Description
The
Campus Planning within the
Facilities Development is currently seeking a Full-time Regular
Specialist, Facilities Planning.
Reporting to the Director, Campus Planning, and having management accountabilities for the Space and Utilization Planner, the Specialist, Facilities Planning (the Specialist) provides strategic facilities and space planning expertise across the University's campuses. Working collaboratively with faculties, administrative units, and a multidisciplinary Facilities Development team, the Specialist develops planning strategies and solutions that respond to current and emerging space needs and support institutional priorities, capital planning, campus renewal, and the future development of the University's facilities and space portfolio.
The Specialist manages multiple concurrent planning initiatives of varying scale and complexity, requiring strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and the ability to balance competing priorities while translating institutional objectives into practical planning solutions. Space is a limited institutional resource and can be a highly sensitive and complex issue, particularly where decisions involve competing priorities, relocation, consolidation, changes to existing space, or the allocation of shared resources. Working with stakeholders across the University, including senior leaders within faculties, and administrative units, the Specialist must navigate complex and sensitive discussions, understand differing perspectives, and develop objective solutions that balance stakeholder needs with broader institutional priorities. Recommendations developed by the Specialist support significant institutional decisions, capital planning, and the long-term stewardship of the University's facilities and space portfolio. Strong communication, relationship-building, diplomacy, tact, patience, and sound judgment are essential.
The Specialist develops and maintains a comprehensive understanding of the University's facilities and space portfolio, including current allocations, utilization, program requirements, and emerging planning priorities across all campuses and field stations. Through ongoing engagement with faculties and administrative units, planning studies, site assessments, utilization analysis, and space audits, the Specialist identifies opportunities to optimize the University's facilities and space portfolio, improve utilization, strategically repurpose space, and support informed institutional decision-making. This includes knowledge of the functional, operational, technical, and regulatory requirements associated with the University's diverse portfolio of teaching, research, laboratory, clinical, administrative, student, and support spaces to develop appropriate planning solutions and support informed decision-making.
The Specialist leads strategic facilities and space planning initiatives that align the University's facilities and space portfolio with institutional priorities, emerging academic and research needs, and future capital investment. Working collaboratively with stakeholders across the institution, the Specialist develops accommodation strategies, portfolio plans, campus planning studies, and planning scenarios that evaluate opportunities for the renewal, realignment, consolidation, repurposing, and redevelopment of university facilities and space, supporting campus renewal and the long-term stewardship of the University's physical environment.
The Specialist translates strategic planning initiatives into project-ready planning deliverables that establish a clear foundation of for future capital projects and major renovations. Working closely with faculties, administrative units, Facilities Development partners, and external consultants, the Specialist develops functional and space programs, pre-project planning studies, governance documentation, business case development and other planning deliverables that define project requirements and ensure future projects align with institutional priorities, planning objectives, and University standards.
The position is based in the Physical Plant on Main Campus and operates in a hybrid work environment. Regular travel between university campuses is required, along with occasional work outside regular business hours during periods of peak activity. A valid driver's licence is required, and access to a fleet vehicle is provided.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Space Portfolio Planning and Analysis
- Develops and maintains a comprehensive understanding of the University's facilities and space portfolio, including space allocations, functional use, program requirements, utilization, constraints, and current and emerging space needs.
- Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with faculty and unit leadership to understand academic, research, administrative, and operational priorities and their implications for future facility and space requirements.
- Develops and maintains an institutional inventory of current and emerging space needs, using this information to identify portfolio-wide trends, establish planning priorities, and inform accommodation strategies, capital planning, campus renewal, and future campus development.
- Leads periodic space audits, portfolio reviews, site assessments, and planning studies to maintain an accurate understanding of the University¿s facilities and space portfolio and identify opportunities for optimization.
- Interprets space, utilization, program, and other institutional data to identify trends, constraints, risks, and opportunities, translating analytical findings into strategic planning recommendations.
- Provides direction to the Space and Utilization Planner regarding analytical priorities, utilization studies, space audits, portfolio analyses, and other planning activities, and applies the resulting analyses to accommodation strategies and institutional planning initiatives.
- Maintains knowledge of emerging planning methodologies, technologies, design approaches, utilization practices, metrics, and benchmarks relevant to the post-secondary sector.
Strategic Facilities and Space Planning
- Leads strategic facilities planning initiatives that align the University's facilities and space portfolio with institutional priorities, emerging academic and research needs, and future capital investment.
- Develops accommodation strategies, portfolio plans, campus planning studies, and institutional space planning initiatives that supports effect stewardship and long-term development of the University¿s physical environment.
- Evaluates current and future space requirements and develops planning scenarios that consider opportunities for improved utilization, strategic realignment, consolidation, co-location, renewal, repurposing, and redevelopment.
