Director of Construction and Capital Projects

Clarkson University•Potsdam, NY

2d•$120,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as the University’s senior construction and capital-project professional and is responsible for ensuring that capital projects are planned, designed, procured, constructed, commissioned, and closed out properly. These projects will be completed following University priorities, approved budgets, schedules, applicable codes and regulations, and institutional standards. The Director will provide program-level leadership for the University’s planned multi-year capital renovation and modernization program. This multi-million-dollar project is anticipated to span five to six years and will include renovations to existing laboratory, research, classroom, academic, and related facilities. In addition to the responsibility for major capital construction, the Director will oversee the University’s ongoing deferred maintenance and smaller capital project portfolio through direct supervision of the Deferred Projects Manager. The Director will establish priorities, monitor project budgets and schedules, coordinate resources, manage project risks, and provide regular reporting to the Associate Vice President of Facilities, Services, and Construction and other University leadership. The Director serves as a key liaison among University leadership, academic and administrative units, architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, governmental agencies, and other project stake holders.

Requirements

Associates degree in construction management, engineering, facilities management, project management, business administration, architecture or a closely related field.
At least 5 or more years of experience managing construction, capital projects, facilities projects, or a comparable combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent construction or renovation projects.
Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, schedules, contracts, consultants, contractors, and change orders.
Experience managing projects in an occupied institutional environment, preferably higher education, engineering, research, healthcare, manufacturing, or similar complex environment.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
Demonstrated supervisory or management experience.
Strong construction and project-management expertise.
Strong financial and budget-management skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Excellent contract and vendor management skills.
Strong understanding of construction documents, design processes, estimating, scheduling, and project controls.
Ability to understand and communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Ability to establish priorities and make sound judgements in a complex institutional environment.
Ability to build productive relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, contractors, consultants, and external partners.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to operate effectively in an environment with changing priorities and competing demands.
Commitment to quality, fiscal responsibility, safety, and customer service.
Ability to work evenings, on- call duties, and/or weekends as needed.
Possess a valid driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification such as PMP, CCM, PE, RA, or related credential.
Experience in higher education facilities or capital construction.
Demonstrated experience managing or overseeing a multi-year capital construction and renovation program - $20 million or more, or equivalent combination of experience managing multiple significant capital projects.
Experience with laboratory, research, engineering, advanced manufacturing, health sciences, or other technically complex facilities.
Experience with construction management at-risk, design-build, or other alternative project delivery methods.
Experience with public or institutional procurement processes.
Experience with capital planning, facilities master planning, or deferred maintenance programs.

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the University’s capital construction and major renovation program.
Serve as the primary Plant Operations and Maintenance representative for major capital construction projects.
Lead implementation of the University’s capital renovation and modernization program.
Develop and maintain comprehensive capital project plans, schedules, budgets, and project priorities.
Translate institutional and academic priorities into executable capital projects.
Coordinate multiple projects occurring simultaneously across the campus.
Establish project delivery strategies appropriate to project scope, complexity, funding, schedule, and risk.
Develop and maintain appropriate project controls, reporting systems, documentation, and performance standards.
Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies before they affect cost, schedule, quality, or institutional operations.
Ensure appropriate project closeout, commissioning, turnover, warranty administration, and documentation.
Assist in developing and maintaining the University’s long-term capital plan.
Evaluate facility needs, project proposals, deferred maintenance requirements, and institutional priorities.
Develop preliminary project scopes and order-of-magnitude cost estimates to support capital planning.
Assist with identifying project priorities and sequencing projects based on institutional need, available funding, operational impact, and risk.
Recommend strategies for maximizing the University’s capital investment.
Lead or oversee the development of project scopes, programming requirements, feasibility studies, cost estimates, schedules, and implementation plans.
Oversee the selection and management of architects, engineers, construction managers, contractors, commissioning agents, consultants, and other professional service providers.
Review and approve project documents and recommendations within delegated authority.
Monitor design development to ensure projects meet University needs, standards, budgets, and operational requirements.
Oversee bidding, procurement, contract administration, construction, and project closeout activities.
Monitor construction progress, quality, safety, schedule, and financial performance.
Review and manage change orders, claims, allowances, contingencies, and unforeseen conditions.
Ensure appropriate coordination between construction activities and ongoing University operations.
Coordinate project phasing and temporary relocations when required to minimize disruption to academic, research, engineering, health sciences, business, and administrative operations.
Directly supervise the Deferred Projects Manager.
Establish annual priorities and performance expectations for the deferred maintenance and smaller capital project portfolio.
Review and monitor the Deferred Projects Manager’s project schedules, budgets, scopes, and priorities.
Provide guidance and escalation support for complex project issues.
Ensure consistency in project management practices, documentation, procurement, and project controls across the capital portfolio.
Balance resources and priorities between deferred maintenance, capital renewal, smaller renovations, and major capital projects.
Evaluate workload and staffing requirements as the University’s capital program evolves.
Develop, monitor, and forecast capital project budgets throughout the project lifecycle. Maintain accurate project cost information and financial forecasts.
Monitor expenditures, commitments, project costs, contingencies, and available project funds.
Identify budget risks and recommend corrective action.
Review contractor payment applications, change orders, and consultant invoices as appropriate.
Prepare capital project financial report for the Associate Vice President and senior University leadership.
Assist with development of annual and multi-year capital budgets.
Support the University’s long-range capital planning and prioritization process.
Work closely with campus leadership, administrative units, and campus operations to define project requirements.
Coordinate with Environmental Health and Safety, Information Technology, Finance, Procurement, Campus Security, and other University departments as appropriate.
Maintain effective communication with project stakeholders throughout planning and construction.
Provide clear and timely communication regarding project scope, schedule, budget, disruptions, risks, and decisions.
Serve as senior representative of Plant Operations and Maintenance at project meetings and institutional planning discussions.
Develop executive-level project updates, dashboards, presentations, and recommendations.
Ensure projects comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, building codes, accessibility requirements, environmental requirements, procurement requirements, and University policies.
Ensure appropriate consideration of laboratory, research, engineering, advanced manufacturing, health sciences, and other specialized facility requirements.
Promote consistent application of university design and construction standards.
Monitor project quality and ensure deficiencies are identified and resolved.
Coordinate with appropriate University personnel regarding construction safety and operational risks.
Maintain appropriate project records and documentation.
The Director supervises the Deferred Projects Manager and may supervise additional project management, construction, or administrative personnel as assigned.
The Director is responsible for establishing clear expectations, assigning responsibilities, evaluating performance, developing staff capabilities, and ensuring appropriate workload distribution within the University’s construction and capital-project function.
Perform other duties as assigned