Senior Manager / Associate Director (Campus Planning)

Job Description

This senior role is designed for a dynamic leader who is as comfortable authoring a 10-year campus master plan as they are rolling up their sleeves to analyze a space utilisation dataset. You will be a pivotal leader in stewarding the physical evolution of the campus, bridging high-level institutional goals and the practical realities of land use, capital budgeting, and space allocation. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a hands-on mentality, capable of driving complex projects from conception to completion while managing diverse stakeholder expectations.

1) Strategic Campus & Master Planning

- Lead the alignment and evolution of campus master plans, ensuring they support long-term academic and research ambitions.

- Conduct in-depth analyses of demand-supply dynamics and institutional growth to recommend strategic land use, building sites, and infrastructure enhancements.

- Champion sustainability, accessibility, and connectivity in all planning initiatives, preparing robust business cases and feasibility studies for capital projects.

2) Data-Driven Space Management & Optimisation

- Execute comprehensive space utilisation reviews and audits using a full suite of tools (sensors, booking data, Wi-Fi analytics) to uncover actionable insights.

- Develop and maintain analytics dashboards to track key performance indicators, identifying opportunities for consolidation, right-sizing, and improved efficiency.

- Establish and oversee data governance protocols, policies, and standards to ensure the accuracy and integrity of our campus space inventory (Archibus).

3) Stakeholder Partnership

- Translate user requirements into detailed space programs and project briefs, serving as the key liaison between academic/research units and project delivery teams.

- Partner with project managers to ensure new builds and renovations are delivered on time, on budget, and in alignment with data-backed design standards.

- Lead change management initiatives related to space reallocations, skillfully managing stakeholder communications and expectations.

4) Systems & Technology Leadership

- Champion the integration and optimisation of our core planning systems, particularly AutoCAD and Archibus, to ensure data integrity and interoperability.

- Collaborate closely with IT, and other corporate functions to present cohesive, data-informed recommendations to senior leadership and governance committees.

Qualifications & Experience

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline such as Architecture, Urban Planning, Real Estate, Design, or Engineering.
• Minimum 8–10 years of relevant experience; prior experience in an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) and strong analytical capabilities are advantageous.

Technical Competencies

• Proven expertise in planning and design, encompassing environmental sustainability, site design, space planning, and/or engineering principles.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI); familiarity with AutoCAD/Revit, GIS, and/or BIM tools is preferred.

Personal Attributes & Leadership

• A proactive team player who is self-motivated, organised, and adept at managing multiple priorities to deliver quality outcomes.
• Demonstrated leadership capability with strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder influencing skills.