Director, Design and Construction

COVID 19 On-Campus Requirements

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.

About Queen's University

Queen’s University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting. We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research, faculty administration, engineering & construction, athletics & recreation, power generation, corporate shared services, and many more.

We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.

Come work with us!

Job Summary

The Queen’s University’s Facilities team is seeking an influential client-focused leader with a proven ability in the delivery of construction excellence. The Director will be renowned in the construction industry and have a reputation as a trendsetter for innovation. The Director will share the university’s passion for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building certifications and for incorporating technologies to minimize greenhouse gases in support of the sustainability goals set out in the Queen’s Climate Action Plan.

As a member of the Facilities senior leadership team and reporting to the Associate Vice-Principal (Facilities), the Director will engage the university community as a strategic partner, maintain an effective construction delivery model, ensure building design standards are current, be responsible for the annual unit budget, establish key performance indicators, and manage client relationships. The Director will foster a harmonious workplace culture to deliver high quality, professional, construction and project management services by instilling shared values and by promoting an empowered and respectful team environment, which embraces equity, diversity, and inclusion.

This position will appeal to someone excited by the prospect of ensuring that any new construction supports the architectural tradition of the campus while incorporating contemporary building techniques and sustainable practices at a world class institution.

If through your career journey you’ve gained the required knowledge, skills and abilities, if you are a strategic thinker with an eye on the vision, if you understand the importance that the construction unit plays in the realization of the university’s mission, if you have an open, consultative mindset with the ability to provide anticipatory service to best meet or exceed client service expectations, and if you are always on the leading edge of modern and innovative ideas, materials and methods, we encourage you to apply.

Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Provides strategic direction regarding the delivery of the university’s capital program, including new construction, renovations and major repairs. Makes recommendations and provides direction on the development of major capital project plans. Prepares presentations and submissions for government funding programs as well as approvals by senior administrative committees and Board of Trustees governance committees.
• In consultation with teams from campus planning and real estate, engineering and operations, and sustainability, develops proposals for capital projects, renovations, and deferred maintenance projects in support of the university’s strategic priorities.
• Prepares recommendations / reports for the AVP (Facilities) review, identifying opportunities for process improvements and implements these accordingly.
• Collaborates with the Director, Campus Planning and Real Estate at the initiation of major capital projects. Provides recommendations and for pre-planning studies and reports, the selection of consultants, and the development of project budgets and schedules.
• Establishes and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders including municipal offices, community associations, colleagues, Queen’s governing bodies, vendors, architects, and contractors regarding project management issues.
• Proactively resolves issues with project stakeholders, both internal and external to Queen’s, and provides recommendations on the need for escalation of issues or the need to initiate appropriate action as required.
• Oversees external project management and consulting for major capital projects.
• Leads the development of process and tools for effective project management, including scope definition and management, design and construction quality control mechanisms such as maintenance of Queen’s Design Standards, schedule and budget development and management, communications and reporting, and risk management.
• Leads the implementation of the multi-year University Deferred Maintenance capital plan.
• Ensures that Queen’s specific requirements for consulting and construction related contracts (such as OAA 600, CCDC-31 and CCDC-2) are current and relevant.
• Provides Project Management advice, guidance and decisions to other directors and managers within Facilities.
• Ensures the Queen’s Design Standards are current, and complete and communicated to all design consultants and contractors.
• Provides effective and efficient project delivery services to the university, in partnership with the Assistant Director. Has overall accountability for obtaining any necessary approvals, that a high quality of workmanship is maintained, and that all projects have a risk management plan for completion on time and within budget.
• Monitors the quality of construction and installations, along with Assistant Director, project managers, inspectors and contractors. Reviews, develops and alters standards and / or processes for the project management team to be able to meet changing needs. Liaises with internal and external stakeholders including architects and contractors regarding project management issues.
• Ensures all project management services are provided in accordance with the Broader Public Sector (BPS) Procurement Directive issued by the Ontario Ministry of Government Services.
• Establishes, maintains, and communicates, project management Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for project delivery to the campus community.
• Possesses knowledge of programs, policies and best practices that ensure equity and the achievement of organizational diversity and inclusion objectives in a variety of human resources areas.
• Plans, prioritizes and manages the work of employees, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance and coaching.
• Identifies the need for staff resources, participates on staffing committees, and makes effective recommendations regarding employee selection.
• Manages performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing and evaluating performance and conducting formal performance reviews on an ongoing basis.
• Assesses staff training and development needs and ensures that employees receive training required to improve and sustain successful performance.
• Investigates, addresses and resolves employee/labour relations issues, including making decisions regarding disciplinary and discharge matters.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• University degree and professional designation in Canada in a related field such as Engineering or Architecture, combined with a minimum of fifteen years of senior management experience leading and directing large capital programs.
• Current knowledge of the Building Code Act, the Construction Act, and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act or AODA, and the Broader Public Sector Procurement Directive. Previous experience in project and risk management, with demonstrated knowledge of all aspects of building design and construction industry required (including architectural and / or engineering principles, construction codes and regulations, forms of contracts, financial and schedule management, and client management).
• Demonstrated experience in project financial budgeting, controls, tracking and progress reporting.
• Demonstrated experience managing large complex construction projects.
• Experience in the development and implementation of institutional policies and procedures regarding project management preferred.
• Advanced training or experience in project management preferred.

