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.