Associate Director of Capital Projects - University of Southern Mississippi

Join The University of Southern Mississippi as the Associate Director of Capital Projects and lead major campus initiatives at a Carnegie R1 institution. You'll take on high-impact projects within the university's capital program, including the upcoming $100M Science Research Facility and the multi-phased Reed Green Coliseum renovation, while strengthening systems for planning, budgeting, and cost estimating. This fully on-site role oversees a small team of design and project professionals and offers strong public university benefits, meaningful work life balance, education benefits for employees and dependents, and relocation assistance. Step into a leadership role where your expertise will help shape the future of Southern Miss.

Another Source's client, The University of Southern Mississippi, is recruiting an Associate Director of Capital Projects to join their team in Hattiesburg, MS.

This role offers the opportunity to lead major capital projects at a Carnegie R1 university and directly influence the future of Southern Miss's campus.

About The University of Southern Mississippi

Southern Miss is a Carnegie R1 research institution serving more than 13,000 students across campuses in Hattiesburg, Long Beach, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and online. The university is nationally recognized for strengths in polymer science, ocean science, cybersecurity, hydrography, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development. It prepares graduates for high-demand fields including engineering, technology, business, education, and nursing, and is one of only 36 public institutions accredited in all four major arts disciplines. Southern Miss competes in 17 NCAA Division I sports and is known for a culture of resilience and innovation.

About the Department

The Associate Director of Capital Projects serves within Facilities Planning, Design, and Construction, the team responsible for campus master planning, major renovations, new construction, and infrastructure improvements. The department manages capital budgeting, sustainability initiatives, and compliance with Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning and the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management. Their work shapes the university's built environment and supports its academic, research, and student-life mission.

About the Role:

The Associate Director oversees planning, budgeting, design, and construction for major capital projects, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, regulatory requirements, and sustainability standards. The role partners with internal stakeholders, consultants, contractors, and state agencies to deliver projects on time, within budget, and at the required quality.

What you will be doing:

Capital Project Oversight:

Manage the full life cycle of major capital projects including academic buildings, housing, research facilities, and infrastructure. Lead programming, design coordination, construction administration, and close-out while serving as the primary liaison between campus units, consultants, and contractors.

Budget & Contract Management:

• Develop and maintain project budgets and schedules; negotiate and review contracts; ensure compliance with Mississippi IHL and state procurement rules; coordinate with the Bureau of Buildings.

Leadership & Staff Supervision:

• Supervise and mentor project managers and support staff. Promote a collaborative, professional, and high-performance work environment.

Compliance & Quality Assurance:

• Ensure adherence to building codes, ADA standards, safety requirements, and university policies. Implement quality control, risk management, inspections, and regulatory approvals for all project phases.

Campus & Stakeholder Coordination:

• Engage academic units, student affairs, and facilities operations to incorporate operational needs. Provide clear updates to university leadership regarding project status and campus impacts.

Sustainability & Innovation:

• Advance sustainable building practices, energy-efficient systems, and potential LEED-related efforts. Support long-term campus sustainability and resilience goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field
• Seven years of progressively responsible capital project management experience (higher education or public sector preferred)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of capital project delivery methods (design-bid-build, design-build, CMa, CMaR) and familiarity with university planning and capital budgeting.
• Ability to lead and mentor project teams and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Skill in budget development, cost control, value engineering, and cash flow tracking for large-scale capital projects.
• Ability to align projects with institutional goals, assess feasibility, and conduct risk assessments.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills for collaboration with administrators, facilities staff, architects, engineers, contractors, and state agencies.
• Ability to resolve construction disputes, manage schedule delays, and adapt to evolving project needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree
• One year of supervisory experience
• PE or RA licensure in Mississippi, or ability to obtain within 6 months
• PMP, CCM, or LEED AP certification
• Familiarity with Mississippi IHL, Bureau of Buildings, and public procurement requirements

What's in it for you:

The University of Southern Mississippi offers a comprehensive compensation and benefit package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Participation in PERS or the Optional Retirement Plan
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• Tuition remission and educational assistance
• Life insurance, disability coverage, FSA options, and supplemental plans
• EAP services, wellness programs, and campus recreation access

Salary range: $93,883 to $127,019. Relocation assistance available.

The University of Southern Mississippi is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. EOE/VETS/DISABILITY.

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.

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