches, and large-scale project execution.
Advanced financial and commercial acumen with the ability to manage budgets, forecasts, and cost controls, contingencies, and change management at scale.
Ability to lead through ambiguity, manage risk, and drive results in high-pressure environments while making decisions under pressure and driving accountability in high-performance environments.
Strong stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to influence and challenge senior leaders and external partners, contractors, and consultants.
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field required.
10+ years of progressive construction leadership experience with demonstrated accountability for large-scale projects including commercial, institutional, mixed-use, hospitality, campus, and high-rise developments.
Proven track record of delivering complex, mixed-use or high-rise developments in urban environments.
Experience leading projects valued at $500M+ through the full lifecycle from preconstruction through closeout.
Background working with institutional owners, nationally recognized developers, or major commercial general contractors.
Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.

Nice To Haves

Relevant certifications such as OSHA 30, PMP, CCM, or similar professional credentials including DBIA or LEED preferred.
20+ years of experience

Responsibilities

Lead overall construction strategy and execution across a multi-phase development program, ensuring alignment with enterprise priorities, investment objectives, and design intent, operational requirements, and long-term asset performance.
Serve as the owner’s executive representative with general contractors, consultants, and field teams, maintaining clear accountability commercial, operational, and construction outcomes.
Establish and enforce standards for construction delivery, including governance, reporting, project controls, procurement oversight, risk management, and performance tracking across all phases of development.
Provide executive oversight of cost management, including budgeting, forecasting, contingency management, cash flow, change management, and mitigation of cost escalation risks.
Lead strategic contracting and procurement approaches, including delivery model selection, bid packaging strategy, negotiation of major agreements, and oversight of contractual compliance and commercial performance.
Own schedule integrity and drive proactive risk identification, mitigation planning, sequencing coordination, and recovery strategies to maintain project timelines and milestones and delivery objectives.
Oversee integration and coordination of complex building systems including structural, MEP, utility, infrastructure, and specialty systems, and ensure execution aligns with technical standards and operational requirements and design intent.
Guide successful commissioning, turnover, and operational readiness, occupancy readiness, and closeout activities, to ensure assets are delivered in alignment with operational, technical, and business requirements.
Lead, develop, and mentor construction leadership teams, including senior managers, construction managers, and specialist leads, establishing clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards.
Drive alignment across Development, Design, Finance, and external stakeholders, including Operations, Legal, and Procurement, ensuring coordinated execution and clear communication of priorities, constraints, risks and tradeoffs.
Present complex issues to executive stakeholders with clear analysis of cost, schedule, and quality impacts, operational impacts, and risk exposure,along with recommended paths forward and recovery strategies to support decision-making.
Foster a high-performance, collaborative environment while maintaining clear ownership and accountability for construction outcomes.