Building Project Manager: Haslam College of Business - UTK

Building Project Manager

The Building Project Manager serves as the primary strategic leader responsible for all facilities planning, construction, remodeling, and space management across the Haslam College of Business (HCB) portfolio, including Stokely Management Center (SMC), Cherokee Mills (CM), Boyd Hall, and the Haslam Business Building (HBB). This position exercises independent judgment and discretion in collaboration with Assistant Dean, to evaluate college facility needs, determine which capital and operational projects should be undertaken, establish project priorities, and manage budgets for construction, renovation, and space reconfiguration initiatives. The Building Project Manager independently makes decisions regarding space utilization, project sequencing, and resource allocation to ensure all HCB facilities support the college's academic mission and strategic goals. This position will report to the Assistant Dean of Operations, Strategy and Planning and will have final approval for major capital commitments and strategic facilities decisions.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Facilities Leadership and Project Ownership
  • Own the full lifecycle of all HCB construction, renovation, remodeling, and capital improvement projects from initial needs assessment through completion exercising independent professional judgment at every phase.
  • Evaluate college facility conditions and emerging needs to determine which projects should be initiated, making recommendations with supporting analysis to supervisor and final approval from supervisor on major capital expenditures.
  • Establish project priorities, timelines, and sequencing based on independent assessment of college strategic needs, operational impact, and resource availability.
  • Serve as HCB's primary liaison with the assistant dean, academic department heads, UTK Facilities Services, and external vendors, representing the college's interests and making binding operational decisions on project scope, approach, and execution.
  • Direct vendor relationships, negotiate project terms, and work with key stakeholders and the Dean's Office on making selection decisions for construction and remodeling work within delegated authority.
  • Independently resolve project conflicts, scope changes, and stakeholder competing priorities, escalating to supervisor only when matters have college-wide strategic implications or exceed delegated financial authority.
  • Execute on-going projects to maintain continuous progress with all departments and vendors involved, ensuring deadlines are met and no time is lost.
  • Keep Assistant Dean informed of anticipated projects and their financial implications.
• Budget Management and Financial Stewardship for Construction and Facilities
  • Reconcile the annual facilities project budget for construction, remodeling, and move initiatives, making independent spending decisions within approved budget parameters.
  • Analyze cost proposals, evaluate budget trade-offs, and determine the most effective allocation of funds across competing project needs.
  • Approve expenditures and commit funds for materials, contractor services, and project resources within delegated signature authority.
  • Monitor budget performance, identify variances, and independently adjust project plans and resource allocation to address cost overages or shortfalls.
  • Prepare budget justifications for proposed capital projects, providing data-driven recommendations to supervisor for final approval.
  • Perform monthly budget reconciliation for facilities projects and chargeable DASH requests submitted by supervisory staff.
• Space Planning, Management, and Decision-Making
  • Serve as the college's authority on space utilization across all HCB buildings, making decisions about how space is assigned, configured, and optimized to meet academic, administrative, and operational needs.
  • Conduct ongoing assessment of space utilization patterns and building conditions, using professional judgment to identify opportunities for improvement and to proactively address emerging facility issues.
  • Work with key stakeholders to determine space configurations for office moves, departmental relocations, and classroom reconfiguration, independently developing and executing transition plans.
  • Make decisions regarding building access and card/key access across all HCB facilities, coordinating with the UTK Central Alarm Office and Key Shop to maintain appropriate access controls.
  • Ensure compliance with ADA requirements, fire codes, and other regulatory standards, independently determining when building modifications are required and initiating corrective action.
  • Develop and oversee strategic 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year space utilization plans for HCB (SMC and CM), accommodating growth, addition, or merging of departments, and planning for expansion beyond current campus scope, including potential satellite offices in other cities.
  • Oversee daily operations across all three HCB buildings (HBB, SMC, and CM), including FS Maintenance, Housekeeping, and DASH services, and hold monthly meetings with the designated on-site supervisor/superintendent.
• Safety, Compliance, and Organizational Impact
  • Own the college's building safety program, determining training requirements and ensuring all CPR, active shooter, and safety-related training obligations are met.
  • Keep the COOP and BEAP plans updated.
  • Evaluate building systems performance and determine when maintenance, repair, or replacement is needed, making independent decisions about appropriate remediation approaches.
  • Assess the impact of facilities decisions on college operations, academic programming, and the student experience, ensuring that project outcomes align with institutional goals.
  • Represent HCB facilities interest in college-wide and university-level planning discussions, contributing to strategic decisions that affect the college's physical infrastructure.
  • Administer weekly check-ins with supervised staff regarding assigned tasks, with particular attention to any classroom issues.
  • Serve as the department's Parking representative.
• Other Duties as Assigned
  • Perform additional responsibilities as directed by supervisor, consistent with the scope and level of this position.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Facilities Management, Engineering, or a related field OR 6 years of experience plus required experience (total of 11 years experience).
• Experience: 5 years of progressively responsible experience managing facilities projects, including construction, renovation, or capital improvement initiatives. Demonstrated experience with budget management and financial decision-making for construction or facilities projects.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Ability to exercise independent professional judgment in evaluating facility needs, setting project priorities, and making decisions that impact college operations.
• Knowledge of construction management principles, building systems, and project management methodologies.
• Ability to manage and make independent decisions regarding budgets for construction, renovation, and capital improvement projects.
• Ability to analyze space utilization data and make authoritative decisions about space allocation, configuration, and optimization.
• Skill in leading cross-functional project teams and directing the work of vendors, contractors, and university service providers.
• Skill in strategic planning and the ability to evaluate competing priorities to determine optimal project sequencing and resource allocation.
• Knowledge of ADA building requirements, fire codes, and other regulatory requirements governing higher education facilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership, faculty, staff, and external partners regarding project status, recommendations, and decisions.
• Knowledge of trade disciplines including electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems sufficient to evaluate contractor work and make informed project decisions.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office 365, project management software, and facilities management tools.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Vocational/technical training or other licenses/certifications in construction management and/or building trades
• Experience: 7+ years of experience in construction trades, construction management, or institutional facilities management. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent. Experience with AutoCAD or Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Planner.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge of construction management techniques and principles at an advanced level. Knowledge using AutoCAD or Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Planner for space planning and project documentation. Knowledge of the UT DASH system for Facilities Services.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN
• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: 11
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References