Senior Director of Planning and Space Solutions
Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Senior Director of Planning and Space Solutions at its Detroit campus location.
Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.
Essential Functions (Job Duties):
Job Purpose
The Senior Director of Planning and Space Solutions reports to the Senior Associate Vice President and Deputy Chief Business Officer and provides leadership for the Planning and Space Planning Solutions team to promote sound space utilization, support prudent campus decision making and solutions focused results. This position serves as a key business partner and resource to advance decision-making at multiple levels throughout the University regarding space utilization and allocation to advance student-faculty experience, unit cohesion and programmatic collaboration. Responsible for directing the university’s strategic space planning initiatives and working directly with campus stakeholders as a business partner to understand space needs and develop utilization solutions, including space needs analyses and utilization studies, as well as space assignment, modification, and evaluation of facilities usage.
Essential Functions
- Identification of Space Needs and Solutions
- Be a primary point of contact for all units seeking additional or temporary space. Respond to and prioritize space-specific requests from the University units and help identify programmatic requirements. Translate these programmatic requirements into assignable space needs and functional requirements.
- Oversee space planners in conducting space needs analyses, utilization studies, and feasibility studies. Lead the development of high-level options with test fits for accommodating identified space needs based on programmatic requirements, institutional resources and priorities, and standards for utilizing existing, new, or reassigned space to improve operations.
- Ensure seamless handoff to Construction and Design Services and Real Estate and Asset Management departments.
- Leadership
- Provide overall leadership and direction to staff. Define expectations and priorities. Set goals and deadlines, assign duties, delegate responsibilities, and evaluate activities. Prepare performance appraisals & professional development plans. Provide coaching, mentoring, and teaching. Manage the administrative process for assigned staff, including hiring, promotions, terminations, disciplinary procedures, and salary adjustments. Provide ongoing performance feedback, goal setting, and development plans for staff. Plan for future staffing needs. Provide timely communications to staff.
- Work to establish, build, and strengthen relationships with Design and Construction Services and other University departments, ensuring service delivery continuity and uniformity. Coordinate with departmental partners to ensure a clear understanding and alignment of roles and responsibilities.
- Strategic Space Planning and Management
- Develop and maintain a big-picture understanding of the strategic space needs of individual academic and administrative units. Serve as a strategic space broker to enhance overall space utilization at the University and establish the highest and best use of space. Serve as a systemwide expert in space planning and utilization. Keep abreast of space planning and management trends.
- Manage large-scale, multi-year reorganization of people and space to facilitate contraction/expansion of the real estate footprint.
- Space Data Management
- Provide leadership to staff, oversee an annual inventory of all university-owned and occupied space data, and make updates throughout the year. Implement campus space policies and related tools that ensure strategic and effective space management, planning, and utilization.
- Space Utilization and Optimization
- Identify and advance strategic opportunities to optimize the University’s approach to space utilization. Measure utilization and utilize benchmarks and metrics, including occupancy review and funding density. Develop relevant space utilization reports to support business needs and strategic planning requirements. Collaborate with University partners to review and amend the University’s space quality and utilization standards and guidelines to align decision making.
- Facilities Records Management
- Provide leadership to staff responsible for managing physical and electronic active records related to WSU’s built environment in accordance with industry best practices.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
WORK CONTEXT
Job Reports to: Vice president/AVP/Dean.
Leadership Accountability: Implements operating plans.
Supervisory Accountability: Supervises professionals and non-managers.
Organizational Accountability: Manages sub-unit of a department.
Financial Accountability: Approves expenditures.
Customer Accountability: Interfaces with officials and executives.
Freedom to Act: Sets broad policies and objectives.
Qualifications:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college and/or university in architecture, interior design, urban planning or related fields. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted.
Experience
- Ten (10) plus years of functional experience in institutional space planning and management, including previous supervisory and project management experience, and solutions-oriented problem-solving experience.
- A proven record of experience with space planning, construction documents, building codes, and environmental and life safety regulations is required.
- Knowledge of and experience with higher education space planning policies, systems, and procedures is strongly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Ability to communicate effectively, succinctly, and persuasively in writing, orally and interpersonally.
- Demonstrated integrity and adaptability with strong problem-solving capabilities, interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic.
- Ability to coordinate, manage and prioritize multiple tasks, meet challenging deadlines, and effectively manage through ambiguous assignments.
- Ability to develop and process information using space management and design software.
- Supervisory Skills: Ability to delegate work, set clear direction, and manage workflow. Skill and experience in mentoring and coaching personnel. Ability to train, develop, assess, and offer feedback to staff members.
- Teamwork: Challenges the status quo and persistently seeks out new and better ways to accomplish departmental and divisional goals. Leads and facilitates the inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds and with various points of view within University, division, and departmental goals.
School/College/Division: H41 - Strategic Resource & Space Solution
Primary department: H4130 - Planning & Space Solutions
Employment type:
- Regular Employee
- Job type: Full Time
- Job category: Staff/Administrative
Funding/salary information:
- Compensation type: Annual Salary
- Salary minimum: $120,000
- Salary hire maximum: $155,000
Working conditions:
Normal office environment.
Job openings:
- Number of openings: 1
- Reposted position: No
Background check requirements:
University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.
Equal employment opportunity statement:
Wayne State University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. The university encourages applications from women, people of color and other underrepresented people. Wayne State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
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