Director, Space Planning

Facilities and Business Operations:

Facilities and Business Operations at UCF is dedicated to fostering a conducive educational environment for our faculty, staff, students, and the broader community. We are committed to excellence, providing unparalleled expertise, and maintaining a world-class standard in service.

Please visit us at: https://fs.ucf.edu/ or Facebook and Instagram: UCF Facilities

The Opportunity:

The Real Estate department within Facilities and Business Operations is seeking a highly qualified Director of Space Planning. This role is responsible for the strategic planning and management of the university’s interior space needs, ensuring academic, research, and administrative functions are housed efficiently within the built environment.

This position requires strong leadership, cross-departmental coordination, and the integration of innovative technologies to optimize space utilization, aligning with the university's mission and long-term growth objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement space needs assessments for academic, research, and administrative units, aligning with university goals.

• Conduct interior space evaluations to determine short- and long-term needs.

• Collaborate with departments to create flexible, future-ready space plans.

• Leverage data and business intelligence tools to optimize space planning.

• Manage the Degree Analytics and Cisco Spaces interface for data-driven decisions.

• Integrate space assessments into campus master planning and capital development.

• Identify opportunities for renovation, redevelopment, and reconfiguration.

• Partner with senior leadership and facilities teams to prioritize interior space projects.

• Oversee procurement and contracting for architectural and planning firms.

• Develop scope-of-work documents and ensure competitive vendor selection.

• Manage project setup, budget transfers, purchase orders, invoices, and closeout.

• Foster cross-department collaboration, ensuring sustainability and best practices.

• Oversee space relocations, renovations, and cost analysis for project estimates.

• Work with capital project design teams to align interior space requirements.

• Ensure space planning solutions meet current and future needs.

• Prepare reports and presentations to keep stakeholders informed on space initiatives and capital improvements.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 9+ years of relevant experience, including 3+ years of leadership experience. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219. Click here for more information

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in space planning, facilities management, or real estate strategy, with 5+ years in a leadership role.

• Direct experience managing space planning and utilization within a university or large institutional setting.

• Degree in architecture, facilities management, business administration, or a related field.

• Expertise in space planning software, such as AutoCAD, Archibus, Revit, or similar tools, along with data analytics platforms like Degree Analytics and Cisco Spaces.

• Strong ability to develop and execute long-term space utilization strategies aligned with institutional goals.

• Proven ability to lead complex projects, manage budgets, and coordinate with multiple stakeholders.

• Experience leading organizational change related to space reconfigurations, relocations, and strategic growth initiatives.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence various stakeholders, including senior leadership, faculty, and staff.

• Familiarity with building codes, ADA requirements, sustainability standards, and higher education space guidelines.

• Experience overseeing RFPs, vendor negotiations, and contracts for architectural and planning services.

• Excellent ability to engage with senior leadership, faculty, and staff to drive consensus and ensure effective space solutions.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

Position requires a valid Class E driver’s license. The position may involve driving to various locations on and off campus to conduct University business.

If you are selected as the final candidate for an employment opportunity, both your position and salary will be significantly based upon the information that you have provided in your application for employment. We urge you to please take the time to complete the application in its entirety.

Classification Title: Director, Space Utilization II

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!  UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program 

• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays

• Retirement savings options 

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions 

• Education assistance 

• Flexible work environment 

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

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As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.  

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. 

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.