Building Project Manager: Haslam College of Business - UTK

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.

• 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 stake holders 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 stake holders 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 ca