As Executive Director, Jim plays an instrumental role in Helbling’s strategic vision, and enhancing our executive search capabilities and internal operations. He performs client development, manages a team of consultants, and recruits on assignments.

Jim represents organizations within all of Helbling's core sectors, partnering extensively with healthcare and higher education institutions as well as corporations, public agencies, and non-profit organizations in securing professionals involved in all facets of facilities including energy, real estate, utilities, sustainability, property management, and capital programs. Additionally, he conducts and manages mid- to senior-level searches for general, heavy civil, and specialty construction firms, as well as real estate developers.

Prior to joining Helbling in 1998, Jim was a Group Leader with an international consulting firm providing executive assessment and development to the manufacturing industry. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Duquesne University, and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. In 2018, he earned a certificate in Advanced Executive Search and Leadership Consulting from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. In his free time, Jim enjoys guitar, weightlifting, ice hockey, and carpentry.​

Geographical Focus:

Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, upstate New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont), Illinois, and Southern Texas

Recently Completed Searches:

• Director of Master Planning & Engineering for Cushing Academy
• Vice President of Operations for a Chicago construction firm
• Vice President of Facilities for Northwestern University
• Vice President of Finance & Accounting for an engineering and construction firm
• Director of Facilities for Westridge School for Girls
• Assistant Vice President for Facilities for University of Rhode Island
• Director of Facilities Operations for Colgate University
• Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer for an international engineering consulting firm
• Assistant Vice President, Planning, Design & Construction for Brown University

Active Searches:

• Senior Project Manager, Capital Project Delivery for University of Chicago
• Capital Planning Manager for University of Chicago
• Senior Program Manager, Renewal for Brown University
• Associate Vice President of Facilities & Operations for Roxbury Community College
• Director of Facilities for The Hill School
• Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Grounds for Smith College
• Chief Operating Officer for a New Jersey engineering and construction firm
• Geotechnical Project Manager for a contruction company
• Director of Business & Administrative Services, Facilities for Colby College
• Associate Vice President, Research & Administration Facilities for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Associate Vice President, Facilities & Construction for Columbia College Chicago
• Director of Building Services for Princeton University
• University Architect for University of Washington
• Vice President of Real Estate Planning & Development for Brigham and Women's Hospital