- Identifies and prioritizes strategic opportunities across the University's facilities and space portfolio and develops recommendations to support institutional planning, capital planning, and space and facility renewal.
- Works collaboratively with faculties, administrative units, Facilities Development partners, and other internal and external stakeholders to translate institutional priorities into practical planning strategies and recommendations.
- Supports, and where appropriate leads, the development of spatial master plans and other strategic planning studies for faculties, units, buildings, and areas of campus, serving as a planning resource and preparing governance documentation where required.
Functional Programming and Pre-Project Planning
- Translates approved planning strategies and institutional priorities into project-ready planning requirements that establish the foundation for future capital projects and major renovations.
- Leads the development of functional and space programs by working collaboratively with faculties, units, leadership, FD partners and space occupants, to understand operational requirements, distinguish functional needs from desired solutions, identifying the information and analyses required to support planning activities, and define project scope and objectives as it relates to facility and space requirements.
- Develops accommodation plans and pre-project planning deliverables, including functional programs, space programs, test fits, adjacency studies, blocking and stacking plans, area summaries, and other planning documentation required to define project scope and objectives.
- Prepares governance documentation, briefing notes, business cases, and supporting materials required to advance planning initiatives through institutional decision-making and governance processes.
- Works collaboratively with Campus Architecture, Campus Engineering, Facilities Management, the Project Management Office, and external consultants to ensure that planning intent, functional requirements, and strategic objectives are clearly communicated and maintained throughout project development.
- Represents Campus Planning on project working groups, design meetings, and consultant teams by provide planning expertise, communicating approved pre-design work, responding to planning inquiries and ensuring approved planning objectives and functional requirements are reflected as projects advance.
- Supports the development and ongoing refinement of the University's capital plan, by contributing to project scope, planning assumptions, programming, sequencing, business case development, supporting documentation for new and existing capital initiatives.
Planning Leadership and Administration
- Provides day-to-day leadership, coaching, mentoring and performance management for the Space and Utilization Planner, ensuring appropriate training, resources, and work priorities.
- Responds to complex or strategic space inquiries from the University community and determines appropriate planning responses, referrals, or escalation pathways.
- Provides strategic planning advice and prepares studies, analyses, and recommendations supporting emerging institutional priorities, facility opportunities, and potential funding opportunities.
- Establishes and maintains productive working relationships across the University and within Facilities Development and facilitates planning discussions involving complex and competing space requirements.
- Represents Campus Planning and Facilities Development on institutional committees, working groups, planning studies, and other strategic initiatives as required.
- Identifies and implements continuous improvements to planning methodologies, business processes, enterprise space management practices, and data governance.
- Maintains a comprehensive understanding of the University's organizational structure, academic and research activities, institutional priorities, and evolving facility and space requirements while maintaining current knowledge of leading planning practices through ongoing professional development.
Qualifications / Requirements:
- As a position that works closely with a range of professionals including architects, engineers, designers, project managers, and technicians, the Specialist requires a broad knowledge base, developed through relevant education and progressively responsible work experience. The position can be described as a generalist role within Facilities Development.
- Five to seven years of facilities planning experience within a complex, public-sector organization (e.g. education, healthcare, government) is considered an asset.
- Post-secondary education in planning, architecture, interior design, and / or professional facilities management, engineering or related discipline is required.
- Experience leading strategic planning initiatives, accommodation planning, campus planning, facilities planning, or portfolio planning within a complex organization is required.
- Experience with, and a strong understanding of, complex facilities and space portfolios comprising diverse space types, including laboratories, instructional spaces, offices, student and academic support spaces, and ancillary facilities, and the ability to consider their differing functional requirements and planning needs, is considered an asset
- Experience in managing a small complement of staff is required.
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills are essential, including the ability to interpret complex information, evaluate planning alternatives, and develop strategic recommendations. Experience with spatial information systems such as Archibus, GIS, IWMS, or comparable enterprise planning and space management systems is desirable.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD and Microsoft Excel is essential. Experience with graphics communication software (Illustrator, InDesign, or similar) and the Microsoft Office Suite is required.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, balance competing institutional interests, and deliver high-quality work within established timelines.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills are required, including the ability to prepare briefing notes, planning studies, governance documentation, business cases, and executive-level communications.
- Strong relationship-building and facilitation skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior leadership, academic and research stakeholders, consultants, and multidisciplinary project teams.
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically, develop innovative planning solutions, and communicate complex planning concepts and recommendations with objectivity, professionalism, tact, and sound judgment.
Application Deadline: September 19, 2026.
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is classified in the
Technical Professional Career Band, Level 3 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our
Management and Staff Careers website.
About The University Of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy
ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. 