Director of Capital Projects

ABOUT LEGENDS GLOBAL | HUNTINGTON PLACE

Legends Global is redefining excellence in live events, venue management, and hospitality. With a global portfolio of 350+ iconic venues and a 360° approach that integrates Partnerships, Premium Experiences, Merchandise, Technology, and Operations, Legends Global delivers world-class results for clients and unforgettable moments for guests.

At Huntington Place Detroit — the 16th largest convention center in the United States — that global expertise meets Detroit’s energy, innovation, and resilience. Together, we’re shaping the future of live experiences in the heart of the Motor City.

THE ROLE

The Director of Capital Projects is responsible for leading the planning, development, and execution of large-scale capital expansion and redevelopment projects across the convention center campus. This role manages complex, multi-year initiatives including facility expansions, new construction, major renovations, and infrastructure improvements to the quality and safety standards of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and Legends Global. This role oversees the full lifecycle of capital projects, including planning, design, construction, and closeout, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and aligned with operational needs.

The Director serves as a key strategic leader, aligning expansion efforts with enhancing guest experience, organizational growth objectives, market competitiveness, and long-term asset value, while ensuring seamless integration with ongoing venue operations within an active convention center environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Capital Planning & Development: Develop capital program priorities, project scopes, delivery strategies, schedules, and implementation plans for expansions, new construction, major renovations, infrastructure improvements, and campus redevelopment projects. Align investments with operational requirements, guest experience objectives, and long-term facility asset value.

• Strategic Leadership: Partner with executive leadership and the DRCFA Board to establish capital priorities, evaluate investment opportunities, support project approvals, and provide recommendations regarding project execution and resource allocation.

• Project Delivery & Oversight: Direct multiple complex capital projects simultaneously through all phases of delivery, including planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout. Ensure projects are completed in accordance with approved scope, schedule, budget, and quality requirements.

• Consultant & Contractor Management: Lead and coordinate architects, engineers, construction managers, contractors, inspectors, owner's representatives, and consultants. Facilitate design reviews, resolve project issues, and hold external partners accountable for contractual obligations, schedules, deliverables, and performance expectations. 

• Financial Management: Develop and manage capital budgets, forecasts, expenditures, commitments, contingencies, and estimates at completion. Monitor financial performance, evaluate value engineering opportunities, and implement cost-control measures while maintaining project quality and operational objectives.

• Procurement & Contract Administration: Collaborate with the Purchasing Director to develop scopes of work, specifications, procurement documentation, and competitive bid packages in accordance with DRCFA Purchasing Policy. Administer contracts, change orders, task orders, and associated approval processes.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the primary liaison with executives, DRCFA Board members, public agencies, consultants, developers, community stakeholders, and private partners. Provide clear reporting, presentations, and recommendations regarding project status, financial performance, risks, and key decisions.

• Construction Coordination: Coordinate construction activities within an active convention center environment. Manage project phasing, site access, utility disruptions, shutdowns, logistics, and operational impacts to minimize disruption to events, guests, clients, and business operations.

• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, coach, and develop capital project staff, including the Construction Project Manager, Accounting Manager, and Assistant Project Engineer. Establish project controls, accountability standards, consistent processes, and performance expectations across the capital program.

• Quality Assurance & Safety Compliance: Conduct regular site inspections to monitor construction progress, workmanship, and compliance with project specifications. Ensure contractors maintain compliance with applicable safety requirements, codes, permit conditions, and Huntington Place and DRCFA standards.

• Permitting & Regulatory Compliance: Coordinate permit acquisition, inspections, approvals, and interactions with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). Ensure timely resolution of regulatory issues and maintenance of required project documentation.

• Risk & Change Management: Identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, evaluate impacts to budget and schedule, and ensure changes are appropriately documented, reviewed, approved, and communicated before implementation.

• Project Documentation & Controls: Maintain accurate and complete project records, including contracts, change orders, drawings, schedules, inspection reports, budget reports, progress reports, commissioning records, and closeout documentation.

• Commissioning & Project Closeout: Lead commissioning, turnover, staff training, warranty administration, punch-list completion, record drawing collection, operational documentation, and successful transition of completed assets to facility operations.

• Other Duties: Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

KEY DELIVERABLES

• Deliver capital projects on time, within budget, and within approved scope.

• Provide accurate project, budget, risk, and schedule reporting to executive leadership and the DRCFA Board.

• Ensure compliance with procurement, permitting, regulatory, safety, quality, and code requirements.

• Minimize operational disruption and protect the guest and client experience during construction activities.

• Maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready project and financial documentation.

• Successfully commission and transition completed projects to facility operations.

• Foster effective collaboration and accountability among internal teams, contractors, consultants, and stakeholders.

• Support long-term facility objectives through successful delivery of the capital program.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, Engineering, or a closely related field.

• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience managing construction, capital improvement, expansion, redevelopment, or infrastructure projects.

• Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience managing project teams, consultants, contractors, and external stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale capital projects with significant budgets, complex schedules, and multiple stakeholders.

• Strong knowledge of construction methods, project delivery systems, contract administration, procurement practices, budgeting, forecasting, scheduling, change management, permitting, quality assurance, and construction safety requirements.

• Experience coordinating construction activities within occupied facilities or active operational environments.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze issues, evaluate alternatives, manage risk, and make effective decisions in changing and time-sensitive environments.

• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and project management or document control platforms.

• Ability to interpret construction drawings, specifications, contracts, and technical project documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fifteen (15) or more years of capital project delivery experience.

• Experience delivering projects within convention centers, sports and entertainment venues, hospitality facilities, airports, higher education campuses, healthcare facilities, or similarly complex public-facing environments.

• Experience working with public authorities, boards, government agencies, or public procurement processes.

• Experience utilizing e-Builder, Bluebeam, Procore, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or comparable project management and document control systems.

• Professional certifications such as PMP, CCM, PE, RA, LEED, or equivalent industry credentials.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits starting day one

• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time

• 401(k) with company match

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This position operates onsite in a live-event environment that requires flexibility, professionalism, and adherence to safety practices. Work occurs both in an office setting and throughout the facility — including active construction zones, back-of-house areas, rooftops, loading docks, and outdoor spaces.

The role requires walking, standing, climbing ladders, wearing PPE, and occasional lifting up to 40 lbs. Early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays may be required based on project milestones and event schedules.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Huntington Place / Legends Global is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, encouraging Women, Minorities, Individuals with Disabilities, and Protected Veterans to apply. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.