25-75 Manager of Facilities Design and Construction (MAN 190) - Facilities Division

Position Summary

Join a vibrant campus community whose excellence is reflected in its diversity and student success. West Chester University’s Facilities Division invites applications for the position of Manager of Facilities Design and Construction (MAN 190).

West Chester University, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, comprehensive institution committed to offering high-quality undergraduate education, select post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

WCU proudly offers a positive and purposeful work environment; comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance along with many wellness programs; a commitment to work-life balance including generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays; and a University mission to support employee personal and professional growth including a tuition waiver for self and family members, training and development, and advancement opportunities.

In support of the mission of West Chester University, the Facilities Division designs, constructs, and maintains a dynamic, safe, and sustainable campus to continually advance its nationally benchmarked living and learning community. The campus comprises approximately one hundred buildings and structures encompassing residence halls, parking garages, classroom buildings, performance spaces, athletic spaces, food service areas, administration buildings, research facilities, libraries, and multiple utility systems including geo-exchange, electric, water, storm, and sewer.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Design and Construction, this position collaborates with University partners, and oversees all aspects of planning, scheduling, design and engineering, and construction for multiple projects varying in size from $25,000 to $30,000,000. This includes cost estimating and contract and budget management, providing leadership and managing unionized employees, managing day-to-day operations, and advancing sustainability efforts.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience managing design professionals and contractors, extensive knowledge of building systems, extensive knowledge of occupancy types and construction types, experience in higher education, experience managing a unionized workforce, the ability to communicate with a diverse campus community, and a demonstrated commitment to student success.

Responsibilities include:

• Manage professional personnel and contracted consultants
• Evaluate programs, plans, processes, and procedures to align with the strategic plan
• Collaborate with campus partners including faculty, administration, students, and staff to develop functional programs for the basis of design
• Assign design tasks, lead the selection process, negotiate fees, and exercise managerial control over design work
• Establish and enforce the conditions and parameters within which each construction project must be conducted by the contractor
• Manage contractor claims, including investigation of facts, preparation of correspondence, and other coordination as required
• Take every precaution to avoid University liability for breach of contract
• Manage single and multiple prime construction, repair, renovation contracts; conduct progress and scheduling meetings for each project; and initiate corrective action when required to keep projects on schedule
• Responsibly implement PASSHE (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education) guidelines, codes, plans, and specifications in setting and enforcing the level of acceptable quality of construction of work
• Ensure complete records are maintained regarding the progress of work and all special conditions affecting work, such as strikes by trade unions or disruption in supplies of building materials or equipment, weather, daily staffing levels of each contractor, and work done
• Manage project funding to ensure timeliness of progress payments and pay apps within budget and allocation performance
• Coordinate and oversee the Department of General Services on projects for which they provide design and construction management
• Analyze problems and develop solutions while managing competing priorities
• Communicate regularly with clients to keep them well informed of the progress of their project
• Coordinate work schedule, limits of construction boundaries, location of contractors’ offices, parking, work hours, and security to minimize inconvenience to the campus community
• Respond to emergencies while communicating with appropriate campus leaders
• Establish relationships with Auxiliary’s leadership, campus Deans, and department leaders to make data-driven and performance-based decisions
• Identify the developmental needs of the staff and initiate training and certification
• Maintain and update manuals and SOPs required for process management and execution
• Prepare weekly and monthly progress reports of all projects in design and construction
• Maintain as-builts, O&M Manuals, warranties, and certifications
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field OR 10 years of construction management experience
• Five (5) years of experience in construction contract administration
• Five (5) years of experience in construction methods and technology
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, and Excel
• Professional Engineering or Architecture registration is required within two (2) years of employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using design software including AutoCAD and Photoshop
• Experience using Microsoft Project
• Higher Education experience
• Experience managing unionized staff
• Excellent written communication skills

Special Instructions

The salary for this position is $97,549.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Candidates should apply online at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/wcupa. Application allows for a cover letter, resume and three professional references (all required for consideration).

Applicants must successfully complete the interview process to be considered as a finalist.

Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty and staff advances WCU’s educational mission and strategic Plan for Excellence. West Chester University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of all pre-employment background checks.