The posting
Job Description
The Director of Construction Services provides strategic leadership, oversight, and management of the University's capital construction, renovation, infrastructure renewal, and deferred maintenance programs. The position is responsible for directing all aspects of construction administration, commissioning, occupancy, and project closeout for a diverse portfolio of academic, research, housing, athletic, healthcare, utility, and support facilities.
Serving as a key member of the Facilities Management leadership team, the Director plays a key role in establishing project delivery standards, oversees construction personnel, manages consultant and contractor relationships.
The position provides oversight of institutional, state-funded, grant-funded, donor-funded, and auxiliary-funded projects while ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with regulatory requirements and university standards.
Responsibilities
This position will remain open until filled. To receive first consideration, applicants must submit a complete application by November 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Applications received after this deadline may be considered in subsequent rounds of review until the position is filled.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Construction Services Leadership
- Direct and oversee all construction management activities for capital construction, major renovation, infrastructure renewal, and deferred maintenance projects.
- Establish departmental goals, policies, procedures, performance metrics, and project management standards.
- Lead, mentor, and evaluate project managers, construction administrators, inspectors, and support personnel.
- Develop succession planning, workforce development, and training initiatives for Construction Services staff.
- Foster a culture of accountability, customer service, safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Capital Program Management
- Provide oversight of the University's capital construction portfolio.
- Direct project prioritization and workload planning across multiple concurrent projects.
- Ensure successful delivery of projects from preconstruction through occupancy and warranty completion.
- Monitor project schedules, budgets, quality performance, risks, and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Develop and maintain long-range construction program schedules.
- Support development and execution of capital renewal and infrastructure investment strategies.
Project Planning and Development
- Collaborate with Campus Planning and Design, Space Planning, Facilities Operations, Finance, Research, Academic Affairs, and Administrative units to identify project needs and priorities.
- Participate in campus master planning and long-range facilities development initiatives.
- Provide leadership in project feasibility analyses, project justification development, and business case preparation.
- Review conceptual plans, budgets, schedules, and delivery approaches.
Financial and Budget Management
- Develop and manage departmental operating budgets.
- Oversee project budgets, expenditures, forecasting, encumbrances, contingency management, and financial reporting.
- Ensure effective stewardship of university, state, federal, donor, grant, and auxiliary funding sources.
- Review and recommends approval of project budgets, change orders, pay applications, and financial commitments.
- Identify opportunities for cost savings, value engineering, and operational efficiencies.
Design and Construction Oversight
- Direct the administration of commissioning and construction contracts.
- Ensure project delivery complies with university standards, maintainability requirements, sustainability objectives, and operational expectations.
- Oversee construction administration activities including RFIs, submittals, field observations, change orders, inspections, commissioning, and closeout.
- Promote consistency in project delivery, documentation, and construction quality.
Research Infrastructure and Specialized Facilities
- Support planning and construction of research laboratories, specialized facilities, utility systems, and mission-critical infrastructure.
- Coordinate projects impacting research activities, grant-funded programs, and specialized academic operations.
- Ensure project planning minimizes institutional disruption while supporting research continuity and growth.
- Collaborate with faculty, researchers, and research administration personnel to address specialized facility requirements.
Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, building codes, accessibility requirements, and university policies.
- Coordinate approvals with relevant governmental agencies.
- Oversee construction safety programs and contractor safety compliance.
- Identify, evaluate, and mitigate project risks affecting schedule, budget, quality, operations, or institutional reputation.
Contract Management and Procurement
- Supports consultant and contractor procurement processes, including RFQs, RFPs, bid evaluations, negotiations, and contract recommendations.
- Manage consultant and contractor performance evaluations.
- Ensure procurement activities comply with state, university, and public contracting requirements.
- Resolve complex contractual and construction disputes.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Serve as the primary liaison for construction-related initiatives.
- Develop strong relationships with academic leadership, researchers, administrators, students, and external stakeholders.
- Develops regular project updates for executive leadership, governing boards, and campus stakeholders.
- Facilitate effective communication regarding project impacts, schedules, milestones, and construction activities.
Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement
- Develop and implement project management best practices and performance standards.
- Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and performance reporting systems.
- Utilize project management technology and data analytics to improve efficiency and accountability.
- Benchmark departmental performance against peer R1 institutions and industry best practices.
- Support sustainability, resiliency, asset lifecycle management, and energy efficiency initiatives.
Other Duties
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of the University's mission and strategic objectives.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in: Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Facilities Management, Building Science or a relevant field.
- Ten (10) years of progressively responsible construction management experience.
- Five (5) years of leadership experience overseeing professional staff and construction programs.
- Experience managing large-scale capital projects and construction portfolios.
- Experience administering architectural, engineering, and construction contracts.
- Experience managing projects in higher education, healthcare, government, research, or comparable institutional environments
- Relevant experience may substitute for required education.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, or related field.
- Experience within a major R1 research university.
- Experience managing projects exceeding $25 million in value.
- Experience with state-funded capital programs and public procurement requirements.
- Experience overseeing laboratory, utility, infrastructure, and mission-critical facility projects.
Professional Certifications: One or more of the following:
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
- LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
- Professional Engineer (PE)
- Registered Architect (RA)
- APPA Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP)
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Advanced knowledge of construction management principles and project delivery methods.
- Understanding of campus infrastructure, utilities, and facilities operations.
- Strong financial management and capital budgeting skills.
- Ability to manage complex stakeholder environments.
- Knowledge of higher education capital planning and public-sector procurement practices.
- Excellent leadership, negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
- Experience with project management software, scheduling systems, and construction management technologies.
- Ability to lead large, complex construction programs and multidisciplinary teams.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
About Us
The University of Memphis is a leading, student-centered, urban public R1 research institution. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, on 1,160 acres. The University serves a population of nearly 20,000 students and 2,500 employees, including more than 1,000 full-time faculty members. The University offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 230 areas of study, master’s degrees in more than 50 subjects and doctoral degrees in 26 disciplines; supported an institutional record of more than $100 million in research awards for FY24; and has an operating budget of close to $500 million.
