Job Summary:

The Associate Director of Design & Construction provides strategic leadership for the planning, design, and delivery of capital, renovation, deferred maintenance, and infrastructure projects across Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's campus. Reporting to the Director of Campus Planning & Facilities Design, this position oversees projects from concept through occupancy, ensuring they are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in alignment with institutional priorities, campus standards, applicable sustainability practices, and regulatory requirements.

RPI's project portfolio spans a historic campus core alongside modern research, laboratory, and instructional facilities, requiring the Associate Director to balance preservation of existing building character with the technical demands of research-intensive space.

Serving as the Institute's representative, the Associate Director directs an internal team of project managers and engineers while managing the work of external architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and, when appropriate, owner's representatives. The position works collaboratively with campus stakeholders to deliver high-quality projects that support the Institute's academic, research, and student experience. This role supports the physical realization of the Institute’s strategic priorities, including those articulated in RPI Forward and the forthcoming campus master plan.

Who we are:

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. Explore the RPI Forward plan. ︎

Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world.

With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or a closely related field.

Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience managing design and construction projects.

Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or team leadership experience.

Demonstrated experience managing multiple capital projects through planning, design, procurement, construction, and closeout.

Strong knowledge of project management, construction administration, budgeting, procurement, and applicable building codes.

Experience managing architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and construction contracts.

Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or a closely related field.
Experience in higher education, research, healthcare, or other complex institutional environments.
Experience managing occupied renovation, laboratory, research, or other technically complex capital projects.
Professional licensure or certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE), Registered Architect (RA), Project Management Professional (PMP), or Certified Construction Manager (CCM).
Knowledge of sustainability practices, including LEED, WELL, or energy-efficient building design.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of design and construction project delivery methods, construction administration, and best practices for continuous improvement in project execution.
Ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing priorities while aligning resources, schedules, and decisions with institutional goals and measurable outcomes.
Understanding of building systems, infrastructure, and applicable regulatory requirements, with the ability to review technical drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and project performance data to support informed decision-making.
Strong financial, analytical, negotiation, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify root causes, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to foster accountability, professional development, collaboration, and a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted partnerships, engage diverse perspectives, and collaborate effectively across the Institute and with external stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.

Representative Job Duties:

Leadership & Supervision

Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and professional development for project management and engineering staff, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Establish departmental priorities, assign workloads, and align team goals and resources with institutional priorities.
Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, stakeholder engagement, and open communication.
Promote continuous improvement by evaluating processes, implementing best practices, and supporting data-informed decision-making.
Collaborate across Planning, Facilities & Campus Services and with campus and external partners to develop and implement capital project priorities and strategies.

Project Delivery

Oversee the planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout of capital, renovation, infrastructure, and deferred maintenance projects.
Manage multiple projects simultaneously, balancing scope, budget, schedule, quality, and institutional priorities.
Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, procurement strategies, and delivery approaches.
Identify project risks, resolve issues, and ensure successful project execution.
Support alignment of projects with the Institute's strategic priorities and campus master plan.

Design & Construction Management

Coordinate consultant selection and oversee the work of architects, engineers, and specialty consultants.
Review designs for quality, functionality, maintainability, sustainability, and compliance with campus standards and applicable codes.
Manage consultant and contractor procurement, contracts, construction administration, change orders, and project closeout.
Ensure projects are completed in accordance with design intent, quality standards, safety requirements, and project schedules.
Oversee project commissioning, occupancy, and warranty closeout.
Monitor contractor and consultant compliance with OSHA and Institute Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) requirements.
Incorporate sustainable design and construction practices into projects, consistent with Institute priorities.

Financial & Regulatory Oversight

Develop, monitor, and forecast project budgets and expenditures throughout the project lifecycle.
Review consultant proposals, contractor bids, invoices, and payment applications.
Ensure compliance with applicable building codes, permitting requirements, environmental regulations, ADA, and life safety standards.
Ensure procurement practices comply with Institute policies and applicable funding requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

Serve as the primary liaison among project teams, campus clients, consultants, and contractors.
Communicate project status, facilitate decision-making, and manage stakeholder expectations throughout project delivery.

Shift:

Business Hours: Monday - Friday

Travel:

Local travel between campus locations only

Driving:

Driving a personal vehicle for non-passenger use

Starting Salary/Rate:

Expected hiring range: $120,000 - $140,000

Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.

Application instructions:

Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile. Please be ready to upload your resume and cover letter.

If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact careers@rpi.edu.

Job Posted Date:

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Total Compensation and Benefits Information:

Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources (rpi.edu) .

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is committed to the cultivation of a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and above all values learning. We welcome candidates who bring a variety of perspectives to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's work and campus communities. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or other characteristic protected by law.

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Associate Director, Design & Construction