How to Apply
The University has partnered with the executive search firm, WittKieffer; therefore, in order to be considered for this position, all candidates must also apply to the position by submitting their documents here: WittKieffer posting for Assistant Vice President - AEC
Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
Job Summary
The University of Michigan seeks a collaborative, mission-driven executive to serve as Assistant Vice President, Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AVP) within Facilities and Operations. This is an exciting opportunity to lead one of the nation's most consequential campus planning, design, and construction portfolios and advance projects that directly enable the University of Michigan's academic, research, healthcare, athletic, and student life missions.
The University of Michigan is a top public research university with global impact and deep public purpose. Its Ann Arbor campus is home to a breadth of highly specialized facilities and infrastructure research laboratories, clinical and healthcare environments, classrooms and learning spaces, residence halls, athletics venues, museums, and public spaces supported by extensive utility and distribution systems. The institution's scale and complexity require an Architecture, Engineering, and Construction leader who can translate mission needs into executable plans and successfully build outcomes.
What You'll Do
The AVP is the University's senior leader responsible for planning, designing, and constructing campus facilities and associated infrastructure. The AVP sets direction and drives execution across the capital program, ensuring projects deliver value through quality, safety, sustainability, schedule reliability, and fiscal discipline. Additionally, the AVP brings executive-level leadership experience guiding multidisciplinary teams and delivering large-scale projects within complex institutions. The role requires strong governance, sound judgment, and the ability to operate effectively with senior leadership, academic and operational partners, external consultants/contractors, and regulatory agencies.
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree. A Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or other design-related disciplines from an accredited institution is desirable.
- 10+ years of construction management experience gained through a combination of general construction and development execution with a proven track record of providing excellent customer service to internal and external clientele.
- 10+ years of progressively responsible management experience with both projects and professional staff. Ownership mentality and management style over all aspects of a project to ensure its success, combined with successful management of multiple project teams delivering a range of capital projects (from $5 million to $500 million+).
- Minimum of five years of experience leading a comparable organization or function in a senior leadership capacity.
Skills You Have
The successful candidate will bring senior leadership experience overseeing large, multidisciplinary design and construction organizations and capital programs of significant scale and complexity, with a proven record of delivering major new construction and renovation projects, including work in occupied and mission-critical environments. They will offer deep expertise in project controls, governance, procurement, contracting, and risk management, along with the ability to lead through others, develop leaders, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and service. In addition, the individual will demonstrate strong stakeholder management skills and executive presence, communicating complex technical and financial topics with clarity, and a clear commitment to safety, quality, sustainability, and operational excellence, supported by experience navigating regulatory requirements and working effectively with external agencies in complex institutional settings.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.