Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

Technical Specialist 2 - Capital Program Planner

Nashville, TN (On-site)

The Capital Project Planner is responsible for leading early-phase capital planning efforts for all DGS-managed facility projects. This position develops space need programs, conducts or oversees site feasibility studies and test fits, prepares conceptual project budgets, and assembles scope and schedule assumptions necessary to inform Metro’s Capital Improvement Budget and annual Capital Spending Plan requests. Once funding is approved, the planner provides a complete project definition package to the Capital Project Management team for execution. The men and women in Metro’s General Services Department are there to make sure the rest of government works. From ensuring that our city’s vehicles run safely and smoothly, to keeping city buildings up to par to providing printing services and more, General Services is the support that allows other Metro departments to focus and achieve their missions. Capital Planning & Programming Track and forecast future capital needs across the General Services portfolio, including deferred maintenance, upgrades, and new construction. Maintain comprehensive capital planning documentation and databases to support decision-making, reporting, and interdepartmental coordination. Lead pre-project planning, including preparation of space needs assessments and detailed space programs for requesting Metro departments. Facilitate stakeholder meetings, user interviews, and program validation workshops. Define project goals, operational requirements, adjacency needs, and functional relationships. Site Feasibility & Test Fits Conduct site and building test fits directly or manage on-call consultants to produce them. Work with DGS Real Estate Services team to evaluate potential site locations, constraints, zoning impacts, access, parking, security, and utilities. Prepare conceptual layout options, high-level blocking diagrams, and feasibility summaries. Budget & Scope Development Prepare conceptual total Project budgets including land costs, design, construction, FF&E, soft costs, contingency, and escalation. Establish initial scope statements, phasing considerations, and schedule assumptions. Identify early project risks and constraints. Capital Request Preparation Lead the development, coordination, and submission of the department’s Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) entries. Plan and model portfolio level cash flows to identify annual and multi-year funding needs and recommended priorities. Assemble project specific Capital Project Request packages, including cash flow analysis, for the purpose of advocating for funding and advancing individual projects to the Capital Spending Plan. Provide clear, defensible budget documentation and scope descriptions aligned with Metro design and construction guidelines, policies, and initiatives. Coordination & Handoff After funding approval, prepare a Project Definition Package for Capital Project Managers. Support Project Managers during schematic design to ensure adherence to program intent. Standards, Policies, & Data Maintain DGS space standards, programming templates, and planning procedures. Document benchmarking data, utilization metrics, and cost history for future planning. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE High School Diploma or equivalent supplemented by job related technical education as described in the position announcement and six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in architectural programming, facility planning, or capital planning, including two (2) years of increasingly responsible supervisory/lead experience and/or project management experience. Additional education may be considered In lieu of some experience Licenses Required Valid Driver License Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply. Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government. Experience with conceptual budgeting and municipal/public sector capital project processes. Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, or similar program for test fits. Experience in government facility planning. Experience with construction cost estimating and project delivery methods. Demonstrated knowledge of urban planning, land use, zoning, and entitlement process. Experience developing multiple site/test-fit options and evaluate them objectively. Post high school degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Planning, or related field. We are an equal opportunity employer. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. Metro Nashville is committed to selecting the most qualified candidate for each of our roles. Metro Nashville Government respects the religious beliefs and practices of all employees and will make, on request, an accommodation for such observances when a reasonable accommodation is available that does not create an undue hardship on business operations. Requests for ADA or other protected accommodations for the recruitment process should be directed to Human Resources at 615-862-6640.