Assistant Director of Informal Projects

Be an Eagle - Where Purpose Takes Flight! Are you ready to make an impact? At North Carolina Central University (NCCU), we are more than an institution—we are a community rooted in a legacy of excellence and transformation. A historically Black university located in Durham, North Carolina, also known as ‘The City of Medicine,’ NCCU has been a cornerstone of education since 1910, fostering innovation and progress. Join our team and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package and exclusive perks designed to support your work-life balance. At NCCU, your professional growth will be nurtured, and your contributions will help shape the future for our students and the community we serve. Become part of a legacy that drives change and achievement. An opportunity awaits you at NCCU, where your purpose can take flight. Visit NCCU.edu . Primary Function of Organizational Unit Facilities Management, one of the operating units in the Division of Business and Finance, exists to maintain and operate a physical environment that is conducive to learning, teaching, and research. To this end, Facilities Management is responsible for all aspects of the operation, maintenance, construction and renovation of the buildings, utilities, and grounds of the NCCU campus. Primary Purpose of Position The primary purpose of this position is to carry out the mission of the Planning, Design and Construction (PDC) department, which seeks to support the overall goals and objectives of the Facilities Management Division. Position is charged with supervising and monitoring the workload of 2 permanent design, construction and support staff members. They manage all aspects of projects from planning, design, and communication to stakeholders and budgeting for projects up to $4M. They lead by example and guide their staff, as they perform day-to-day project management. They must be able to apply governing building codes, NCCU and UNC system guidelines, laws of the State of North Carolina, and National Fire Protection Codes in addition to applicable industry standard practices for construction tolerances. They serve as the PDC/Facilities representative for internal and external organizations. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Manages the competencies of total staff. Seeks sources and opportunities for employee training and growth. Directs the management of program and staff resources. Involves employees in strategic planning and implementation and in the development of policies and procedures in the area of assignment. Develops strategies to improve quality of service, performance, and budgetary/operational efficiency. Develops strategies to improve quality of service, performance, and budgetary/operational efficiency. Reviews and approves work often regarding more complex or unique issues. Has approval authority. Provides fiscal oversight for area and may be involved in full cycle budget creation and implementation for agency/university. Ensures that fiscal rules and regulations are interpreted correctly, internal and external to the area of assignment. Communicates major and/or complex situations and actions, internal and external to the organization. Interprets rules and regulations internal and external to the organization. Serves as a technical resource in developing responses to the media. Reviews and approves more complex written reports or unique issues and ensures effective articulation of written conclusions. Ensures that rules and regulations are interpreted correctly, internal and external to the organization. Develops and maintains professional working relationships in complex and/or difficult situations in order to achieve work goals. Seeks appropriate input from others, internal and external to the program, prior to developing new policies and procedures. Ability to interact with broad-based University community and project stakeholders including, but not limited to, designers, consultants, contractors, University students, faculty, committees, campus leadership, outside agencies, and other University and community interests. Must be able to clearly express and present, both orally and in written form, moderately complex project information in an organized and concise manner throughout the capital improvement process. Uses tact when expressing ideas or opinions; adapts presentations catered to the needs of a particular audience, assists customers to understand design concepts and contract documents, and provides routine and accurate updates of project status, needs, and objectives. Develops rapport with all stakeholders, recognizing their concerns and feelings, and listens well while advancing project objectives and building and maintaining long‑term relationships based on trust. Creates and produces informational products as required to convey and manage project needs. Develops and negotiates positions to effectively mediate resolution of contract disputes. Thorough knowledge of and ability to interpret professional engineering/architect theory, techniques, practices and procedures, organizational structure, and/o extraneous factors or implications; skilled in applying this knowledge. Applies thorough knowledge of and may interpret local, state and Federal rules/regulations governing the area of work. Applies thorough knowledge of supervisory practices and skill in supervising others, including communication skills, how to delegate and assign work, how to deal effectively with difficult employees, how to evaluate performance and to conduct investigations and participate in disciplinary actions. Ability to mentor new supervisors. Full knowledge of state government’s human resources policies and procedures relevant to job duties. Applies thorough knowledge of applicable information technology, and the impact of work with other systems and program. Considerable knowledge of strategic planning methodologies and practices. Manages complex work situations. Anticipates potentially problematic situations; resolves unusual problems. Develops solutions to unique problems and situations. Implements response to a situation based on interpretation of local, state and Federal rules/regulations and standards. Ensures implementation of program policy and procedure changes to reduce risk. Applies innovative solutions and/or engineering/architecture designs where appropriate. Manages budgets/contracts, including resources such as budget, personnel, and equipment within timelines. Ability to resolve design error/omissions, unforeseen conditions and owner requests on a project‑by‑project and case‑by‑case basis ensuring recovery strategies are efficiently and effectively deployed. Technical knowledge to evaluate and provide recommendations pertaining to assigned projects in a timely fashion to support project needs. Ability to make quick decisions with minimal supervision to minimize impacts to the budget, schedule, and University operations. Ability to review and evaluate