Program Director – Higher Education Construction Project Management

Turner & Townsend•Dallas, TX

About The Position

Turner & Townsend Heery is seeking an experienced and strategic Program Director to lead a large-scale higher education capital improvement program. This role is responsible for overseeing all phases of design and construction, managing a multidisciplinary team, and ensuring the successful delivery of projects aligned with educational goals, budget, and schedule.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field (Master’s preferred).
Minimum 20 years of experience in capital project/program management, with at least 10 years in a leadership role.
Proven experience managing large-scale higher education capital programs.
Strong knowledge of design and construction processes, project controls, and educational facility standards.
Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
PMP, CCM, or similar certification preferred.

Nice To Haves

Experience with bond-funded programs and public procurement.
Proficiency in project management software and reporting tools.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement the overall program strategy, goals, and execution plans.
Establish and maintain program-wide processes, procedures, and standards.
Set and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure program success.
Advise senior leadership and stakeholders on program direction, risks, and opportunities.
Interfaces directly with clients to define program requirements. Prepares scope of work, project delivery resource requirements, recommends delivery and procurement strategy, and risk identification.
Implement project documentation governance aligned with company and client requirements.
Ensure project data integrity and documentation is accurate, timely and coordinated.
Reports status and variances. Creates action plans to meet objectives, budget and schedule.
Managing the flow of project information between the team and the client, through regular meetings and written communications.
Demonstrates a knowledge of projects & project management within the context of business results (business case, larger economic implications, business risk, etc.).
Lead and mentor a team of design managers, project managers, and project controls professionals.
Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture across all teams.
Provide guidance and professional development opportunities to staff.
Plans and monitors appropriate staffing levels and utilization of labor, including overtime.
Prepares and delivers performance appraisal for staff. Mentors and coaches team members to further develop competencies.
Leads by example and models behaviors that are consistent with the company's values.
Oversee all phases of design and construction, ensuring alignment with educational needs and district standards.
Coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors, and other consultants.
Ensure compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and district policies.
Tracks progress of each project against goals, objectives, approved budgets, approved timelines.
Serve as the primary point of contact for district leadership.
Communicate program progress, challenges, and achievements effectively.
Facilitate public meetings and presentations as needed.
Manage program budgets, forecasts, and funding sources.
Identify and mitigate risks across the program lifecycle.
Ensure cost-effective delivery and value engineering practices.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.