Assistant Director, Building Planning and Operations

Company Description By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive. Why join the Harvard Kennedy School? The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is one of 12 graduate and professional schools at the university. Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. By combining cutting-edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match. When you work at Harvard Kennedy School, you make a difference. Job Description Job Summary: Under the general direction of the Director of Building Planning and Operations, the Assistant Director oversees daily physical plant operations, routine facility maintenance, campus space operations, and vendor/contractor activities across the campus portfolio. Leveraging a strong technical background in Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC systems, this role prioritizes daily facility performance, operational continuity, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure health in a complex, occupied institutional environment. Additionally, the Assistant Director manages assigned capital, expense, and non-capital space and campus improvement projects, ensuring that construction, move management, and maintenance activities are seamlessly integrated into daily facility operations with minimal disruption to the campus community. This position directly supervises operational staff and serves as a key leader in emergency response and building continuity. Job-Specific Responsibilities: Project Management Independently manages assigned capital, expense, and non-capital building, space, renovation, and campus improvement projects from initial planning through implementation and closeout. Manages multiple concurrent projects of varying size, complexity, and funding sources. Develops project scopes, budgets, schedules, implementation plans, and cost estimates and identifies project risks, constraints, and dependencies. Responsible for all phases of assigned projects, including planning, design, scheduling, procurement, construction or implementation, occupancy, and closeout, as applicable. Ensures that assigned projects and related procurement comply with applicable Harvard and Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) financial, procurement, and contracting policies and procedures, including competitive bidding or solicitation requirements, appropriate vendor selection, required approvals, and documentation of procurement decisions. Ensures that required contracts, purchase orders, funding approvals, and other authorizations are in place before work is authorized or begins, and that contract modifications and change orders follow established approval procedures. Tracks project commitments and expenditures against approved budgets, reviews invoices and change orders for consistency with authorized scopes and contract terms,and provides timely financial and project-status reporting. Identifies and resolves project issues and escalates significant risks, scope changes, budget concerns, or operational impacts as appropriate. Maintains organized and complete project records to ensure continuity, accountability, and appropriate closeout documentation. Implements quality-control measures to ensure projects comply with HKS and University requirements, applicable codes and regulations, and established project standards. Stakeholder and Project Communication Works closely with HKS stakeholders to understand functional and programmatic needs and translate those needs into appropriate project solutions. Maintains regular and timely c…

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