contractual documentation and correspondence for complex capital improvement projects for completeness, compatibility, and compliance with engineering and architectural principles, standards, codes and design needs including management and oversight of change orders; fee amendments; invoices and progress billings; schedules; material submittals; and budget. Bachelor’s Degree in the Engineering discipline related to the area of assignment. Some positions may require licensure by the North Carolina Board of Architects and the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Architect or Engineer with 3 to 5 years in supervision. The ability to obtain Registered Architect (RA), or PE license from NC preferred but not required. Equal Opportunity Employer Consistent with the policy of the State of North Carolina, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) reaffirms that it has been, and will continue to be, the policy of this University to be an equal opportunity employer. North Carolina Central University is committed to providing educational opportunities and prohibits discrimination against students, applicants, employees, or visitors based on race, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, or veteran status. Any individual alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation cannot grieve beyond the University’s internal grievance process. In keeping with this policy, and to further the principle of equal opportunity, all other personnel matters such as recruitment, selection, hiring, promotion, compensation, performance appraisal, disciplinary actions, benefits, transfers, separations, reduction in force, grievance procedures, company‑sponsored training, education, tuition assistance, and social and recreational programs will also continue to be administered in accordance with this policy. Primary Responsibilities and Duties Function Program Supervision and Administration Describe the specific tasks and responsibilities related to the function. Supervise 2 PM’s in the department. Provide project management and oversight of projects up to $4M. Coordinate with Facilities Operations Director and Assistant Director on Facilities Operations’ the development of Minor R & R list of projects. Assure project loads are fairly distributed among project managers based on their skill sets, current workload, and areas of expertise. Assist the PMs with designer selection based on the type of project, past experience with designers, their current project balance, to assure the best fit is made. Assist PM’s with their understanding of applicable processes, regulations, codes and project parameters. Provide design consultation assistance on projects, as necessary, to move them along the design process. Review projects in design as necessary to assure fit and quality of projects is up to established standards. Assist the Director position and PM’s with management of designers and design contracts. Assist with fee negotiations when necessary. Work with PM’s and other PM’s in PDC to resolve problems in construction, change orders, value engineering, etc. Complete HR work planning, and bi‑annual reviews for each of the project managers who report to this position. Work with administrative assistants and accounting staff to assure all accounting procedures and practices are best serving the unit. Assist the Director and administrative assistants with the oversight of the processing and tracking of project correspondence to include legal contracts, letter agreements, project request forms, requisition request forms, invoices, requisitions, purchase orders. Assure processes and procedures are in place to best serve the unit. Assume leadership role in the effort to bring green practices to the Facilities Management Division. Function Communication Describe the specific tasks and responsibilities related to the function. Establish and maintain lines of communication with customers, design team, contractors, consultants, vendors and other stakeholders by ongoing dialogue throughout the life of the project. Ensure customers and all stakeholders are well informed of the status of the work. Communicate, as necessary, with the authorities having jurisdiction on projects, to include State Construction Office, City of Raleigh, NC DOT , NC DEQ , etc., on behalf of the unit and customers, in order to expedite the approval process. Attend interdepartmental meetings with campus customers and peers to represent PDC. Provide technical information at meetings in support of the unit’s mission. Monthly meetings include the Capital Projects meeting, Facilities update meeting, the Housing meeting, NCCU / SCO monthly meeting, and others as required. Function Professional Knowledge Describe the specific tasks and responsibilities related to the function. Manage the informal/formal designer and contractor procurement process for the projects up to $4M. Knowledge and application of governing building codes, NCCU and UNC system guidelines, laws of the State of North Carolina, and National Fire Protection Codes in addition to applicable industry standard practices for construction tolerances. Working knowledge of the concepts yielded by National Fire Protection Codes and North Carolina Office of State Construction regulations pertaining to life safety systems is essential. Works independently with minimal supervision. This position may be asked to serve as an expert witness and/or provide expert testimony in such cases involving design or construction claim mediation, arbitration, and/or litigation. Function Critical Thinking Describe the specific tasks and responsibilities related to the function. Assure PDC projects are meeting the goals of the campus customer groups, getting feedback at these meetings. Assist with prioritization of needs on campus to assure funds are used well and are fully exhausted at the completion of the fiscal year. Provide decision‑making regarding expenditure of funds in order to meet multiple goals of the funding intent and University priorities. Assist campus customers with project development and provide an understanding of the project process, including cost and timing needed to deliver a successful project. Manage the documentation of lists of R&R priorities, lists of potential end‑of‑year projects, OC‑25’s, CI‑1’s and work assignments for the department. Work with the Director and budget personnel to verify requirements for funding, and capital authority for each project. Posting Number: EPA03421P Open Date: 10/30/2025 Open Until Filled: Yes Special Instructions to Applicants Required Documents: Resume/CV Cover Letter Unofficial Transcripts (official required from selected candidate) Letter of Recommendation 1 Letter of Recommendation 2 Optional Documents: DD-214 (Veterans Only) NGB23A or NGB22/DD256 (National Guard Only) Licenses and/or Certification required by Statute or Regulation Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*). #J-18808-Ljbffr North Carolina Central University