Associate Director, Lab Facilities

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Associate Director, Lab Facilities Job Description

The Associate Director, Facilities and Engineering provides strategic and operational leadership for integrated Engineering, Facilities Management, and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) functions across GMP and non-GMP environments. This highly visible, hands-on role ensures safe, compliant, and reliable operations while delivering a best-in-class workplace experience through comprehensive soft services. The position oversees people leadership for staff, contractors, and vendors, manages operational and capital budgets, leads construction and infrastructure projects, maintains compliant facility systems, and directs enterprise business continuity and disaster recovery efforts. The Associate Director serves as a culture champion, promoting safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and partners closely with cross-functional stakeholders to support corporate strategy, clinical timelines, and manufacturing objectives.

Responsibilities

• Develop, communicate, and execute a strategic vision for Facilities, Engineering, and EHS that ensures reliable, compliant, and efficient daily site operations while supporting long-term business growth.
• Provide overall leadership and oversight of integrated GMP and non-GMP engineering, facilities management, and EHS programs across U.S. site(s).
• Establish and manage departmental strategy, operational budgets, capital planning, and long-range infrastructure plans aligned with corporate objectives.
• Lead and support capital projects including site expansions, renovations, equipment installations, and infrastructure upgrades in live GMP environments.
• Serve as a key participant and subject matter expert in internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and compliance readiness activities.
• Define, track, and report performance metrics (KPIs) related to facilities reliability, compliance, cost efficiency, safety, and service delivery.
• Ensure all GMP and non-GMP documentation, run books, SOPs, and compliance records are current, audit-ready, and aligned with cGMP, company policies, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Provide strong leadership, coaching, and mentorship to engineering, facilities, soft services, and EHS teams, fostering accountability, engagement, and professional development.
• Own the development, execution, and continuous improvement of soft site services, including office space planning, layout design, and moves.
• Oversee supply ordering, inventory control, and distribution to support smooth daily operations.
• Coordinate conference room, town hall, and company meeting support to ensure effective onsite events and gatherings.
• Maintain operational documentation and run books that clearly describe site operations and procedures.
• Develop and enforce policies and procedures for site operations to ensure consistency, safety, and compliance.
• Manage site security, access control, and visitor management to protect people, assets, and information.
• Oversee office maintenance, janitorial services, and vendor performance to maintain a clean and functional workplace.
• Manage landlord and property management relationships to ensure alignment on building services and lease obligations.
• Lead emergency preparedness and site response readiness activities to ensure swift, coordinated action in critical situations.
• Champion overall workplace experience and operational excellence, creating a safe, efficient, and engaging environment for employees.
• Ensure all facility utilities and critical systems are fully operational, compliant, safe, and proactively maintained to support uninterrupted manufacturing and business operations.
• Take a hands-on leadership role in the execution of soft services while maintaining strategic ownership and accountability for outcomes.
• Own and lead integrated enterprise business continuity and disaster recovery programs for U.S. site(s), ensuring operational resilience and regulatory compliance.
• Partner cross-functionally with Quality, Manufacturing, MSAT, IT, HR, Finance, and Executive Leadership to align facilities operations with business and compliance needs.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, operational efficiency, and cost optimization.
• Utilize facilities, engineering, EHS, infrastructure, budgeting, site expansion, equipment installation, and infrastructure upgrade expertise to guide decision-making.
• Oversee site security and access control systems and ensure maintenance operations are planned and executed effectively.
• Leverage systems such as Blue Mountain RAM (BMR) or similar tools to support maintenance operations and compliance tracking.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Facilities Management, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 12–15+ years of progressive facilities and maintenance operations experience within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or GMP-regulated manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated success in facilities leadership roles with a proven record of delivering measurable results in operational excellence, compliance, cost control, and infrastructure reliability.
• Strong expertise in project management and facilities operations, including capital projects, site expansions, renovations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Broad experience across engineering services, soft services, and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) programs.
• Ability to operate both strategically and tactically, translating long-term vision into executable plans that support business and site objectives.
• Extensive experience managing construction, renovations, and upgrades in live GMP manufacturing environments with minimal operational disruption.
• Demonstrated experience supporting sterile and aseptic injectable pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
• Advanced technical knowledge of mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), HVAC, utilities, and life-safety systems within a regulated GMP environment.
• Proficiency in facilities, engineering, EHS, infrastructure planning, budgeting, site expansion, equipment installation, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Experience managing site security, access control, and maintenance operations, including use of tools such as Blue Mountain RAM (BMR) or similar systems.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Master’s degree or advanced technical certification in a relevant field is preferred.
• Experience leading integrated facilities, engineering, and EHS teams in complex, multi-site environments.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Service-oriented mindset with a commitment to mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Proven ability to act as a culture champion, promoting safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Experience defining, tracking, and reporting KPIs related to facilities reliability, compliance, cost efficiency, safety, and service delivery.
• Ability to participate confidently in internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and compliance readiness activities.
• Demonstrated capability in business continuity planning and disaster recovery program leadership.

Work Environment

This role operates across GMP and non-GMP laboratory, manufacturing, and office environments, supporting sterile and aseptic injectable pharmaceutical operations and broader corporate functions. The Associate Director works closely with engineering, facilities, EHS, and soft services teams, as well as cross-functional partners in Quality, Manufacturing, MSAT, IT, HR, Finance, and Executive Leadership. The work involves overseeing mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), HVAC, utilities, life-safety systems, and site security and access control technologies. The position requires a hands-on presence on site, frequent interaction with vendors and landlords, and active participation in audits, inspections, and emergency preparedness activities. The environment emphasizes safety, compliance, operational excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement, with a focus on delivering a reliable, efficient, and engaging workplace experience.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Philadelphia, PA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $72.00 - $84.13/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Philadelphia,PA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email View email address on us.fitly.work for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.