Associate Director, Planning; Space Planning & Operations

Position: Associate Director, Planning (Space Planning & Operations)
University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Associate Director, Planning (Space Planning & Operations)

Job Profile Title

Associate Director D, Facilities

Job Description Summary

The Associate Director, Research Program and Space Planning, manages and coordinates the development of functional need programming and planning of space solutions for the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM). This work includes communication with organizational and program stakeholders, data analysis, needs assessment, space programming, building level organizational planning, space planning, and recommendations of space use to senior leadership.

The Associate Director provides innovative leadership and builds strong partnerships within the Penn Medicine and University communities in support of the School's tripartite mission and strategic interests. The Associate Director leads thought processes, achieves consensus, acts as a change agent, and pursues development of an environment that enables and enhances the transformative work of the PSOM, faculty, students, and staff.

This position is considered "essential."

Job Description

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in related field, or equivalent work experience required. Professional degree in Architecture, Planning, or related field is preferred.

Professional

Experience:

5 to 7 years of relevant work experience preferably in a medical school or academic environment.

Job Knowledge and Personal

Skills:

The successful candidate for this position:

+ Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication/interpersonal skills, good managerial and people skills, accurate and precise, and organized

+ AutoCAD proficient, Revit preferred.  Familiar with database software packages, CAD/CAFM systems, and basic building infrastructure systems and space planning

+ Ensures accountability, demonstrates self-awareness, values differences

+ Ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences, including those at a high level of influence

+ Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills

+ Ability to manage conflict

+ Nimble learning and self-development skills

Must be able to:

+ Identify complex issues and simplify those that need to be escalated for leadership action

+ Anticipate, proactively prevent, and/or mitigate potential issues utilizing past experience and a strong understanding of client behavior, and

+ Ensure problems are solved at the root cause level when issues arise.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The Perelman School of Medicine is a multi-building research and teaching complex with emphasis on biomedical research.  As such, and to ensure successful fulfillment of its mission (research and education), the School Community requires a much higher level of support service delivery than usually experienced in a typical academic environment. Problems that would be mere annoyances in some facilities have the potential of destroying thousands of dollars and months or years of often-irreplaceable work.

The Department of Space Planning & Operations is responsible for coordinating and assuring uninterrupted delivery of the necessary utility and other support services.

The above statement is included in this position description in an attempt to provide the reader with an understanding of:

1) The responsibilities of this Office;

2) The importance to both the School and the University of the work performed; and

3) The stress and pressure placed upon employees by the emergency situations to which they must repeatedly respond.

4) All employees of the Space Planning & Operations department are considered to be "essential."

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia,…