Director for Space Operations, Strategy & Planning: Tickle College of Engineering - UTK

The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) is creating the position of Director for Space Operations, Strategy and Planning. The position will report to TCE Associate Dean for Research. The Tickle College of Engineering is distributed in 15 buildings supporting directly 15% of UTK’s undergraduate and graduate enrollment, 14% of the tenure-line faculty, and about 50% of the funded research for UTK.

This position strategically conceptualizes solutions for space allocation planning and operations while overseeing building operations, including optimization of space usage, requests for new space, and managing the college portion of the annual space inventory, along with supervising space renovations from the cost estimate through design and construction to occupancy/move-in. These renovations are complex as they often involve STEM instructional and research laboratories with several million dollars of projects active annually.

At the same time, the position serves as the key point of contact and leadership for the College when resolving building maintenance, repairs, outages and facilities emergencies. The position provides primary analysis for advising the College leadership concerning strategic decisions related to advancing capital projects, renovations and/or decommissioning of spaces to effectively support the missions and strategic goals of the College.

The position also serves as liaison for the College and as a collaborative decision-maker with the Provost’s Office, Office of Research Innovation & Economic Development, Facilities Services, UTK Space Committee, UT System Department of Capital Projects, contractors and architects with respect to all space maintenance, renovations, operations, strategy and planning at the University.

Consequently, this position works across its responsibilities simultaneously with well over 100 positions distributed throughout UTK Academic Affairs and Facilities Services, plus external architectural, engineering and construction partners.

Space Operations - 55%

• Strategically conceptualizes solutions for the long-term and large-scale space needs, challenges and plans in the context of both the College and University strategic plans while creating example processes, solutions and outcomes that other academic colleges and university units can use, preferably in a collaborative manner.
• Collaborates with college Finance & Administration and departmental business offices to develop and complete the annual Space Survey.
• Manages the planning and completion with colleges, departments, and Facilities Services for renovations of college-controlled and department-allocated spaces, including laboratories, studios, offices, classrooms, instructional labs, and storage areas.
• Manages facilities in conjunction with UT Capital Projects, colleges, departments, and consultants to develop programming, DB-70 funding requests, and detailed design for major renovations and new capital construction projects.