Director of Construction

Position Summary

The Office of University Architects (OUA) provides professional planning, design, and construction management for the University of Georgia's main campus and extended campuses for all major renovation and construction projects. Reporting to the Senior Director of Construction, the Director of Construction serves as a critical leader and trusted problem‑solver for the OUA, providing strategic leadership and hands‑on oversight for complex capital projects from pre‑construction through close‑out and warranty. This position is responsible for proactively identifying risks, resolving issues before they escalate, and guiding teams through challenges related to quality, schedule, logistics, and budget.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent plus 12 years of professional experience, including 5 years of supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent and ten years of experience working in construction management or construction project management with an emphasis on higher education facilities. Ideally this would include experience with construction projects in an urban environment, research laboratories, classrooms, residence halls, dining facilities, and varsity sports facilities.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• In‑depth knowledge of higher education capital construction projects from planning and design through close‑out, delivered within established budgets and schedules.
• Comprehensive knowledge of current construction methods, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), applicable building and life safety codes, and their application across diverse project types.
• Expertise in pre‑construction services, construction phasing and logistics, quality control, materials testing, and commissioning for both renovation and new construction projects.
• Working knowledge of the facilities and physical plant operations typical of institutions of higher education, including an understanding of how construction activities interface with occupied campuses. Ability to physically access work areas that may include confined spaces or elevated locations.
• Ability to efficiently review and interpret construction documents, drawings, specifications, submittals, and code‑related issues; identify risks or discrepancies; and determine compliance with institutional standards and requirements.
• Knowledge of and commitment to appropriate safety and security practices relevant to construction and renovation work on an active campus.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, with strong organizational and project management skills. Proficiency with construction and project management software such as Bluebeam, e‑Builder, Procore, and similar platforms.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite and related productivity tools.
• Ability to exercise tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment when interacting with various stakeholders, including in sensitive or confidential situations.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to manage, supervise, mentor, and effectively delegate work to professional staff.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly to a wide range of audiences.
• Exceptional commitment to customer service and collaborative problem‑solving in support of institutional priorities.

Physical Demands

• Walk on uneven terrain and walk through construction sites.
• Visit project sites across the state.
• Sit at a computer for long periods of time.

Driving Responsibility

Yes

Position of Trust

Yes

Financial Resources

No

P-Card

No

Security Access

Yes

Duties and Responsibilities

Pre‑construction Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of pre‑construction activities, coordinating closely with the OUA project teams, construction managers, design professionals, and associated consultants to ensure alignment with institutional goals.
• Anticipate, identify, and mitigate potential project risks during the pre‑construction phase; lead collaborative problem‑solving efforts and elevate critical issues as appropriate to maintain budget, schedule, and quality objectives.
• Direct and oversee pre‑construction cost estimating and pricing reviews to support informed decision‑making and cost control.
• Oversee the review and evaluation of component change orders, Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) submissions, and subcontractor award recommendations to ensure accuracy, transparency, and consistency with institutional policies.
• Guide the incorporation of subcontractor input during pre‑construction to enhance constructability, schedule reliability, and campus coordination.
• Provide oversight of contractor‑developed project schedules to ensure compliance with project requirements, including Board of Regents (BOR) and Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC) milestones.
• Lead design standards compliance and constructability reviews, ensuring consistent application of institutional standards and best practices.
• Oversee site logistics planning and campus coordination efforts to minimize disruption and support safe and efficient project execution on an active campus.

Construction Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and direction for construction phase activities, ensuring effective collaboration among OUA project teams, construction managers, design professionals, and consultants.
• Maintain a proactive management approach to identify emerging issues related to scope, schedule, budget, or quality; lead resolution efforts and escalate concerns as needed to protect institutional interests.
• Ensure comprehensive understanding of contract documents and project requirements to support effective quality control oversight and informed decision‑making throughout construction.
• Supervise and provide leadership to Contract Compliance Specialists (CCS), ensuring consistency, professionalism, and alignment in their interactions with projects and project teams. Provide mentorship, guidance, and timely responses to support issue resolution both on‑site and administratively. Assist with interface and maintain strong relationships with Fire and Life Safety and Facilities Management Division, and resolve issues as appropriate.
• Establish expectations and oversight processes for CCS documentation, including review of daily logs to identify trends, risks, or issues requiring management attention.
• Provide oversight to ensure timely coordination and delivery of required utility services to support construction schedules, including transformer purchases, provision of natural gas, domestic and fire water infrastructure, and extension of steam and chilled/hot water lines.
• Provide leadership for construction advisories by forecasting needs with the project team reviewing construction advisories for accuracy and clarity & collaborate with OUA staff as needed.
• Oversee construction inspection processes, including special inspections and institutional quality requirements, and guide the development of standardized inspection checklists in collaboration with CCS and project managers.
• Provide management‑level support to project managers in the review of pay applications and change orders, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and adherence to contractual requirements.
• Represent the institution by leading or participating in Owner/Architect/Contractor meetings, pre‑construction meetings, and pre‑installation meetings as appropriate.
• Ensure coordination of Facilities Management Division (FMD) walkthroughs (at least twice during the course of construction) and commissioning‑related quality reviews (bi‑weekly during the duration of construction) to support long‑term building performance and operational readiness.
• Maintain regular communication with OUA project managers and the Senior Director of Construction, providing timely updates on project status and identifying potential threats to schedule, budget, quality, or safety.

Warranty and Closeout Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight of warranty‑related activities, coordinating with OUA project teams, construction managers, design professionals, and consultants to ensure timely resolution of post‑occupancy issues.
• Direct and oversee the project closeout process, including coordination of all operations and maintenance (O&M) training sessions with end users and Facilities Management Division personnel.
• Ensure appropriate documentation and follow‑through related to O&M training sessions, including tracking attendance, identifying unresolved items, and confirming satisfactory completion.
• Identify and document opportunities for continuous improvement to institutional design standards based on issues identified during closeout and warranty phases.
• Review drafts of O&M manuals and record drawings to ensure completeness, accuracy, and usability for long‑term facilities operations.
• Ensure all closeout documentation is properly submitted to and coordinated with Facilities Management Division systems and records.
• Guide and train contractors in the use of institutional documentation tools and platforms, including incorporation of closeout materials into required systems.
• Implement the warranty tracking system and manage the warranty work in AiM or other systems.

Administrative Items

• Lead monthly coordination meetings with Fire and Life Safety staff to maintain current awareness of inspection status, temporary certificates of occupancy, and final certificates of occupancy across active projects.
• Maintain required professional safety and environmental training certifications to support institutional compliance and best practices.
• Chair and lead the OUA Lessons Learned program, fostering engagement, documenting findings, and ensuring integration of outcomes into institutional project delivery processes and systems.
• Oversee development and maintenance of historical cost data and unit cost analyses to inform future budgeting, benchmarking, and pre‑construction planning.

Other Duties

Other duties as assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ( ).