Senior Construction Manager And Space Planner

Job Purpose:

Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President of Plant Operations, Planning & Construction Services, the Senior Construction Manager & Space Planner is the University's senior professional responsible for the planning, design, and construction of campus space and buildings and for the stewardship, analysis, and long-range planning of the University's space inventory. The position serves as Gonzaga's in-house owner's representative across the full project lifecycle and as the principal analyst and process owner for campus space management. It manages capital and construction budgets, leads project cost estimating and financial control, procures and manages design consultants and construction firms, negotiates related agreements within delegated authority, prioritizes and conducts facility condition assessments, and develops the systems, standards, and methods through which the department executes standard architecture-engineering-construction (AEC) practice. The role is a strategic partner to the AVP in long-range and near-term planning and in the coordination of major capital projects and fundraising-linked campaigns, and it serves as the technical lead supporting the University's space-governance committee.

Essential Functions:

• 90% - Construction Management & Space Planning
  • Capital project delivery Serve as the University's in-house owner's representative on assigned capital and renovation projects from initiation through closeout, leading planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and occupancy while protecting institutional interests in scope, cost, schedule, quality, and risk.
  • Design and construction oversight
    • Recommend appropriate project delivery methods; manage design teams and constructability and value-engineering reviews; monitor construction progress, quality, and safety; act on submittals and change requests; and ensure building-code, accessibility, and sustainability compliance.
  • Space inventory, analytics, and standards
    • Own and maintain the campus space inventory, aligned to federal facilities classification (FICM), as the single source of truth; measure and report space and classroom utilization; develop space-needs analyses, programming studies, and block and stacking diagrams; and establish and apply space standards so allocation is driven by function rather than precedent.
  • Space governance
    • Serve as principal staff to the Space Planning Review Committee, conducting technical reviews and space audits, operating the weighted scoring methodology, preparing decision materials, and administering relinquishment, reversion, change-of-use, and lease-review policies.
  • Capital and construction budgeting
    • Develop and control total project budgets; prepare and validate cost estimates at each project stage; and monitor commitments, change orders, contingency, and cash flow against budget.
  • Long-range planning and condition assessment
    • Help develop and maintain the multi-year capital plan, renewal and replacement plans, and the space components of campus master planning; prioritize the capital project pipeline against strategic criteria; and prioritize, conduct, and maintain facility condition assessments.
  • Procurement and contractor management
    • Procure and manage architects, engineers, specialty consultants, general contractors, construction managers, and subcontractors, including pre-qualification, solicitation, evaluation, and performance management.
  • Contracts and negotiation
    • Negotiate and administer design and construction agreements within delegated authority, coordinating with the Office of General Counsel, Procurement, and Risk Management on terms, insurance, and compliance.
  • Systems and standards
    • Develop the systems, standards, and methods for the department's AEC practice, including a stage-gated project-delivery framework, design and procurement templates, owner's project requirements, and the supporting space-management and project-management technology.
  • Strategic partnership
    • Partner with the AVP on near- and long-term planning and on the coordination of major capital projects and fundraising-linked campaigns; perform related duties as assigned.

• 10% - Other duties as assigned

Educational Requirement:

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience

Years of Related Experience Requirement:

5 years

In lieu of the educational qualifications, candidates may qualify with equivalent professional experience at a ratio of one year of experience for each year of required education. 

Certifications and/or Licensures:

Skills & Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, architecture, engineering, planning, real estate, business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in capital project management, construction management, design management, or facilities planning, with direct responsibility for project budgets and schedules.
• Demonstrated experience managing the full project lifecycle — programming, design, procurement, construction, and closeout — as an owner, owner's representative, or in a comparable capacity.
• Demonstrated experience developing and controlling project budgets and preparing or evaluating cost estimates, change orders, and contingency, and the ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, schedules, and contracts.
• Experience procuring and managing design consultants and construction firms, with strong analytical skills and proficiency in relevant software and reporting tools.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, in writing and verbally, with senior leadership, technical teams, and a broad range of stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in construction management, architecture, engineering, real estate, business administration, or a related field.
• Three or more years of experience in higher education or a comparable mission-driven, multi-stakeholder institution.
• Professional credentials such as licensed Architect or Professional Engineer, Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Project Management Professional (PMP), or LEED / Living Building Challenge accreditation.
• Experience with space-management or integrated workplace management systems, FICM space classification, and utilization analysis; and with multiple delivery methods, including construction-manager/general-contractor and design-build.
• Experience supporting capital planning integrated with institutional budgeting and philanthropy, and familiarity with high-performance or mass-timber building delivery.

Physical & On-Campus Requirements:

In-Office Presence - Ability to work on-site in typical office setting and participate in in-person meetings with colleagues: 5 days/week

Standing/Sitting - Ability to remain in a stationary position for a prolonged period: Daily (>75% of time)

Walking - Ability to move about on foot to accomplish tasks: Daily (>75% of time)

Lifting/Carrying - Ability to move or transport objects up to a specified weight (e.g., 50 pounds): Often (50%-75% of time)

Attention to Detail - Ability to focus on detailed tasks for extended periods: Daily (>75% of time)

Problem-Solving - Ability to identify and resolve issues effectively: Daily (>75% of time)