Facilities & Construction Director

Description

Are you looking to be part of a high-performing team of go-getters who make a difference both on and off the court? Join the Detroit Pistons as we harness the power of basketball to unite our city, elevate our fans, and drive lasting community impact.

The Director of Facilities & Construction serves as a senior leader responsible for planning, directing, and executing the organization's capital projects, facility improvements, and construction initiatives across a growing portfolio of NBA, WNBA, G League, community, and corporate facilities.

This role partners closely with executive leadership to develop long-term facility strategies, oversee capital investments, ensure league compliance, and deliver projects that enhance the employee, athlete, and guest experience. Success requires exceptional project leadership, financial stewardship, relationship management, and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders while managing multiple high-impact initiatives simultaneously.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:

Capital Planning & Construction Leadership

• Lead the planning, budgeting, execution, and successful delivery of all capital construction projects from concept through completion. 
• Develop long-term capital improvement strategies that align with organizational priorities and future growth. 
• Manage renovations, expansions, tenant improvements, and facility modernization initiatives across all organizational properties. 
• Oversee project schedules, procurement, bidding, contract administration, permitting, commissioning, and project closeout. 
• Deliver projects on time, within budget, and in accordance with organizational quality standards.

Facility Asset Management

• Oversee the strategic management of courts, athletic equipment, FF&E, facility assets, and infrastructure across NBA, WNBA, G League, community, and corporate facilities. 
• Develop long-range replacement strategies for facility assets and equipment. 
• Ensure facilities remain safe, operationally efficient, and representative of a best-in-class professional sports organization. 
• Support annual facility refreshes, branding initiatives, and workplace improvements.

Financial Management & Capital Budgeting

• Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets in partnership with the Senior Vice President. 
• Monitor project financial performance, budget variances, forecasts, and return on investment. 
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiencies while maintaining premium facility standards. 
• Prepare executive-level reporting on capital spending, project status, and long-term investment planning.

League Compliance & Facility Standards

• Ensure all facilities consistently meet NBA, WNBA, G League, ADA, life safety, and regulatory requirements. 
• Lead league-mandated facility inspections, audits, and improvement initiatives. 
• Maintain strong relationships with league representatives while proactively implementing evolving facility standards. 
• Coordinate all court installations, resurfacing projects, graphics programs, and equipment requirements.

Strategic Partnership & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary facilities representative for executive leadership, Basketball Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Community Relations, Corporate Partnerships, Event Operations, and external stakeholders. 
• Build strong partnerships with architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, vendors, and municipal agencies. 
• Influence organizational decisions related to facility planning, construction, workplace strategy, and operational readiness. 
• Ensure facilities support sponsorship activations, special events, employee initiatives, basketball operations, and community programming.

Operational Excellence

• Provide strategic oversight of facility scheduling to balance construction activities, maintenance, events, practices, and rentals. 
• Anticipate operational risks and proactively develop solutions that minimize disruption. 
• Participate as a key contributor to WNBA expansion and future organizational growth initiatives. 
• Support emergency response planning and serve as a facilities leader during critical incidents.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Facilities Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Eight (8)+ years of progressively responsible experience leading facilities management, capital planning, construction management, or large-scale project delivery. 
• Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-million-dollar capital projects from planning through completion. 
• Strong financial acumen with experience developing operating and capital budgets. 
• Exceptional project management, organizational, and prioritization skills. 
• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and relationship management abilities. 
• Thorough knowledge of commercial building systems, construction processes, life safety standards, ADA requirements, and regulatory compliance. 
• Experience utilizing enterprise project management, construction management, CMMS, and budgeting software (such as Procore, Smartsheet, Autodesk Construction Cloud, or similar platforms). 
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives in a fast-paced environment while maintaining exceptional attention to detail. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting professional sports, entertainment venues, collegiate athletics, healthcare, hospitality, or similarly complex facilities. 
• Familiarity with NBA, WNBA, and G League facility standards. 
• Experience supporting multiple facilities across diverse geographic locations.
• WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
• Ability to walk facilities for extended periods of time. 
• Ability to access mechanical rooms, construction sites, and other facility areas. 
• Ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 25 pounds. 
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions. 
• Must possess a valid driver's license and maintain a satisfactory driving record. 
• Ability to travel as needed to support league meetings, project sites, team activities, and organizational facilities. 
• Availability to respond to facilities-related emergencies outside of normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to walk facilities for extended periods of time. 
• Ability to access mechanical rooms, construction sites, and other facility areas. 
• Ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 25 pounds. 
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions. 
• Must possess a valid driver's license and maintain a satisfactory driving record. 
• Ability to travel as needed to support league meetings, project sites, team activities, and organizational facilities. 
• Availability to respond to facilities-related emergencies outside of normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We are dedicated to ensuring equal access throughout the employment process. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable participation in the application and interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you require an accommodation, please contact us to request assistance.