Executive Director Campus Planning and Design

Executive Director Campus Planning and Design

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

Director/Executive

Closing at: May 31 2026 - 22:55 CDT

Pay Grade/Pay Range: Minimum: $114,600 - Midpoint: $160,500 (Salaried E16)

Department/Organization: 510601 - Planning & Design

Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

Job Summary: The Executive Director of Campus Planning and Design develops, coordinates, and executes comprehensive campus planning initiatives to help shape the physical campus environment. Creates high-impact planning documents, spatial analyses, and forecasting models that guide capital project prioritization and resource allocation. Oversees a multidisciplinary team that contributes to campus master planning, capital project conceptualization and planning, campus planning analytics, design engineering, and design standards. Works in close coordination with senior leadership, campus stakeholders, and the Board of Trustees to develop the campus master plan. Advances the University's long-term vision, academic mission, and operational excellence. Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, etc.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and eight (8) years of facilities planning and design experience; OR master's degree and six (6) years of facilities planning and design experience.

Additional Required Department Minimum Qualifications: Must have valid U.S. driver's license. Must be at least 19 years of age at time of hire and have an acceptable Motor Vehicle Report that is in compliance with University policies. Applicants under the age of 21 will have some driving restrictions.

Skills and Knowledge: Excellent communication, problem-solving, analytical, organizational, planning, and leadership skills. Ability to develop intermediate and long-range plans by engaging appropriately with Campus Development and University-wide stakeholders to understand priorities, budget, and sequencing. Strong knowledge of current and emerging technologies in support of campus master planning (e.g., BIM, GIS, smart campus systems). Demonstrated expertise in proactive risk management and regulatory compliance, including navigating zoning and environmental regulations, permitting processes and laws, and complying with institutional, state, and federal governance. Ability to react, make decisive judgments, and appropriately respond to requests of various stakeholders. Ability to prioritize, drive, and complete multiple projects under stringent deadlines and respond to dynamic priorities. Ability to work cooperatively on teams and build consensus across a variety of stakeholder groups (e.g., campus leaders, Board of Trustees, third-party contractors, regulatory bodies). Ability to establish rapport and build lasting partnerships across academic and administrative units. Ability to approach current processes with a continuous improvement mindset to drive efficiencies within campus planning and project-based processes.

Preferred Qualifications: Licensed architect. Eight (8) or more years of experience in campus planning, capital project design, and/or stakeholder engagement in a higher education environment.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC's Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal poster.

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