"Director, Planning and Space Information"

Position Summary

The Director of Planning and Space Information, reporting to the Vice President of Planning & Capital Project Management (PL + CPM), is responsible for the strategic oversight and execution of Columbia University's comprehensive space planning and data management initiatives. This role provides leadership in developing innovative, cost-effective planning strategies that support the University's evolving institutional priorities, academic mission, and operational goals.

The Director leads pre-design and planning efforts for capital projects, collaborates with University partners on space programming and utilization strategies, and ensures alignment with technical, regulatory, and research-related requirements. Serving as a key advisor and planning consultant, the Director develops and manages planning studies, space standards, and documentation that inform campus-wide decisions.

Reporting to the Vice President of PL + CPM, the Director of Planning and Space Information will have oversight of the University's diverse space planning portfolio and will be responsible for conceptualizing and developing feasible, cost-effective planning strategies to meet the University’s evolving institutional goals and objectives.

Responsibilities

• Projects scoping and pre-design services for proposed capital projects to meet the functional needs of schools, departments, and administrative units.
• Develops planning project documents, including space programming, test-fit plans, and space analyses, definition of regulatory and technical requirements, and other information in collaboration with CPM groups and consultants.
• Develops large-scale space programming and planning studies, including options development and phasing studies for multiple users and locations on all campuses.
• Specialized studies and reports in graphic and written formats.
• Serves as planning consultant for new campus development projects and advisor to university partners and design consultants.
• Collaborates with University partners on space options, negotiations, agreements, recommendations, and similar defining documents to support University priorities.
• Acts as staff to the University’s Campus Space Committee, responsible for identifying relevant discussion items, preparing the meeting agenda and exhibits, and maintaining records of space assignments and discussions of the committee.
• Oversee the management, accuracy, and consistency of university space data, campus floor plans, and the development of space reports in support of the University's research initiatives and goals.
• Develops and manages University space standards.
• Supervises up to three (3) Space Planners and up to three (3) Space Information staff members and manages workloads, project delivery, and deadlines.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture and /or planning required.
• A minimum of 7 to 9 years of recent relevant, full-time experience in architectural planning, programming, and design.
• Ability to work in a client-facing service environment and exercise discretion, confidentiality, and judgment when working on planning projects.
• Strong communication, quantitative, written, and interpersonal skills are required.
• Ability to work on multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Ability to demonstrate creative problem-solving and collaboration across multiple business units of the University, including experience with technical and regulatory compliance for University science research projects.
• Strong facility with relevant computer software such as AutoDesk suite, MS Office Suite, and Adobe Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Space Planning and programming experience in higher education or large institutions preferred.