Capital Planning
Capital Planning is the process of planning and managing long-term investments in an organization's infrastructure, buildings, equipment, and major projects. In government and public organizations, this involves deciding how to spend public money on big purchases or construction projects that will serve the community for many years. Think of it like creating a household budget, but on a much larger scale - deciding when to repair roads, build new schools, or upgrade computer systems. Similar terms you might see include "Capital Improvement Planning" or "Infrastructure Planning."
Examples in Resumes
Managed $50M Capital Planning process for city infrastructure improvements
Led annual Capital Planning and Capital Improvement Planning cycles for state agency
Developed 5-year Capital Planning strategy for county facilities and equipment
Typical job title: "Capital Planning Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Capital Planning Managers
Professional Associations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle competing priorities in a capital planning process with limited budget?
Expected Answer: Should discuss prioritization methods, stakeholder engagement, cost-benefit analysis, and ability to make tough decisions while considering community needs and available resources.
Q: Describe your experience with long-term financial forecasting for capital projects.
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of multi-year budgeting, funding sources, debt management, and how to account for future maintenance costs in planning.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you ensure stakeholder involvement in the capital planning process?
Expected Answer: Should explain methods for gathering input from department heads, elected officials, and the public, plus how to balance different needs and interests.
Q: What factors do you consider when evaluating capital project proposals?
Expected Answer: Should mention project costs, public benefit, urgency, maintenance requirements, funding availability, and alignment with organization's goals.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the difference between capital and operating expenses?
Expected Answer: Should explain that capital expenses are long-term investments in physical assets while operating expenses are day-to-day costs of running the organization.
Q: What basic elements should a capital project proposal include?
Expected Answer: Should list project description, cost estimates, timeline, funding sources, and expected benefits to the organization or community.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of budgeting processes
- Project proposal preparation
- Data collection and analysis
- Understanding of government operations
Mid (2-5 years)
- Budget development and monitoring
- Stakeholder coordination
- Project prioritization
- Financial analysis and forecasting
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic planning
- Policy development
- Long-term financial planning
- Leadership and decision-making
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with public sector budgeting
- Lack of stakeholder management skills
- Poor understanding of government funding processes
- No experience with long-term planning
- Unfamiliarity with public procurement rules
Related Terms
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