Director of Planning & Design - Associate Campus Architect

About the role

The Director of Planning and Design serves as a key collaborator and leader within the capital program, directly responsible for the planning and design phases of major capital projects. In this role, the Director acts as UC Merced's primary representative through the early phases of capital projects, leading initial project planning, directing planning tasks, leading design review activities, and managing stakeholder engagement. The Director also serves in a support role during the construction phase, focusing on architectural systems and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead management and initiation of capital projects, including defining scope, selecting and onboarding consultants, and conducting visioning/programming to validate user requirements and align with institutional goals and fiscal constraints.
• Oversee campus development permits and long-range planning documents (LRDP), including EIR and other CEQA-related documents, coordinating with regulatory bodies and ensuring compliance.
• Represent the university in discussions with various regional governmental agencies relating to development projects both on and around the university.
• Chair and coordinate the campus design review process for architectural proposals, elevations, materials, site plans, and wayfinding, ensuring adherence to campus standards, sustainability goals, and program needs.
• Provide campus-side support during construction by reviewing Submittals and RFIs as needed, participating in construction meetings, and tracking the resolution of field issues and punch lists.
• Lead and manage architect/engineer consultant selection, contracting, and performance oversight, enforcing compliance with campus standards and applicable codes.
• Champion integration of sustainable and resilient design, coordinating with sustainability leadership and ensuring compliance with best practices.
• Represent UC Merced in design-related engagements with colleges, departments, committees, auxiliary units, and external partners; facilitate consensus and clear decision timelines.
• Prepare executive-level reports and briefings for senior leadership and planning committees on design quality, campus plan implementation, and project performance.
• Maintain campus design, construction, and master planning standards; ensure projects comply with applicable codes and policies.
• Supervise Project Directors and mentor planning/design staff, building professional capability and a culture of design excellence.
• Supervise, direct, and evaluate the work of subordinate employees, and exercise independent judgment in the administration of department policies and procedures.
• Provide managerial support for the university’s furniture program with a primary focus on Major Capital projects; support the team in stakeholder management, advocacy, and prioritization needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Urban Planning, or related field (required); and/or Advanced degree from an accredited university in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Urban Planning, or related field (preferred); and Six years of directly related progressively responsible experience in the planning and design of capital projects, preferably in higher education or public sector, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience (required).
• Demonstrated ability to manage large-scale design and construction projects and complex stakeholder coordination.
• Demonstrated skill in aligning stakeholder expectations with project realities, ensuring disciplined scope management throughout planning and design.
• Demonstrated skill in coordinating with architects, engineers, and consultants to align design outcomes with programmatic, functional, and operational needs identified by campus stakeholders, including the ability to continuously validate design progress against stakeholder expectations, identify gaps, and drive corrective alignment with the design team.
• Strong understanding of construction documents, design phases, building codes, and sustainability practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and project management skills.
• Experience in public university capital programs - preferred.
• Familiarity with UC Facilities Manual, California Building Code (CBC), and State Fire Marshal (SFM) processes.
• Experience with campus design guidelines, master planning, and design review boards.
• Experience with campus planning processes and the development, implementation, or management of Long-Range Development Plans (LRDPs).