Director of Planning & Design – Associate Campus Architect

Merced, CA

Posted: 8/10/26

Deadline: 11/8/26

Salary: The salary range the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $155,000 - $200,000.

University of California Merced

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Project Initiation & Planning:
  Lead management and initiation of capital projects, including defining scope, selecting and onboarding consultants, and conducting visioning/programming to validate user requirements and align with institutional goals and fiscal constraints.
• Land Use & Planning Oversight:
  Oversee campus development permits and long-range planning documents (LRDP), including EIR and other CEQA-related documents, coordinating with regulatory bodies and ensuring compliance. Represent the university in discussions with various regional governmental agencies relating to development projects both on and around the university.
• Design Review Leadership:
  Chair and coordinate the campus design review process for architectural proposals, elevations, materials, site plans, and way finding, ensuring adherence to campus standards, sustainability goals, and program needs. Serve as Associate Campus Architect, collaborating with the Campus Architect on design intent, aesthetic stewardship, and technical compliance. Maintain and enforce Architectural Design Guidelines, Campus Construction Standards, and Landscape Guidelines.
• Construction Phase Support:
  Provide campus-side support during construction by reviewing Submittals and RFIs as needed, participating in construction meetings, and tracking the resolution of field issues and punch lists.
• Consultant & Contract Stewardship:
  Lead and manage architect/engineer consultant selection, contracting, and performance oversight, enforcing compliance with campus standards and applicable codes.
• Campus Architectural Stewardship & Sustainability:
  Provide strategic leadership for campus aesthetics, design excellence, and institutional identity across all locations. Champion integration of sustainable and resilient design, coordinating with sustainability leadership and ensuring compliance with best practices.
• Stakeholder & Community Engagement:
  Represent UC Merced in design-related engagements with colleges, departments, committees, auxiliary units, and external partners; facilitate consensus and clear decision timelines.
• Governance, Reporting & Standards:
  Prepare executive-level reports and briefings for senior leadership and planning committees on design quality, campus plan implementation, and project performance. Maintain campus design, construction, and master planning standards; ensure projects comply with applicable codes and policies.
• Team Leadership & Supervision:
  Supervise Project Directors and mentor planning/design staff, building professional capability and a culture of design excellence. Responsible for supervising, directing, and evaluating the work of subordinate employees, and exercising independent judgment in the administration of department policies and procedures.
• Furniture Program (FF&E) Management:
  Provide managerial support for the university’s furniture program with a primary focus on Major Capital projects; support the team in stakeholder management, advocacy, and prioritization needs.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Urban Planning, or related field (required); and/or
• Advanced degree from an accredited university in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Urban Planning, or related field (preferred); and
• Six years of directly related progressively responsible experience in the planning and design of capital projects, preferably in higher education or public sector, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience (required); and nowledge,
  
  Skills and Abilities
  
  – Position
• Must be a licensed California Architect issued by the California Architects Board (CAB), or be capable of acquiring the license within 6 months of hire (required).
• Demonstrated ability to manage large-scale design and construction projects and complex stakeholder coordination.
• Demonstrated skill in aligning stakeholder expectations with…