Executive Director of Planning and Project Management - Facilities, Planning, and Management

The Executive Director provides strategic leadership for campus planning, design and construction, and space management within Facilities, Planning, and Management (FPM). 

Reporting to the AVC of FPM, the Executive Director leads the development/execution of planning initiatives, capital and local projects, space optimization strategies, and facilities data management efforts in support of UTC's academic mission and operational goals. 

The incumbent will have deep expertise in planning processes, architectural/engineering design principles, construction management, building codes, accessibility standards, and space utilization. The purpose of this position is to foster a vibrant, welcoming, and functional campus environment for UTC students, faculty, and staff. 

 

This role will exhibit leadership by directing professional teams, building cross-functional partnerships, and implementing process improvements. This person is expected to cultivate a collaborative work culture that demonstrates excellence, transparency, and continuous improvement.

 

Supervision and Leadership

• Provides supervision and leadership to the Planning and Engineering Services, Project Management, and Space Management functional areas
• Develops measurable goals, work priorities, and professional development plans for assigned personnel to ensure UTC maintains a high level of internal expertise within FPM
• Fosters a culture of learning, collaboration, and professional excellence
• Monitors project budgets, work assignments, and processes within assigned areas to ensure projects and initiatives are completed in a safe, effective, and cost-effective manner
• Takes a leadership role in developing contract specifications and resolving contractual issues
• Develops, maintains, and reviews staff training manuals and metrics
• Expected to ensure superior personnel management practices and techniques
• Ensures team expectations are clear, well communicated, and related to the objectives and measurable goals of the department, division, campus, and university system
• Reviews safety issues and coordinates with campus partners to ensure a safe and healthy workplace

 

Leadership and Oversight

• Provides leadership and oversight for the entire life cycle of local and capital projects, from initial concept development, through design and construction, to project closeout
• Oversees the design and construction processes to ensure adherence to technical standards, project objectives, and design intent
• Ensures Operations, Services, and Business/Administrative FPM personnel are appropriately informed on project/initiative status
• Provides crucial collaboration with Operations personnel
• Coordinates with various communications staff to ensure timely project-related notices for campus faculty, staff, and students
• Meets with end users to address questions or concerns, especially from Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Housing, and Athletics

 

Administration and Implementation

• Leads the administration and implementation of various campus planning efforts
• Ensures the preparation, coordination, and updating of long and short-range plans
• Oversees the development and maintenance of campus standards and design checklists
• Monitors processes related to Facility Assessments, Facility Condition Index (FCI), Physical Facilities Inventory and Survey (PFIS), Sherman-Dergis model and Master Plan Space Needs Analysis
• Strategically analyzes capital needs across campus
• Ensures the annual capital submittal processes is completed within the required timeframe

 

Space Management 

• Provides leadership to the space management functional area
• Ensures coordination with  UT System’s real property administration
• Ensures record documentation (CAD/Revit/BIM and GIS files) properly filed and made available to appropriate stakeholders
• Ensures updated drawings and data are integrated into university systems
• Assists in developing metrics and establishing/maintaining reporting mechanisms for AVC, ELT, UT System office, and UT Board of Trustees reports

 

Projects and Initiatives

• Communicates proactively and effectively to keep the AVC informed of rapidly evolving developments on assigned issues
• Takes charge of additional projects and special initiatives as directed by the AVC of FPM
• Responsible for ensuring accurate and timely financial data for assigned units which includes initiating recovery of funds, adhering to campus processes/ protocols, and ensuring compliance with UT fiscal policy
• Ensures CMMS data is complete, accurate, and timely and supports overall FPM financial management, benchmarking, and assessment efforts
• Represents FPM at university-wide events
• Serves on task forces and on committees to interface on FPM related items

 

 

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Must possess a broad knowledge of architectural, engineering, planning, construction management, and space/occupancy principles, practices and personnel management
• Must have broad knowledge of the infrastructure, building systems, campus environment, and aesthetic components of UTC-like campuses
• Must have excellent administrative and supervisory skills
• Interacts with a large number and variety of people requiring extensive experience and skill in written and oral communication
• Demonstrated ability for effective process administration
• Excellent general and database computer skills
• Extensive knowledge in purchasing, procurement, and contracting methods, quality control, safety and hazardous materials, and broad knowledge/ ability to learn appropriate software applications
• Skilled in managing space, planning occupancy, relocating departments
• Knowledge of UT, THEC, or State of Tennessee capital program policies and procedures, fiscal policies, and personnel policies
• Knowledge of State of Tennessee High Performance Building Standards
• Knowledge of leasing within an institutional or campus environment
• General knowledge of sustainability initiatives
• Ability to operate and optimize facilities related databases
• Ability to learn enterprise level building management systems

 

 

The review of applications will begin July 30, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. 

 

Minimum: 

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, urban planning, or related field
• Must have at least ten years of significant experience in comprehensive facilities planning, capital project design and construction, or space management. This must include a minimum five years’ experience of leadership responsibilities within facilities management, corporate real estate, strategic consultancy, professional/design services organization (or equivalent)
• Demonstrated experience as a successful leader is required for this role

 

Preferred: 

• Master’s degree in architecture, engineering, management, business, or related field
• Experience within a facilities organization (or comparable entity) of more than 50 employees and annual expenditure exceeding $5 million in a higher education campus, a large corporate setting, or similarly scaled institutional environment
• Demonstrated experience applying building, life safety, and fire codes to plan, design, and execute capital projects
• Experience managing space planning and workplace utilization is desirable but not required to meet the preferred level
• Active membership and participation in industry organizations