Sr Director, Planning; Space Planning & Operations

Position: Sr Director, Planning (Space Planning & Operations)
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Posted Job Title

Sr Director, Planning (Space Planning & Operations)

Job Profile Title

Director D, Facilities

Job Description Summary

The Sr Director of Planning is the senior administrative leader and functional subject matter expert for the Perelman School of Medicine ("PSOM") campus architectural, design, and planning initiatives. This position oversees a team of architect planners whose work provides counsel and support to the PSOM Dean's Office, including the Senior Vice Dean of Finance & Operations, the Chief Scientific Officer, all Research and Medical Educational Department Chairs and staff as an expert advisor for PSOM facilities planning and design excellence.

The Space Planning and Operations organization serves as the facilities management arm of PSOM working in full partnership with University and Health System facilities service providers of design & construction project management, as well as operations & maintenance for on-campus, leased properties, and PSOM space within health system buildings. The University Facilities & Real Estate Services (FRES) and University of Pennsylvania Health System Real Estate, Design & Construction (REDC) are the two primary facilities management service providers for which daily liaison and partnership are critical.

Other key partners having jurisdiction on campus and for which liaison is important include Environmental Health and Radiation Safety (EHRS), Fire and Emergency Services (FES), University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR).

The Senior Director of Planning collaborates with and between internal and external parties to provide strategic direction and oversight for PSOM facilities master planning. The position oversees staff preparation and presentation of space plans accommodating wet and dry biomedical laboratory research, academic teaching and support space for faculty recruitment, larger departmental space reconfigurations and building renovations, including new fit-outs and new construction to senior leadership, ensuring alignment with long-term institutional goals in partnership with the Dean's key administrators.

The Senior Director oversees the analysis of need, programming, capital project formation and feasibility analysis, interiors planning, scope and budget estimate development for project initiation, and sustainability for PSOM facilities-related initiatives. The position works in close collaboration with the PSOM and SPO leadership and cross-functional teams, translating strategic priorities into actionable plans, measurable outcomes, and sustainable operational frameworks to ensure effective use of facility resources, providing planning analysis, and developing design and implementation solutions that meet operational, research, and educational needs at the School and University levels.

This position is considered "essential."

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

+ Lead, manage, and supervise the planning team in supporting the development, implementation, and continuous refinement of the PSOM's strategic plan across its ~2.9M NSF built environment campus.

+ Align academic and research priorities with institutional and health system strategies for basic science and clinical departments as well as research core facilities.

+ Facilitate long-range planning processes, including multi-year academic, faculty, space, projections that consider facility renewal, operational alignment, and overall life-cycle cost of physical resources.

+ Collaborate with department chairs and program directors on growth modeling and program evaluation.

+ Support accreditation planning (LCME, etc.) and…