Director of Construction Management and Physical Plant

Friends Select School•Philadelphia, PA

14d

About The Position

Friends Select School is seeking a Director of Construction Management and Physical Plant to lead long-term capital planning, design, and execution of campus infrastructure and construction projects. The role focuses on major capital improvements, construction, repairs, vendor management, and maintaining and enhancing the school’s physical plant, including pre-construction, budgeting, structural integrity, regulatory compliance, and environmental sustainability. The Director works closely with the Director of Facilities to support the daily operation of grounds, buildings, utilities, vehicles, and equipment. The position leads construction and renovation projects from conception through commissioning, oversees infrastructure and external contractors, and collaborates with the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Facilities on multi-year capital planning and budgeting. Friends Select School is a co-educational, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, college preparatory independent school in Center City Philadelphia, serving over 600 students. As a Quaker school committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the school welcomes applicants from diverse and underrepresented populations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Demonstrated leadership experience in construction management, capital project planning, physical plant management, or facilities operations.
Deep familiarity with architectural design processes, contract administration, bidding, blueprint reading, and building commissioning.
Strong technical knowledge of complex building systems, including MEP, HVAC, electrical grids, structural building envelopes, and access control.
Comprehensive understanding of local, state, and federal building codes, ADA compliance, OSHA safety standards, and environmental regulations.
Robust interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to build rapport with children, families, and colleagues.
Solid organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Commitment to supporting an inclusive, anti-racist, and anti-bias educational environment.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with educational institutions, independent schools, and/or Quaker education.

Responsibilities

Lead pre-construction design services, engaging faculty, staff, and administrators to understand functional and spatial needs for renovated areas.
Develop initial spatial layouts, floor-plan sketches, and design concepts before formal architectural development.
Lead campus construction, renovation, and major repair projects from conception through design, bidding, construction, and commissioning.
Oversee strategic management of campus infrastructure, including HVAC, electrical grids, plumbing, roofs, building envelopes, and utility distribution.
Evaluate and select external vendors and specialty contractors, negotiate contracts, and manage vendor relationships.
Identify cost-saving opportunities, energy-efficiency improvements, and sustainable building practices across physical plant operations.
Partner with the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Facilities to establish and administer a multi-year capital-improvement calendar and budget.
Work with the Director of Facilities to establish short- and long-term procedures for maintenance, repair, and replacement of facilities, grounds, the vehicle fleet, and systems equipment.
Establish regular preventive maintenance for building systems, including MEP, HVAC, roofs, safety and monitoring systems, access control, and vehicles.
Implement facility and systems audits.