Director of Design - Facilities Services - UTK
University of Tennessee Athletic Marketing Department
Design, Operations
Knoxville, TN, USA
Posted on Jan 28, 2026
Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Planning & Design within Facilities Services at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the Director of Design provides strategic leadership and organizational direction for campus planning, design, and development efforts. The position serves as the University’s authority on architecture, engineering, landscape, interiors, and design standards, advising senior leadership and campus partners. The Director leads the multidisciplinary Design Services organization and oversees master planning, feasibility, programming, and design oversight for capital, non-capital, and renovation projects, ensuring alignment with campus standards, sustainability goals, regulatory requirements, and coordinated campus impacts.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!
Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Planning & Design within Facilities Services at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the Director of Design provides strategic leadership and organizational direction for campus planning, design, and development efforts. The position serves as the University’s authority on architecture, engineering, landscape, interiors, and design standards, advising senior leadership and campus partners. The Director leads the multidisciplinary Design Services organization and oversees master planning, feasibility, programming, and design oversight for capital, non-capital, and renovation projects, ensuring alignment with campus standards, sustainability goals, regulatory requirements, and coordinated campus impacts.
Required Qualifications
- Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, or Planning
- Licensure Required: Registered Architect, Professional Engineer, Registered Landscape Architect, or Registered Interior Designer
- Experience:
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in a professional design field such as architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, interior design, or related fields.
- At least 5 years of experience in major capital and renovation project management.
- At least 3 years of experience leading design teams, including architects, engineers, landscape architects, and/or interior designers.
- Appropriately licensed design professional in Tennessee, or the ability to obtain a license in Tennessee through comity.
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Ability to lead, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary teams, set priorities, and foster accountability and collaboration.
- Knowledge of architecture, engineering, landscape, interior design, and master planning principles including industry best practices.
- Ability to direct planning, programming, feasibility studies, design, and implementation efforts ensuring alignment with institutional goals.
- Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships across University stakeholders, consultants, and external partners.
- Ability to anticipate and respond professionally to the needs of campus clients and partners.
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills to convey complex design and operational information clearly to diverse audiences.
- Ability to evaluate complex issues, make sound decisions, and align outcomes with institutional priorities.
- Strong familiarity with building codes, accessibility standards, sustainability initiatives, and environmental regulations.
- Ability to develop, implement, and refine processes for efficient, high-quality and high-performance results.
- Demonstrated ability to act transparently, uphold professional standards, and provide reliable guidance to staff and stakeholders.
- Other Conditions: Valid Driver’s license
Work Location
- University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN Campus
- This is an on-site position
Compensation and Benefits
- UT market range: MR17
- Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
- Find more information on UT Benefits here
Application Instructions
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- List of 3 Professional References
About The College/Department/Division
UT Facilities Services is responsible for the care and keeping of more than 300 facilities and utilities systems in and around Knoxville. As the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s largest non-academic department, team members are responsible for facilities maintenance and repair, custodial needs, landscaping and lawncare, utility work, in-house and capital construction projects, facilities planning and design, environmental initiatives, pest control, campus event services, and facilities administration functions for both the flagship campus and the agricultural institute. The Facilities Services staff provides around-the-clock coverage to ensure students, staff, faculty, and fans have a consistent and positive experience every time they step foot on Rocky Top.
- Establish and communicate vision, priorities, and performance expectations for Design Services in alignment with institutional goals and Facilities Services leadership
- Translate long-range institutional priorities into actionable strategies for campus design and development initiatives.
- Provide informed recommendations and professional judgment to support executive decision-making.
- Ensure consistent alignment between Design Services activities and approved policies, procedures, standards, and strategic objectives.
- Lead change initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness, clarity, and service delivery across Facilities Services.
- Lead and manage a multidisciplinary organization including Campus Planning, Design Project Management, Interior Environments, and Landscape and Natural Resources.
- Direct daily operations by assigning responsibilities, setting schedules, and monitoring workloads across teams.
- Support staff development through mentoring, performance feedback, and professional growth opportunities.
- Oversee the application, interpretation, and advancement of campus design standards, guidelines, and master plans.
- Ensure capital and major renovation projects reflect institutional expectations for quality, sustainability, constructability, and long-term stewardship.
- Coordinate design considerations related to utilities, energy systems, maintenance access, transportation, safety, and operational continuity.
- Collaborate with Capital Construction and In-House Construction to ensure design intent is clearly communicated and executed.
- Engage Maintenance & Repair and Utilities & Energy staff early to inform design decisions and lifecycle outcomes.
- Serve as a primary point of engagement for campus clients, senior administrators, and external partners.
- Facilitate effective communication between campus stakeholders and Design Services, Construction, and Operations teams.
- Build and maintain positive relationships that support trust and long-term partnership across Facilities Services and the University.
- Ensure Design Services delivers consistent, professional, and high-quality customer service across all initiatives.
- Provide professional oversight and direction for feasibility studies, programming, design activities, and implementation support across campus projects and initiatives.
- Ensure alignment with approved project scopes, budgets, schedules, and delivery expectations.
- Lead design coordination and align design efforts among Facilities Services, UT System Dept. of Capital Projects (DCP), and city and state partners to support constructible, operationally sound design solutions.
- Identify risks and support mitigation strategies to maintain project momentum, quality, and safety.
- Monitor project performance to support informed decision-making and timely adjustments.
- Ensure required design documentation and information are properly coordinated and provided to support effective project closeout and transition.