The University of Iowa logo
Education, Research, Healthcare

Associate Director, Planning, Design & Space Management

IowaOnsiteFull TimeDirectorPosted 1 month ago

Is this role right for you?

Upload your resume and get a skill-by-skill breakdown — see exactly where you match, where you're close, and what to highlight. Not a mystery percentage.

Get a tailored resume highlighting what this role needs.

Required skills

  • Bachelor’s degree in architecture
  • Healthcare master planning
  • Academic medical centers
  • Integrated health systems
  • Healthcare consulting organizations

Nice to have

  • Master’s degree in architecture

Role summary

University of Iowa Health Care is seeking an Associate Director, Planning, Design & Space Management to lead strategic facility planning, healthcare design, space management, and capital planning initiatives. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role will oversee planning and design activities for inpatient, ambulatory, research, and support facilities, aligning investments with organizational priorities. Key responsibilities include directing space planning, supporting capital initiatives, and ensuring design solutions support patient care and future growth. A Bachelor's degree in architecture or equivalent experience, along with 7-10 years of directly related experience in healthcare facility planning, design, space management, and master planning is required. Familiarity with healthcare regulatory standards and environments like academic medical centers is essential.

University of Iowa Health Care (UI Health Care) Capital Management and Facility Planning is seeking to engage an executive search firm to assist with the recruitment of an Associate Director, Planning, Design & Space Management. This position will report directly to the Executive Director of Capital Management & Facility Planning and serve as a key leader responsible for strategic facility planning, healthcare design, space management, and capital planning initiatives across a large academic medical center environment.

The Associate Director will provide leadership and oversight for healthcare facility planning, design, and space management activities supporting various portfolios of inpatient, ambulatory, research, and support facilities.

This position will work closely with clinical, operational, and administrative leaders to align facility investments and space utilization strategies with organizational priorities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Lead healthcare facility planning and programming initiatives

· Provide oversight of healthcare planning and design activities

· Direct space planning, allocation, and utilization strategies

· Support development and implementation of capital planning initiatives

· Coordinate planning efforts with clinical and operational stakeholders

· Ensure facility planning and design solutions support patient care, operational efficiency, and future growth

· Guide planning and design standards across the health system

· Support master planning and strategic growth initiatives



· Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in architecture or equivalent experience

· Preferred Education: Master’s degree in architecture

  • Professional experience fostering or promoting a welcoming and respectful working environment where people of all backgrounds and perspectives feel welcomed and appreciated; or demonstrated ability to do so.

· 7-10 Years of Directly Related Experience which includes:

o Healthcare facility planning and design experience

o Space management and utilization planning expertise

o Healthcare master planning experience

o Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills

o Leadership experience within complex healthcare organizations

o Knowledge of healthcare regulatory and accreditation requirements

Candidates should possess experience in one or more of the following environments:

· Academic medical centers

· Integrated health systems

· Healthcare consulting organizations

Candidates should demonstrate familiarity and working knowledge of:

· Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines

· American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) standards and best practices

· National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes

· Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements

· The Joint Commission standards and survey processes

Application Process:

Please direct inquiries, nominations, and applications to ZRG Partners.com, a national retained executive search firm. All replies will be held in strict confidence. Correspondence and applications, which should include a resume, cover letter and project list through this portal as well as sent to Valerie Rohn via the below contact information:

Valerie Rohn

Managing Associate vrohn@zrgpartners.com 412.298.7905

Pay Range: 7A - Salary to commensurate

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check. This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization.

Ready to apply?
You'll be redirected to The University of Iowa's application page.

Similar roles

See how RiseMe works

Match, tailor, and prep so you send fewer applications and land more interviews.