Director, Capital Projects

Position Purpose

The Director of Capital Projects has pivotal responsibility for the planning, execution, and management of Dartmouth’s capital program. The Director of Capital Projects provides strategic, operational, and technical leadership for the planning, design, and execution of both major & minor capital project initiatives across the institution. This role oversees the full lifecycle of capital development, from early feasibility and budgeting through design, construction, commissioning, and turnover, ensuring that projects advance institutional priorities, meet academic and research needs, and uphold standards for quality, sustainability, and fiscal stewardship.

This Director serves as a key liaison among Campus Services leadership, faculty, administration, external consultants, and regulatory agencies. Serves as a thought leader with seasoned capital project delivery acumen and experience, with a thorough understanding of project delivery in institutional campus settings at all stages.

The position is also responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of capital projects assigned to direct reports, including planning, estimating, budget control, permitting, construction, scheduling, reporting, and problem solving. Besides capital projects, projects include both improvements and renovations to administrative, research, academic, residential, and athletic facilities to support the associated programs.

Dartmouth's Campus Services Division is responsible for planning, design, construction and operation of Dartmouth's buildings, campus landscape, and infrastructure. Dartmouth's facilities include over 5 million square feet of space in 165 buildings. These facilities serve over 5,600 students and 5,000 faculty and staff in a variety of academic, research, administrative, athletic, and residential spaces.

Responsibilities

• Oversees capital project initiatives of varying scales.
• Develops proposals to substantiate program priorities and resulting impact on Dartmouth's buildings, infrastructure, and capital/operating budgets.
• Assembles annual capital budget submission packages for projects within area of responsibility.
• Establishes estimating and cost control procedures to ensure efficient utilization of institutional funds.
• Works with Campus Services Financial Office to ensure appropriate fiscal, procurement, and resource administration within area of responsibility.
• Ensures assigned projects follow Dartmouth's signature authority policy.
• Collaborates with the other leaders in Project Management and Campus Services to develop and apply project delivery methods to assure best value results.
• Contributes to project planning and programming in conjunction with other Campus Services team members.
• Evaluates and tracks performance parameters. Supports reporting to administrative, faculty and trustee committees on status of prospective and active capital projects.
• Ensures capital program database is kept up to date while maintaining the 5-year capital plan.
• Works with latitude and resourcefulness under the general guidance of the AVP of Project Management. Takes initiative in anticipating technical issues and problems that will confront the College.
• Responsible for successful management of capital projects during transition between the planning phase through assignment of a dedicated project manager. Develops initial cost estimates and project delivery schedules.
• Keeps stakeholders well-informed of project status through regular team meetings and presentation of capital project reports. Takes leadership role to resolve areas of disagreement between project stakeholders.
• Collaborates and coordinates activities with the Directors and Managers within Facilities Operations and Management including project scope, impact on operations, and technical specifications.
• Together with the Associate General Counsel for Facilities and other Campus Services constituents, coordinates submissions to Jurisdictional Authorities for permitting, and ensures compliance with appropriate regulations.
• Responsible for project quality control, schedule management, and cost control. Provides budget and schedule updates, reviews proposed change orders, contracts, proposals, RFPs, and discusses project issues with the AVP of PM. Coordinates the value engineering process, as needed.
• Guides and gives technical and managerial assistance to subordinate employees in the performance of their duties. Collaborates with other Project Management leaders to ensure parallel personnel administration policies and objectives among staff.
• Serves as a role-model, advocate, and mentor to direct reports and staff. Creates and sustains an environment that fosters teamwork, excellence, respect, accountability, and diversity.
• Capability to steward the development and execution of components within the multi-year capital plan, aligning facilities investments with academic, research, student life, and operational priorities.
• Ability to counsel leadership on capital project feasibility, cost implications, risk, and long-term campus infrastructure needs.
• Strategic principal and facilitator of the start-up of key capital project initiatives and programs of varying scales.
• Demonstrates a commitment to inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others.
• Participates in division wide CEB initiatives and training, including promotion of the 7 Principles (Empathy, Fairness, Dependability, Inclusivity, Consideration, Vulnerability and Respect).
• Collaborates, when appropriate, on other CEB-related initiatives within the division and College.
• Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• At least ten years of direct experience in planning, design, and management major capital construction projects, including LEED certified buildings.
• Experience building effective capital programs of varying scales.
• Documented success in meeting budget and schedule targets.
• Bachelor's degree in technical field (engineering or architecture) or related to construction or project management or the equivalent.
• Experience managing teams including staff resource allocation and deployment, training/skill development, and regular evaluation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with high performance building, landscape design, construction, and standards.
• Knowledge of utility systems, current energy efficient building systems, and energy conservation best practices.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Conceptual thinker who is attentive to details.
• Ability to work with diverse and at times opposing constituencies.
• Familiarity with Town, State, and Federal codes and ordinances.
• Knowledge of OSHA construction safety standards and regulations.
• Ability to develop and maintain project budgets, cash flow projections, and schedules.
• Skills in interpreting architectural and construction contracts.