Penn State Job Catalog

The Facilities Planning and Design Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight for campus planning and design functions within the Office of Physical Plant; advances the University's physical environment through integrated planning, design excellence, and property strategy; establishes and maintains institutional design standards, guides capital and non-capital project design, and ensures alignment with long-term campus master plans and strategic priorities; fosters coordination across space management, planning, and development functions to support informed decision-making; collaborates with senior administrators, governance committees, and external stakeholders to shape campus development, ensure regulatory compliance, and enhance the overall campus environment.

• Direct University facilities planning and design functions, including staff leadership, operational oversight, and budget management
• Develop and maintain university-wide design standards and guidelines for campus planning, land use, architecture, landscape, and signage
• Guide the design of capital and non-capital projects to ensure consistency with institutional vision and campus aesthetics
• Oversee design review processes and facilitate approvals with senior leadership and governance bodies
• Provide direction for projects impacting campus environments, including renovations, public art, temporary installations, and events
• Ensure alignment of real estate decisions with campus planning and space management strategies
• Guide coordination between planning, design, real estate, and space management functions
• Support space-related initiatives including assignments, guidelines, utilization strategies, and committee facilitation
• Ensure integration of space data and planning considerations into capital and strategic decisions
• Lead the development and implementation of campus master plans and College/Unit Environment & Academic Plans (CEAPs)
• Establish priorities and allocate resources to support project demands and institutional goals
• Ensure effective execution of projects, initiatives, and service delivery
• Provide strategic direction on facility needs, project prioritization, and building siting
• Ensure alignment of planning efforts with institutional strategic goals and campus development objectives
• Serve on and support key university and facilities committees, including leadership, planning, design, accessibility, and capital project groups
• Contribute to decision-making processes for capital planning, design approvals, and campus development initiatives
• Serve as a liaison between the Office of Physical Plant and university units, colleges, and external agencies
• Coordinate zoning, land development, and regulatory matters with local government entities
• Communicate campus planning and design initiatives through reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement
• Manage, mentor, and develop staff; foster professional growth through coaching, training, and performance development

Level:

– Manager

Base Description:

– Manages direct reports where primary duty is the management of a working unit.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates proficient ability in work design, project management, financial planning and development of goals for accomplishing unit assignments. Reviews and guides work to ensure conformity to policy and effective approaches. Evaluates employee performance and recommend development opportunities. Demonstrates ability to coach employees. Presents and communicates key university indicatives and connects it to unit contributions. Provides broad guidelines. Develops, evaluates, enhances, and/or implements quality improvement practices. Recommends innovative solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Oversees a team (typically 4 or more; no fewer than 2) full
– time direct reports of individual contributors and/or first level supervisors.

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Monitors and tracks department/area budget
– May plan, forecast, and/or assist in developing budgets
– May have final signature authority for specific area

Problem Solving:

– Encounters varied and complex problems
– Helps to develop creative and/or novel approaches to resolve problems that are difficult in nature but within limited scope
– Modifies, adapts, or refines guidelines if necessary to resolve issues or problems

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices and advanced working knowledge to determine appropriate work methods for the team
– Reviews completed work of others for conformity to policy, and effectiveness of approach
– Delegates advanced tasks to others

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and various areas across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Communicates key university initiatives and how unit’s work contributes to their achievement
– Presents ideas, concepts and instructions in a clear manner, and uses persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units

• Comp Grade – 13
• Minimum – $91,488.00
• MidPoint – $114,384.00
• Maximum – $137,280.00