Director, Program Management - Higher Education

Job description

ABOUT THE JOB Brookwood Group has been protecting owner interests in construction since 1989. Our lineage traces back to George T. Heery: one of the original developers of the Construction Project Management profession and creator of the Bridging delivery method. We've managed over $10 billion in construction programs across healthcare, education, government, and commercial sectors. Now we're looking for leaders who want to help us build the next chapter. We are seeking a Director of Program Management with deep expertise in colleges, universities, and research institutions to lead project delivery operations and grow our national presence. This is an executive leadership role—you'll own key client relationships, drive business development, oversee a portfolio of programs, build and lead a team, and help shape the strategic direction of the firm. You'll report directly to firm principals and have significant influence over how we grow. We welcome candidates from any U.S. location who are willing to travel to project sites as needed. This isn't a role for someone who wants a title without accountability. We're looking for a builder—someone who has spent 18+ years earning the trust of university administrators, college facilities departments, and higher education boards, who has a reputation in the market, and who wants to create something lasting. If you've been waiting for the right opportunity to step into real leadership without the politics of a mega-firm, this may be it. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Own and grow a practice area—set strategy, build the team, develop the client base nationally. - Lead business development—identify opportunities, lead pursuits, close new work, and expand relationships with existing clients. - Serve as the executive relationship owner for key university administrators, college facilities departments, and higher education boards. - Oversee delivery of complex academic buildings, research facilities, student housing, campus infrastructure, and multi-building capital programs. - Build, lead, and develop a team of associate directors, senior PMs, project managers, and assistant PMs. - Contribute to firm-wide strategy, operational improvements, and best practices. - Represent Brookwood in the market—conferences, industry associations, and client-facing presentations. - Collaborate with firm principals on hiring, resource allocation, compensation, and firm growth. - Travel to project sites and client locations as needed to ensure successful project delivery. REQUIREMENTS - 18+ years in construction project management, program management, or owner's representation. - Demonstrated track record leading $100M+ capital programs or portfolios of complex projects. - Proven ability to develop and maintain long-term client relationships with university administrators, college facilities departments, and higher education boards. - Track record of winning work—business development experience with measurable results. - Experience building and leading teams—hiring, mentoring, managing performance, and developing future leaders. - Executive presence and excellent communication skills—you're comfortable in front of boards, executives, and selection committees. - Willingness to travel to project sites and client locations as needed. - Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Experience leading an owner's representation or program management practice at a consulting firm. - Deep expertise and market reputation in colleges, universities, and research institutions. - Established relationships with owners and decision-makers in your target market. - Experience with research facility construction, campus infrastructure programs, and institutional governance processes - CCM, PMP, PE, RA, or DBIA certification. - Master's degree in Construction Management, Business Administration, or related field. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN - A true leadership seat—influence over firm strategy, operations, and growth trajectory. - Meaningful equity participation and a compensation structure aligned with firm success. - The opportunity to build a national practice your way, with support from firm leadership. - A technology-forward platform—we're actively building AI tools that change how owner's representation works, and you'll help shape that roadmap. - A collaborative leadership team that values doing the work right over playing politics. - Flexibility to work remotely while traveling to project sites and client locations as needed. WHY BROOKWOOD? We were co-founded by George Heery: the person who literally invented much of what we now call Construction Management and Program Management, including the Bridging method. That's our foundation and it's a rich legacy of serving clients and delivering construction projects. But we're not living in the past. We're building AI-powered tools that automate the tedious work and give our people on the ground actual superpowers. The goal isn't efficiency for its own sake, it's serving our clients better and bringing some joy back to managing construction projects. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to be, let's talk.