Director of Design

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries, and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays (up to 14 days)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits
• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program
• Great employee discounts
• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions

Please be sure to include the following in your application:
Resume
Cover Letter
List of references
Portfolio link or Work Samples

BASIC FUNCTION
Leads the IRFM Design & Construction group responsible for capital design and construction execution; maintains design standards, specifications, and code compliance by spearheading the QA/QC effort for the D&C team and all external consultants. Ensure SAIC goals are achieved in capital projects and that all processes are transparent and compliant with SAIC procurement and conflict of interest policies. Build effective partnerships with academic and administrative units across the School.

• Leads all Long-Range Planning efforts in coordination with the VP of Campus Operations by creating comprehensive programming scenarios and subsequent construction projects.
• Ensures and builds connections with design professionals and engineers, vetting them through the school's established RFP/RFQ processes.
• The Director is committed to bringing new talent to the school and giving underrepresented groups/teams opportunities in the design and engineering world.
• Applies deep knowledge and specialized expertise to coordinate and execute all phases of large capital projects.
• Leads the construction and renovation of physical assets, bringing assets online most efficiently and effectively.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads the Design and Construction group in all aspects of capital delivery projects, including bid solicitation, architect selection, contract management, project scheduling, budget preparation, progress reporting, and record keeping.
• Supervise and coordinate activities of outside contractors involved in construction projects. Serve as liaison with architects, designers, contractors, and SAIC staff.
• Review construction plans and specifications submitted by contractors and architects to ensure program compliance and schedule and budget conformity.
• Review all security and safety regulations and procedures related to construction activity. Review shop drawings prepared by outside contractors and maintain complete project files.
• Monitor the progress of outside parties' contractual obligations to the School. Oversee processing and payments. Work to resolve potential conflicts with architects, designers, contractors, and user groups.
• Oversee how facility data information and records are stored and archived. Make campus data and records available to the SAIC community as required.
• Lead all efforts by the Design & Construction group to introduce as many sustainable practices into the SAIC campus environment.

Leadership and Management Qualities

• Providing coaching and guidance to all D&C staff.
• Monitor team dynamics to promote cohesion, team building, and proper motivation. Anticipate trends and provide appropriate support for group needs.
• Provide the information people need to perform well, feel engaged, and be connected as a team member.
• Exhibit commitment to diversity, inclusiveness, professional rapport, and constructive relationships.
• Build appropriate rapport and constructive relationships with constituents inside and outside the organization.
• Appropriately balance data analysis and process sensitivity to negotiate expectations of diverse sets of stakeholders tactfully.
• Diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably using diplomacy and tact.

Teamwork and Process

• Manage campus-wide and large departmental planning initiatives for the School. Lead the process of selecting firms for these services by writing the RFP documents, identifying candidate firms, running any interviews, and otherwise providing School leadership with the information and recommendations necessary to make selections.
• Participate in the Capital Budgeting Process by building scope descriptions for proposed projects. Deliver high-quality cost estimates and projected schedules for any proposed new projects.
• Direct the planning and development of Design and Construction projects by interfacing directly with all relevant stakeholders to develop a complete project brief and program.
• Lead the development of any project services or scope requirements by coordinating input from appropriate members of other AIC/SAIC staff groups such as Facilities Services, Engineering Services, Media Services, Security Services, Computer Resources and Information Technology, and Information Services.
• Ensure that clients and stakeholders are educated about the project management process and act as the primary representative for project management on applicable committees.
• Participate in various studies and workgroups, such as campus-wide space assessments and planning, building assessments, and facility information and work order systems development.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture and relevant experience in an architecture firm are required.
• A professional License is required.
• Twelve years minimum of experience in project development, project design, construction management, or other equivalent experience.
• Experience working in higher education projects.
• Experience managing external professional consultants and construction staff.
• Diverse design experience that spans from concept and programming to construction administration.
• Demonstrated a high level of oral and written communication skills.
• Strong leadership, staff development, and management skills.
• Comprehensive understanding of and commitment to team-building processes and collaborative workgroup dynamics.
• Familiarity with building processes and codes in various settings and the ability to apply this knowledge to develop innovative solutions to problems in the design and construction process.
• Detailed understanding of building systems, construction practices, contracting procedures, and building design and costing methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to manage the design and tracking of large, complex building programs within demanding time and cost constraints, with active senior management involvement.
• High-level proficiency with office software, including Microsoft Office Suite or Google equivalent; experience with construction/ project/or facilities management software; Auto-CAD; Adobe Suite (Acrobat, Illustrator, and InDesign); proficiency in Revit and Bluebeam.

Closing Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at