Description

ZRG has been engaged to recruit an Associate Vice President for Facilities at The University of Rhode Island.

For more details about this opportunity, please view the position profile by clicking on the cover image below.

Position Summary:

The Associate Vice President for Facilities will lead the construction, operations, maintenance, and repair of all existing and new physical plant assets and improvements; oversee the development and implementation of the University’s $1.5B capital improvement plan; direct comprehensive short- and long-term University planning , and oversee URI’s sustainability, fleet, GIS, and strategic real estate programs. The AVP will serve as a forward-facing campus leader, partnering with both internal and external stakeholders on all three University campuses, overseeing a staff of over 200, and managing a $50M budget.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Planning and Real Estate Development

• Oversee campus planning to support the University's long-term vision by advancing teaching, learning, research, collaboration, and sustainability.
• Lead development of the five-year Capital Improvement Plan for all capital projects over $1M, regardless of funding source.
• Steward and implement the University Comprehensive Campus Plan (CCP) in alignment with the Strategic Plan and President's vision.
• Manage space allocation, real estate transactions, and strategic development opportunities, including Initiating requests for demolition, surplus declaration, acquisition, leasing, and easements.
• Develop a URI sustainability program responsive to student, faculty, and staff needs and integrate it into all facility projects and programs.
• Develop financial models for auxiliary and enterprise operations to support debt service and operating costs.

Capital Program Design and Delivery

• Implement the University's Capital Improvement Plan.
• Exercise fiduciary responsibility for all capital funding from all sources (operating, bonds, grants, philanthropy, and donations).
• Research and implement innovative delivery methods, including public/private partnerships.
• Facilities Operations
• Oversee capital maintenance, repairs, improvements, and operations of campus utilities (electricity, water, sewer, stormwater).
• Lead development of the five-year Asset Protection Program plan, including scoping, funding, and implementation decisions.
• Prioritize energy and water efficiency throughout operations and physical plant improvements.
• Partnerships and Stakeholder Relations
• Develop and maintain relationships with South Kingstown, Narragansett, and West Greenwich on utilities and facility development.
• Serve as liaison with state agencies, departments, and legislative staff on permitting, operations, and funding.
• Collaborate with University leadership, Deans, and committees on capital project prioritization.

Administrative

• Manage the Business Office, which develops Facilities Group department budgets, staffing, and resource allocation, and project finance and administration
• Document capital funding requests and justification in accordance with annual State Budget processes.
• Oversee the URI Fleet program including administrative oversight, purchase, disposal, maintenance, and overall inventory of URI Fleet .
• Serve on relevant committees (e.g., President's Stewardship Council, Space Allocation, Sustainability).
• Collaborate with General Counsel on contract development for real estate, construction, and services.
• Perform other duties as assigned

About Client:

The University of Rhode Island (URI) is Rhode Island’s flagship public research university and a nationally recognized institution known for its strong commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and public service. Located in the historic coastal community of Kingston, the University serves more than 17,000 students across undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and offers a broad range of disciplines spanning engineering, business, health sciences, environmental sciences, pharmacy, and the liberal arts. As a land- and sea-grant institution, URI maintains a strong tradition of applied research, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration, positioning itself as a major educational and economic driver throughout New England.

The University is widely recognized for its research enterprise and recently achieved Carnegie R1 designation, placing it among the nation’s top-tier research universities with “very high research activity.” URI’s strengths in oceanography, environmental sustainability, biotechnology, engineering, and health sciences are supported by modern research facilities and nationally respected academic centers, including the Graduate School of Oceanography at the Narragansett Bay Campus. Faculty and staff are drawn to an institution that values innovation, collaboration, and experiential learning while fostering an environment focused on student success, discovery, and real-world impact.

Since the 2021 arrival of URI’s 12th President, Marc Parlange, and development of the 2023 URI Strategic Plan “Focus URI”, the University has seen consistent growth in student applications, philanthropic giving, and increased investment from the State of Rhode Island, particularly on the capital front. Current major capital projects underway include a Fine Arts Center, Athletics Complex (including new track and football stadium), Ocean Robotics Laboratory, Ocean Engineering Complex, Ocean Frontiers Building, and Biomedical Sciences Building.

URI’s 1,200-acre Kingston campus combines traditional New England collegiate architecture with contemporary academic and research facilities, creating a vibrant and welcoming campus environment. Situated near the Rhode Island coastline, thirty minutes south of Providence and within easy access of Boston and New York City, the University offers an attractive quality of life with a balance of academic energy, coastal living, and regional connectivity. The institution’s culture emphasizes collaboration, inclusion, and community engagement, making it an appealing destination for professionals seeking to contribute to a mission-driven university.

Location:

Kingston, RI

Requirements

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, capital asset management, planning, business administration, finance, or related field and a minimum of ten years of progressive experience in management and administration, including the exercise of fiduciary responsibility and the management of personnel in a large organization; Or a bachelor’s degree and fifteen years of such experience.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in engineering, architecture, capital asset management, planning, business administration, finance, or related field and a minimum of seven years of progressive experience in management and administration specifically in a higher education setting.

The University of Rhode Island is an equal-opportunity employer. It is the policy of the University of Rhode Island to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability.

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