Now Hiring: Associate Vice President of Facilities and Campus Planning

Lehigh University, a private residential R1 research university in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, seeks a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as our next Associate Vice President of Facilities and Campus Planning (AVP). 

The AVP leads a diverse team of professionals in delivering a high-quality, sustainable, and safe environment that supports Lehigh’s mission of academic excellence and research innovation. Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the AVP holds a pivotal role within the university as part of the Senior Leadership team. 

The AVP serves as the university’s chief facilities officer and oversees an operating budget of more than $45M and capital projects of approximately $100M annually. The implementation of Lehigh’s bold new campus plan, Making The Future, is a key responsibility of this role.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Develop and execute a comprehensive multi-year capital plan within the framework of the integrated campus plan. 
• Align Facilities goals with the University’s strategic initiatives.
• Work closely with academic and administrative leaders to address issues, proactively plan and optimize the use of the campus physical plant.
• Provide substantive input to the content delivered to the Campus Planning and Operations committee of the Board of Trustees. 
• Partner with Vice President of LU Properties regarding real estate strategy

Capital Projects and Construction

• Oversee the design, engineering, and construction of new facilities and major renovations. 
• Ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the most appropriate standards of quality.

Operations and Maintenance

• Direct the team responsible for the maintenance of over 5 million square feet of building space and 1,600 acres of land including building envelopes and HVAC, electrical systems, and plumbing systems. 
• Ensure quality of the outsourced services for groundskeeping, and custodial services.

Sustainability and Energy Management

• Lead the University’s efforts in environmental stewardship. 
• Manage energy procurement and implement initiatives to reduce the campus carbon footprint in line with Lehigh's Sustainability Strategy.

Budgetary Oversight

• Manage an extensive and complex annual operating budget of more than $45M.
• Manage multi-million dollar capital budgets. 
• Optimize resource allocation and identify opportunities for operational efficiencies.

Community Engagement 

• Act as a primary liaison with local government, regulatory agencies, and the Bethlehem community regarding land use, zoning, and infrastructure projects.

Professional Qualifications and Competencies

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Facilities Management, or a related field. Master’s degree or MBA preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive leadership in facilities management, preferably within a complex higher education or institutional setting.
• Deep knowledge of architectural design, MEP systems, structural design, LEED certification, and campus utility infrastructure.
• Proven track record of managing large, diverse unionized and non-unionized workforces.
• Exceptional ability to present complex technical data to non-technical stakeholders, including the Board of Trustees.

Competencies

• Visionary Thinking: Ability to anticipate future campus needs and technological shifts in facility management.
• Financial Acumen: Sophisticated understanding of capital financing and lifecycle cost analysis.
• Collaboration: A "bridge-builder" mentality, working effectively with Deans, faculty, students, and administrative partners.
• Resilience: Capacity to manage emergency responses and navigate the complexities of a historic campus built on steep terrain.

About Lehigh University

Founded in 1865 by industrial pioneer Asa Packer, Lehigh University was established to foster the “intellectual and moral improvement” of its students, preparing them to contribute to a strong national economy. Lehigh remains dedicated to its mission of teaching, research, and service, challenging students through academic rigor, an entrepreneurial mindset, and collaborative opportunities to become future leaders. 

Today, Lehigh is one of the most selective private research universities in the U.S., offering programs across five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, College of Education, and College of Health. Graduate and doctoral programs are available in all five colleges. 

Lehigh employs more than 584 full-time faculty, including 460 tenured or tenure-track professors, and nearly 1,200 staff members. The university has a vibrant alumni network of over 88,000. 

Lehigh University has embraced “The Principles of our Equitable Community,” which details the collective responsibility to foster a welcoming and collaborative environment. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission. Lehigh University offers a comprehensive and family friendly benefits package which includes but is not limited to Health Care, Retirement and Educational benefits. 

In the Wall Street Journal’s 2025 Best Colleges in the US, Lehigh ranked 15th among the top 500 U.S. colleges and universities, and US News & World Report consistently ranks it among the top 50 national universities. Lehigh’s Inspiring the Future Makers strategy, reflects our commitment to empowering students to take leadership roles and create unique student experiences that foster community and growth. 

The Lehigh Campus

The AVP of Facilities and Campus Planning is responsible for the strategic planning, development, operation, and maintenance of the University’s physical assets across its 1,600 contiguous acre campus. 

The campus, which features more than 600 feet of elevation change, includes 165 buildings containing more than 5M GSF of classrooms, research labs, and living quarters for approximately 75% of the undergraduate students. 

