Chief University Planning Officer Greater Memphis, TN Area

The Chief University Planning and State Purchasing Agent (SPA) serves as the University's senior leader for campus planning, capital development, design, construction, & project procurement. The position provides strategic leadership for development & implementation of the University's physical master plan, capital improvement program, & facilities development initiatives. The officer serves as primary liaison with state agencies, regulatory authorities, consultants, & campus stakeholders to ensure that all capital projects support the institution's strategic objectives while complying with applicable state regulations, procurement requirements, & industry standards.

The position is responsible for planning, design, procurement, budgeting, contract administration, construction management, project delivery, & project closeout for all capital projects, including State Building Commission projects, capital maintenance projects, local-funded projects, & public-private partner developments.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning and Campus Development

• Leads the development, implementation, and periodic update of the University's Campus Master Plan and related strategic planning initiatives.
• Develops short- and long-range capital investment strategies that support the University's academic mission, enrollment forecasts, research growth, student experience, and operational objectives.
• Directs campus planning activities including land use planning, facility utilization studies, transportation planning, sustainability initiatives, site development, infrastructure planning, historic preservation, and campus growth strategies.
• Evaluates and prioritizes capital improvement projects based on institutional needs, condition assessments, strategic priorities, regulatory requirements, and available funding.
• Provides executive oversight of campus space planning, allocation studies, facility assessments, and utilization analysis.

Capital Project Development and Program Management

• Responsible for the development, approval, administration, and management of planning, design, and construction projects from concept through closeout.
• Directs feasibility studies, programming efforts, facility assessments, project scoping, and preliminary budget development.
• Oversees project budgets, schedules, scope management, quality assurance, risk management, and project performance reporting.
• Ensures projects are delivered in accordance with approved budgets, schedules, procurement requirements, and institutional objectives.
• Coordinates project activities with University departments, external stakeholders, utility providers, governmental agencies, and project teams.
• Maintains accountability for capital project funding, budget management, project expenditures, and financial reporting.

State Relations and Regulatory Compliance

• Serves as the University's primary representative to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), State Architect's Office, State Building Commission, Department of General Services, and other state agencies.
• Coordinates the development and submission of capital outlay requests, capital maintenance requests, and legislative funding initiatives.
• Represents the University before state agencies, governing boards, public officials, and community stakeholders regarding planning and development matters.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable state statutes, SBC policies, procurement requirements, building codes, accessibility requirements, environmental regulations, and University policies.
• Monitors legislative and regulatory developments affecting campus planning, facilities development, and capital funding.

Procurement and Contract Administration

• Serves as the executive authority for procurement activities related to professional design services, construction services, and capital project consulting agreements.
• Directs the development and administration of Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Invitations to Bid, and other procurement processes.
• Oversees consultant selection committees, evaluation processes, scoring methodologies, interviews, and contract recommendations.
• Negotiates and administers professional service agreements, construction contracts, amendments, change orders, and procurement documentation.
• Ensures procurement activities maintain transparency, competition, integrity, and compliance with applicable state and University requirements.
• Oversees contract administration activities throughout the project lifecycle.

Design and Construction Oversight

• Directs design review processes, construction administration activities, project commissioning efforts, and project closeout procedures.
• Ensures capital projects comply with institutional design standards, campus planning objectives, building codes, and sustainability requirements.
• Participates in planning meetings, design charrettes, project reviews, public presentations, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Coordinates with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and University representatives on complex planning and development initiatives.
• Reviews project deliverables and authorizes progression through project milestones.

Real Estate, Partnerships, and Development

• Provides oversight for land acquisition, property disposition, easement requests, development agreements, and public-private partnership initiatives.
• Conducts planning analyses and due diligence activities related to campus growth and development opportunities.
• Evaluates development proposals for consistency with University objectives and master planning principles.

Leadership and Organizational Management

• Provides leadership and administrative oversight for campus planning, design, construction, project management, facility assessment, graphics, signage, mapping, and related operational functions.
• Establishes departmental goals, performance standards, operational procedures, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develops and manages departmental budgets and staffing plans.
• Recruits, mentors, develops, and evaluates professional and administrative staff.
• Fosters a collaborative, customer-focused culture emphasizing accountability, innovation, and service excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in campus planning, architecture, engineering, construction management, capital project administration, or facilities development.
• Including Five (5) years of senior leadership or executive management experience.
• Experience managing complex capital programs, consultant procurements, and public-sector construction projects.
• Demonstrated experience with budget development, financial management, contract administration, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership, boards, governing bodies, and public officials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Experience within higher education, state government, or other public-sector institutions.
• Knowledge of Tennessee State Building Commission procedures, THEC capital processes, and public procurement regulations.
• Professional licensure or certification such as:
• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners)
• Registered Architect (RA)
• Professional Engineer (PE)
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Professional Constructor (CPC)
• Experience managing comprehensive campus master planning initiatives.
• Experience with public-private partnerships and large-scale institutional development programs.

Reporting Relationship

• Reports directly to the Vice President for Facilities Management and serves as a member of the Facilities Management leadership team.

The University of Memphis is a leading,

student-centered, urban public R1 research institution. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, on 1,160 acres. The University serves a population of nearly 20,000 students and 2,500 employees, including more than 1,000 full-time faculty members. The University offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 230 areas of study, master’s degrees in more than 50 subjects and doctoral degrees in 26 disciplines; supported an institutional record of more than $100 million in research awards for FY24; and has an operating budget of close to $500 million.