Director of Buildings, Real Estate, And Construction

Job Description

Summary/Objective:
The Director of Buildings, Real Estate, and Construction is a senior leadership role, responsible for overseeing the planning, development, management, and maintenance of diocesan and parish real estate properties, facilities, and construction projects. This position ensures that all activities align with the mission of the Catholic Church, comply with diocesan policies, canonical and civil legal requirements, and best practices in construction and property management. The role emphasizes stewardship of diocesan assets, supporting parishes, schools, and other entities in their facility needs while promoting efficient, cost-effective, and mission-aligned development.

Essential Job Functions:
• Serves as a primary resource to pastors, parish leadership, and agency leadership regarding facility-related matters. Assists parishes and agencies with the full spectrum of facility needs, from master planning of new facilities to the retirement or disposition of existing facilities.
• Chairs the Diocesan Building Commission, preparing agendas, minutes, and recommendations for Bishop's approval. Actively recruits industry professionals to volunteer their time and expertise with the Diocesan Building Commission.
• Reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations on all diocesan and parochial construction and real estate projects.
• Ensures parish and agency projects are appropriately aligned and coordinated with diocesan priorities through effective communication with the Bishop, the Diocesan Building Commission, and other diocesan offices.
• Collaborates with pastors to assist in the purchase, sale, leasing, and disposition of real property for the diocese, parishes, and affiliated entities. Responsibilities may include negotiating ground leases, coordinating property valuations, and managing site selection processes for new developments.
• Advises on capital repairs, renovations, and new construction projects. Responsibilities include reviewing architectural and engineering plans, coordinating contractor selection through established bidding processes, and monitoring project progress to support timely and cost-effective completion. Maintains accurate records and documentation for all projects, including payment approvals and final project close-out.
• Provides leadership in short-and-long-term planning related to architectural, engineering, maintenance, and rehabilitation initiatives for diocesan, parish, and agency facilities throughout the diocese.
• Develops and implements strategies to support the effective use and long-term viability of diocesan real estate assets, including evaluating opportunities for repurposing or disposition of underutilized properties.
• Ensures all property-related activities are conducted in compliance with applicable civil laws, zoning regulations, building codes, insurance requirements, and internal diocesan and canonical policies.
• Coordinates matters related to property tax exemptions, easements, insurance claims, and risk mitigation efforts.
• Maintains records for all projects, ensuring accurate documentation from inception to close-out.
• Creates and maintains a comprehensive real estate database for parish, school, cemetery, and other diocesan entity properties, tracking details such as ownership, location, condition, valuation, usage, and historical data to support informed decision-making and reporting.
• Ensures proper canonical documentation for all real estate transactions, property holdings, and construction projects, in compliance with Canon Law, including maintaining records of ecclesiastical approvals, alienations, and other required canonical processes.

Required Competencies:
• Should strive to personally know, love, and serve Jesus Christ through active participation in the life of the Catholic Church.
• Must publicly profess and strive to follow Catholic teachings as proclaimed by the Magisterium of the Church.
• Should have strong interpersonal skills, collaborating effectively and joyfully with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Contribute to a positive working environment through words and actions, and maintain a positive and professional demeanor.
• Demonstrate integrity and a striving for excellence in work.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities, with the capacity to multitask, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• A reputation for honesty, reliability, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Ability to effectively work with diocesan staff and pastors.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills for interacting with diverse stakeholders, including clergy, laity, contractors, and regulators.
• Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment with competing demands.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office products.
• Physical capability to visit job sites, involving walking, standing, and occasional lifting.
• Ability to evaluate projects from initiation through completion and understand the interdependence of successive project phases.

Education & Experience:
• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in Real Estate, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5-10 years of senior-level experience in real estate development, property management, or large-scale construction.
• Familiarity with structure and bureaucracy of Catholic Church.
• Experience with AIA contracts, blueprint reading, and the full project lifecycle from design to completion.
• Proven track record in managing multi-site projects, budgets, and teams.
• Leadership skills to build consensus, manage risks, and drive projects to successful completion.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
• Administrative Assistant

Work Relationships:
• Diocesan leadership & staff, pastors, parish staff, Diocesan
Building Commission

Classification:
• Full-time, Exempt

Work Schedule:
• M-F, 8:00am to 4:30pm; with occasional evening or weekend work as required.

Reports to:
• Director of Operations

Other Duties:
• This job description is not designed or intended to be a comprehensive or exhaustive list of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of an employee in this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice, at the discretion of the Bishop of Madison.

About the Employer

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison, serving Southern Wisconsin, is building mission-driven communities of faith to share the life-changing good news of Jesus Christ. From the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers in the beautiful Driftless Area to the rolling glacial plains, bluffs, and lakes surrounding our state capital region, we're blessed with a rich blend of rural communities and vibrant cities, each shaped by our longstanding Catholic heritage.