Principal - Planning, Design, and Construction

About the role

Provides senior-level planning, architectural, and construction oversight, expertise in support of the College’s capital and renovation portfolio. Serves as a technical design and construction leader responsible for translating institutional priorities, master planning direction, and capital authorizations into coordinated design solutions.

Responsibilities

• Provides architectural and construction planning expertise for new construction, renovations, and capital improvement projects authorized through institutional governance processes.
• Assists in the advertising for and selection of designers, suppliers, and construction consultants. Works directly with third-party architects, engineers, and design and construction consultants to coordinate scope pre-design, schematic design, design development, and construction documentation phases.
• Reviews design documents for compliance with institutional standards, NC Building Codes, Community College Laws of NC, ADA requirements, life safety standards, and local and state ordinances.
• Ensures that design solutions align with long-range master planning principles, sustainability goals, durability standards, and long-term facility functionality.
• Affords assistance in the development and refinement of project scopes to ensure functional clarity, feasibility, and alignment with approved institutional priorities.
• Collaborates with assigned project managers who are responsible for holistic project delivery, including schedule, budget, and consultant coordination.
• Provides technical consultation during planning, design, bidding, and construction to support resolution of changes, conflicts, and budget challenges.
• Participates in coordination meetings with college staff, project managers, contractors, suppliers, consultants, and local building code and state construction representatives to ensure feasibility of design intent and concept code compliance.
• Reviews cost estimates, value engineering proposals, and change orders to ensure technical soundness and alignment with project scope.
• Supports construction accounting and financial transparency efforts by providing technical validation of scope and budget modifications.
• Facilitates cross-divisional design coordination to ensure projects support academic programming, student experience, operational functionality, and institutional mission alignment.
• Incorporates relevant facilities condition data, operational insights, and enterprise analytics into design recommendations and renovation planning.
• Maintains high-quality architectural standards in material selection, space functionality, longevity, and aesthetic coherence across campus facilities.
• Affords assistance to the Executive Director – College Planning, Design, and Construction in providing project-level analysis to support capital planning discussions with senior leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements and Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution in Architecture, Building Construction, Engineering, or related field; professional licensure in Architecture or Engineering preferred; a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in architectural design, construction planning, and higher education project coordination.
• Master's Degree from an accredited institution in Architecture, Building Construction, Engineering, or related field. Considerable experience in the design, development, budgeting, and construction of Higher Education architecture.

Additional Information

• Direction Received: Reports to Executive Director – College Planning, Design and Construction
• Direction Given: Provides technical direction and consultation to project managers and external design professionals; does not exercise direct supervisory authority over project managers

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Work Characteristics

• Demonstrated expertise in architectural design and higher education construction planning
• Knowledge of budget development processes, cost estimation, and construction administration practices
• Comprehensive knowledge of NC Building Codes, ADA requirements, Mecklenburg County and NC State Construction Office permitting procedures
• Ability to operate consultatively within a multi-tier governance and project management structure
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Proficiency in project documentation systems, design software review, spreadsheets, and presentations

Working Conditions

• Requires frequent visits to construction sites and campus facilities.
• May experience exposure to construction environments, including heat, cold, humidity, noise, and physical site conditions.
• Requires travel between campuses and occasional coordination with local utilities, Mecklenburg County, and state agencies.