Frequently highlighted on lists of “most beautiful campuses,” Lehigh’s built environment features buildings spanning the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, each with their own unique qualities, challenges and opportunities. Campus infrastructure includes multiple legacy energy systems, a 2.625 megawatt (MWac) solar photovoltaic project, more than 30 miles of shuttle routes, and more than 20 miles of forest trails.

Current and future major projects include a new residence hall, the build out of two floors of the new Health, Science and Technology Building (2022), and the renovation of Drown Hall (1908). 

Making The Future: A Plan for the Lehigh Campus

Lehigh completed a campus master plan in 2025 designed to serve as a framework for decision-making in support of the Lehigh Strategy. The Lehigh campus offers a collection of diverse experiences, from vibrant urban and metropolitan areas to 870+ acres of natural beauty. The plan seeks to reinforce all that is special about each area of the Lehigh campus while improving connectivity and fostering pathways of discovery. Read More about Making The Future.

About Bethlehem

Lehigh’s home, the vibrant, diverse mid-sized city of Bethlehem (population 78,000), has been listed as among the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America. The city’s historic 18th century Moravian Church settlements were recently added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites joining just 25 other sites in the United States. 

The arts are alive in Bethlehem, where you won’t have to look far to find exciting seasonal events, nationally recognized musical acts, comedy, art and more. The city boasts three performing arts centers on the SouthSide alone. This year, the ArtsQuest Creative Factory will open just steps from Lehigh’s Campus, providing a greatly expanded state-of-the-art visual, performing arts and educational hub for the city.

Known as the “City of Festivals,” Bethlehem hosts more than 20 major festivals and over 150 mini-festivals each year. The city is conveniently located 50 miles from Philadelphia and 75 miles from New York City.

Governance and Finances

Lehigh University is governed by a board of trustees, primarily composed of distinguished business, civic, and academic leaders, many of whom are alumni and major donors with a strong commitment to the university’s mission.

The university boasts a robust financial position with total assets nearing $3.4 billion, minimal debt, and an endowment valued at approximately $2.5 billion. Its annual operating budget is approximately $530 million. 

For the 2025-2026 academic year, undergraduate cost of attendance totals $82,200, including tuition, fees, room and board. Lehigh prioritizes keeping tuition increases modest and provides financial aid to over 50% of its students based on need and merit. In FY 2025, the university awarded more than $170 million in grants and scholarships. Lehigh has been recognized among the nation’s “Best Value” universities by The Princeton Review and US News & World Report.

Leadership

About the President

President Joseph J. Helble, ‘82 became his alma mater’s 15th president in August of 2021. 

After graduating with highest honors from Lehigh in 1982, Helble earned his PhD in chemical engineering, with a minor in Spanish, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1987. 

He worked for several years in the private sector as a research scientist at Physical Sciences, Inc., during which time he also spent several months on leave as a science policy fellow with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Later, as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Revelle Fellow, he spent a year in Washington, D.C., on the staff of the United States Senate, working on environmental and technology policy. 

Helble came to Lehigh from Dartmouth College, where he served as provost from 2018-2021 and dean of engineering from 2005-2018. Prior to arriving at Dartmouth, Helble served as professor and chair of chemical engineering at the University of Connecticut. His research interests have included studying the environmental impacts of fossil energy utilization with an emphasis on mercury and particulate matter (PM) air pollutants, exploring technologies for CO2 capture, and developing approaches to produce nanostructured ceramic powders. He has authored more than 100 publications and holds three U.S. patents. In his first four years as Lehigh’s president, Helble led the development of an ambitious vision for the university’s future, our exciting 10 year strategy, Inspiring the Future Makers.

About the Vice President for Finance and Administration

Christine Cook has served as the Vice President for Finance and Administration since July 2024. She joined Lehigh in January 2022 as the Vice President for Strategic Planning and Initiatives.  Leading the administrative arm of the university, the Vice President serves as executive sponsor for non-academic capital projects. 

Chris worked at the University of Delaware for 23 years in various roles across the campus, gaining expertise about higher education administration. At UD she served as the Associate Provost for research administration as well as the Senior Business Officer for the College of Engineering. She then headed to Dartmouth College where she served as the Chief Administrative and Financial Officer for the Thayer School of Engineering and, eventually, Vice Provost for Resource Planning and Initiatives. 

Invitation for Nominations

Lehigh welcomes nominations for the Associate Vice President of Facilities and Campus Planning position. In your nomination please include the name, current title, and contact information for your nominee along with your comments. 

All nominations should be directed to Aubrie Sobieski, HR Manager for Talent Acquisition, via email at auf214@lehigh.edu.