Program Director - K-12Jacobs • Savannah, GA, United States

Program Director - K-12

Jacobs • Savannah, GA, United States

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The K-12 Program Director provides executive leadership for multi-year, multi-project capital improvement programs for public school districts. This role is accountable for strategy, governance, stakeholder trust, safety, inclusivity, and predictable delivery-planning through occupancy-of facilities funded by bonds, referenda, and other sources. The Program Director serves as the client's trusted advisor, aligning scope, budget, and schedule; building high-performing teams; and communicating transparently with Boards of Trustees, taxpayers, and the community.

Strategy & Program Set-Up

Shape program vision and operating model aligned to district goals (safety, equity, capacity, modernization, sustainability).
Lead program initiation : governance plan, program execution plan, baseline scope, schedule, and budget; define stage gates and decision rights.
Establish program controls (cost, schedule, risk, change, quality) and reporting cadence, including dashboards and KPIs.

Client, Board & Community Leadership

Serve as executive point of contact to the Superintendent / COO and brief the School Board on progress, risks, and mitigation strategies.

Develop communications, transparency, and accountability practices for taxpayer-funded programs, including bond oversight and audits.

Champion inclusive engagement with parents, teachers, students, and neighborhood stakeholders; address disruptions to operations.

People Leadership & Culture

Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse program team (PMs, project controls, commercial, communications, technology).

Model a culture of safety, ethics, and respect; set goals, coach performance, and ensure workload / resource balance.

Promote continuous improvement and knowledge sharing across projects and districts.

Delivery Excellence (Planning through Occupancy)

Oversee master planning, educational specifications, design management, procurement, construction, commissioning, and activation / move-in.

Drive portfolio optimization : sequencing, packaging, alternative delivery (CMAR, DB, JOC), and small business participation goals.

Lead risk, change, and claims management; ensure compliance with state procurement laws and district policies.

Commercial & Financial Management

Own the program budget and financial performance; maintain cost forecasts, contingencies, cash flows, and funding alignment.

Negotiate and administer consultant / contractor agreements; ensure robust invoice review, earned value, and audit readiness.

Meet or exceed small / minority / women-owned business (M / WBE / DBE) participation and local hiring goals.

Digital & Reporting

Select and govern the Program Management Information System (PMIS) and common data environment (CDE).

Enable data-driven decision making through dashboards for safety, schedule, cost, risk, and community metrics.

Ensure data integrity, cybersecurity, and FERPA-aligned practices for student-adjacent information.

Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE)

Set HSSE expectations; ensure contractors implement effective safety management plans and incident learning.

Champion safe construction around live school operations, including traffic, access, and emergency procedures.

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Business, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

Experience

15+ years delivering capital programs with increasing responsibility, including 5+ years leading large K-12 or public sector portfolios.

Proven success managing multi-site, bond-funded programs ($100M-$1B+), from planning through construction and occupancy.

Certifications (preferred)

PMP, CCM, PE, RA, LEED AP, or equivalent. OSHA 10 / 30-hour a plus.

Technical & Leadership Skills

Expertise in program controls (cost, schedule, risk, change), alternative delivery, procurement, and contract administration.

Exceptional stakeholder management, public meeting facilitation, and executive communication skills (written / visual / oral).

Proficiency with PMIS tools (e.g., e-Builder, Kahua, Unifier, Primavera P6, Power BI) and MS 365 suite.

Commitment to DEI, supplier diversity, and community benefits programs.

Success Measures (Year 1-3)

On-time, on-budget delivery against approved baselines; predictable monthly cost and schedule forecasts.

Positive Board and community trust indicators; timely, transparent reporting and audit readiness.

Safety performance meets or exceeds targets (e.g., TRIR); effective risk identification and mitigation.

Achievement of M / WBE participation and local workforce goals.

High team engagement and retention; strong performance management and succession planning.

Work Conditions & Other Information

Frequent site presence across occupied school campuses; ability to navigate construction environments.

Some evening / weekend meetings to support Board sessions and community engagements.

Valid driver's license; ability to travel between district sites.

Jacobs is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. Learn more about your rights under Federal EEO laws and supplemental language.

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Program Director • Savannah, GA, United States

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