Director of Facilities Planning and Capital Projects

About the role

The Director of Facilities Planning and Capital Projects provides strategic leadership for the planning, development, operation, and improvement of Penn Libraries' physical environments. The role oversees capital planning, renovation initiatives, space planning efforts, and facilities projects across the Libraries' portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital project planning, programming, design, and execution for renovations, renewals, infrastructure upgrades, and space modernization projects across the Libraries.
• Serve as leadership representative and coordinate with Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES), architects, engineers, contractors, and library stakeholders.
• Develop and implement long-range facilities and space planning strategies that support evolving academic, research, collections, teaching, technology, and workplace needs.
• Provide leadership for facilities operations and building stewardship across library locations, ensuring safe, functional, accessible, and welcoming environments through effective maintenance, housekeeping, security coordination, and facilities services.
• Manage facilities renewal, deferred maintenance, and asset management programs, identifying needs, developing scopes and budgets, and coordinating project implementation with university.
• Lead stakeholder engagement, communications, and project governance, facilitating planning discussions, gathering requirements, presenting recommendations, and communicating project impacts, timelines, and outcomes.
• Supervise facilities staff, the Libraries Event Planner and contracted service providers, establishing priorities, managing performance, allocating resources, and ensuring effective service delivery and event execution.
• Prepare and manage the Facilities Department budget.
• Work closely with Finance Department staff to set and monitor budgets, assess and implement the project and vendor bid processes, and generally operate within sound financial practices and in alignment with applicable procedures and policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7 to 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Professional licensure or certification such as Registered Architect (RA), Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Facility Management Professional (FMP), Certified Facility Manager (CFM), or similar credential.
• Experience in higher education, research libraries, museums, cultural institutions, healthcare, or other large and complex public-serving environments.
• Experience with campus master planning, strategic space planning, workplace strategy, or portfolio planning.
• Knowledge of historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and renovation of legacy or architecturally significant buildings.
• Experience integrating sustainability, resilience, energy management, and accessibility principles into capital projects and facilities planning.
• Familiarity with public procurement processes, design and construction contracting methods, and capital budgeting practices within higher education.
• Experience preparing materials and presentations for senior university leadership, governing boards, donors, or external stakeholders.