SPECIAL SKILLS:
• Excellent communication (oral and written) skills combined with strong presentation skills and a capability to persuade others, adjusting style when faced with myriad dimensions of culture in order to be effective across cultural contexts.
• Acts as a voice for perspectives, levels, and cultures that are not otherwise represented.
• Capable of establishing and maintaining professional working relationships with widely diverse groups, including individuals at all levels internal / external to the institution.
• Strong influencing and consultative skills to handle potentially sensitive situations and to manage competing stakeholder interests.
• Excellent attention to detail with a strong commitment to quality and best practices.
• Ability to work in a complex environment, in a collaborative and collegial manner, using highly developed relationship building, influencing, and negotiating skills to facilitate through cultural differences, conflicts, tensions, or misunderstandings to secure commitment and achieve results.
• Superior leadership ability to effectively inspire, develop and retain a team of highly skilled professionals, focusing on creating a culture of service.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities to identify and resolve issues or concerns, directing contractors, architects and / or consultants as required or when specifications and/or standards are not being met.
• Highly motivated and a strong willingness to make decisions. Proficiency in using a variety of information technology tools and the ability to understand and adapt new tools to business operations
• Strong judgement and analytical ability with the capability to grasp concepts and ideas quickly and to always work effectively with the context of the “big picture”, demonstrating integrity, professionalism, confidence, tact and discretion.
• Highly developed planning, organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to write strong business cases.
• Determines and communicates how diversity and inclusion contributes to core business strategy and results and is a role model for inclusive and culturally competent behaviour.

DECISION MAKING:
• Determines and/or makes recommendations on the management and direction of the strategic directions, initiation, and implementation of the university’s building projects.
• Makes recommendations and manages the capital program of new construction, renovations and repairs, including scheduling and budget considerations.
• Advises the AVP in the development of Steering Committees and delivers associated presentations to committees and senior management to facilitate funding, approval and / or support for capital planning projects.
• Makes recommendations or decisions on the selection of consultants and contractors.
• Reviews and prepares proposals for projects in support of university strategic priorities, in consultation with the other Facilities teams.
• In collaboration with the Assistant Director, determines work loading assignments and monitors project execution by project managers. Provides processes to ensure adequate project management resources are available to support the project activities.
• Determines when/if to initiate corrective action when appropriate to achieve project goals.
• Determines when to review, develop and alter Queen’s Design Standards and other project delivery processes and tools for the university to be able to meet changing needs.
• Determines when and what building project implementation related policies need to be developed or amended.
• Decides how to rectify major technical or procedural problems.
• Determines when it is necessary to seek legal counsel.
• Evaluates job candidates and makes effective recommendations on suitable hires.
• Makes decisions and/or effective recommendations regarding transfers and promotions.
• Evaluates employee performance and decides on appropriate training or coaching to address lack of proficiency in carrying out responsibilities, or remedial action for staff disciplinary situations.
• Assesses investigation outcome of grievances and makes effective recommendations on appropriate course of action or next steps on grievances.
• Makes effective recommendations on level of discipline up to discharge and probationary termination.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities. Candidates requiring accommodation during the recruitment process are asked to contact Human Resources at hradmin@queensu.ca.