Project Director, Design and Construction Capital Projects

Join a world-class academic healthcare system, UChicago Medicine, as the Project Director, Design & Construction, Capital Projects.  We are seeking a visionary leader to direct growth and have overall responsibility for projects including budget and schedule, project scope, management of consultants and contractors and oversight of all associated work efforts to manage a major project or portfolio of projects with budgets ranging from $30 to $500 million. The Project Director will coordinate the work of internal resources, as well as consultants and contractors to develop and meet schedule milestones, support the functions of the Facility Operations team, and lead the efforts in informing and reporting out on schedule and budgetary milestones to UCM leadership.

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership to ensure successful execution from inception to closeout, representing the Hospital Facilities Planning Design and Construction Department in leading all Project Management services for the development, design, construction, completion, and activation of University of Chicago Medical Center projects. This role will support the delivery of major strategic and non-strategic capital healthcare projects as well as operations funded projects, both on Hyde Park campus and at other offsite locations. 

Reporting to the Executive Director, Capital Program Management, this Director is a strategic business partner. An innovative critical thinker and influential leader, the successful candidate must have a proven  track record in project management with large scale healthcare construction projects.  They will actively manage human, capital, and operational resources to support infrastructure projects valued in the hundreds of millions.  

 Who you are: 

• Bachelor’s Degree (Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management or Project Management Preferred) or an equivalent amount of education/experience in these fields would be considered in lieu of a specific degree in the design or construction industry. 
• 10+ years of experience is required in the construction or design industry providing significant project management experience with successfully executed large capital projects. 
• Proven track record managing scope, schedule, cost, risk, and resources in a capital project setting.

• Experience managing projects in a healthcare environment to include infection control protocols and mitigation strategies is strongly preferred. 

• Expertise analyzing construction costs and construction schedules, knowledge of the importance of data for troubleshooting construction problems and the ability to provide analysis to answer questions.

• Prior experience managing consultants and outside architects, engineers, and professional service firms to include managing contractors and sub-contractors to specific contractual requirements and to fixed budgets. 
• Familiar with different design and construction methods such as design-build, design-bid-build, lump sum unit pricing, time & material, cost plus, among others.
• Activation experience with large academic medical programs is strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to speak articulately in high-level forums and to answer difficult questions with confidence.
• Ability to work independently identifying best approaches to problems and ability to present solutions to Executive Director or other Leadership.
• Prior experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and working effectively in multidisciplinary groups. 
• Demonstrated ability for problem solving, critical thinking, independent work, technical and administrative skills, and computer literacy. 
• Implement LEAN Construction processes in decision making and risk mitigation.

What you’ll gain as Project Director, Design & Construction, Capital Projects:

• Opportunity to work at a world-class organization, engaging numerous stakeholders, with the mission of providing a strategic vision and execution of projects for Renovation and Construction Management.

What you’ll do as the Project Director, Design & Construction, Capital Projects:

• Provide Project Management services for construction projects by managing cost, scope, schedule, resources, and risk. Develop and document intended scope, identify associated cost and schedule based on that scope and identify required internal and external resources required to deliver the scope. The Project Director will identify risks to project delivery and develop mitigating strategies to avoid or minimize potential negative outcomes. Project Director may manage General Contractor on a project or act as the General Contractor and directly hire and manage MEPFP contractors. 
• Direct and manage resources external to the enterprise such as contracted designers, builders, skilled trades and other professional service providers or vendors. Prepare requests for proposals, manage bid process, and make award recommendations for external resources. Manages project design process, including reviewing design and construction documents for completeness, constructability, coordination of discipline and adherence to all UCM and regulatory agency guidelines. Manage proposals through contract negotiations through agreement.
• Provide oversight into all project delivery activities, including support during planning and activation phases. Manages multiple projects simultaneously, understanding interdependencies and constrained resources. Phase projects according to client needs as they affect research, academic or patient care operations. Serves as a technical resource to other project managers and Plant Department staff for infrastructure, Plant Operations, and renovation & construction activities.     
• The Project Director will provide on-site supervision of construction phases by chairing owner-architect-contractor progress meetings to ensure the project is completed in a manner consistent with the contract documents and intended scope.
• Provide project controls by monitoring and approving invoices and expenses. Develop, manage, and update project schedules within identified software. Develop project charters for scope identification and documentation. Manage and document project issues and risks. Provide change management by documenting alterations to project plan and maintaining up to date change logs.
• Develop commissioning and turnover plans, manage a punch list, submit warranties/guarantees, provide system training, ensure certificate of occupancy, and approve final contractor pay applications.
• Demonstrate personal leadership qualities and business acumen essential to operate effectively within the institution.

E4 Leadership (Equity, Engage, Evolve, Excel) is a patient centered management system that empowers teams to improve on a daily basis. This is done through daily readiness huddles, real time process monitoring, performance review huddles and structured problem solving. E4 Leadership is an evolving system where leaders work together to cultivate a culture of equity and continuous improvement that enables:

• Each person to realize their full potential for contribution 
• The organization to achieve high performance outcomes
• System-wide integration, coordination, and seamless execution
• Clear focus on exceptional, equitable patient care and experiences.

As part of the leadership team, this position will be instrumental in reinforcing and sustaining UCM’s E4 Leadership Culture.