Associate Director, Laboratory Space Planning

The Associate Director, Laboratory Space Planning is responsible for overseeing site-based laboratory space planning, design coordination, and utilization improvement. This role supports the effective allocation, renovation, and optimization of laboratory space to meet current and emerging scientific and business needs. Working closely with the Director, Laboratory Development and Planning, the Associate Director supports the development of site-level laboratory planning strategies, capacity plans, and space optimization initiatives, ensuring laboratory environments are aligned with business priorities, scientific workflows, operational needs, safety expectations, and applicable regulatory requirements. The role partners closely with scientific leaders, Lab Operations, SHE, Facilities, Engineering, and project teams to deliver practical and sustainable laboratory space solutions. This position serves as a key subject matter expert for laboratory space planning, supporting laboratory renovation, reconfiguration, and new space planning activities while helping to promote effective governance, improve utilization, and promote efficient ways of working.

Typical Accountabilities

Laboratory Planning and Space Strategy • Lead site-level laboratory development and planning activities partnering with Site Operations and other relevant stakeholders. • Support development and maintenance of laboratory space strategies and capacity plans that support scientific programs, emerging modalities, workforce changes, and operational priorities. • Ensure maintenance of dashboard and relevant data source(s) reflecting “as-is” lab allocation, layout, adjacencies, and operational constraints (e.g., utilities). • Partner with scientific, operational, and planning stakeholders to understand short-, medium-, and longer-term laboratory space demand, equipment needs, and occupancy requirements. • Translate business requirements into practical laboratory space solutions, including allocation plans, adjacency recommendations, and future-state planning scenarios. • Support planning for new laboratories, renovations, reconfigurations, and restacks, ensuring laboratory designs are functional, efficient, and aligned to user and business needs. • Contribute laboratory planning expertise to broader site planning and infrastructure discussions to support coordinated decision-making. • Support lab planning and space discussions for global Oncology R&D managed sites, as needed. Drive Laboratory Space Optimization • Drive laboratory space optimization initiatives to improve flexibility, sharing, utilization, and efficiency. • Working with AD Lab Insights to understand laboratory utilization data, occupancy information, observational findings, and business inputs to identify underused space, operational constraints, and opportunities for improvement ensuring data is turned into actionable laboratory planning. Internal AZ Job Description • Partner with Lab Operations and laboratory users to improve bench utilization, instrument sharing, support space allocation, and overall effectiveness of laboratory environments. • Implement and support space optimization methodologies, including 5S, workplace organization principles, standardized zoning, and utilization governance practices. • Working with the Director, Laboratory Development and Planning, recommend laboratory planning models and space concepts appropriate to scientific workflows, including shared laboratories, open lab environments, platform spaces, and specialized zones where applicable. Project Planning and Delivery Support • Lead laboratory planning workstreams for site-based projects, including programming input, concept development, adjacency planning, occupancy scenarios, and implementation considerations. • Collaborate with architects, engineers, project managers, facilities teams, and laboratory users to ensure laboratory requirements are clearly captured and incorporated into project delivery. • Review laboratory layouts, design proposals, and planning documents to ensure alignment with workflows, operational needs, equipment requirements, safety standards, and regulatory expectations. • Support moves, transitions, and commissioning activities related to laboratory renovations, relocations, and newly developed spaces. • Identify planning risks, dependencies, and constraints and develop mitigation options to support successful project outcomes. Stakeholder Management and Customer Engagement • Develop trusted partnerships with scientific leaders and laboratory managers, establishing a deep understanding of scientific workflows, equipment requirements, operating models, and future business priorities. • Build strong working relationships with scientists, laboratory managers, site leaders, and enabling functions to understand needs and maintain alignment on current and future laboratory space priorities. • Gather and synthesize voice-of-customer insights from laboratory users and business stakeholders regarding space challenges, opportunities, and future requirements. • Facilitate laboratory planning discussions and decision-making forums, helping stakeholders evaluate options, priorities, and trade-offs. • Communicate planning assumptions, recommendations, timelines, and constraints clearly to ensure transparency and effective expectation management. • Promote adoption of new ways of working that improve laboratory efficiency, sustainability, collaboration, and space effectiveness. Governance, Standards, and Continuous Improvement • Apply laboratory planning standards, governance frameworks, and operational guidelines to support consistent and effective site-level decision-making. • Develop and refine planning tools, templates, processes, and metrics used to assess current state and forecast future space requirements. • Support governance processes for laboratory space allocation, requests, prioritization, and change control within the site or assigned portfolio. • Ensure planning recommendations reflect relevant safety, compliance, operational, and facility requirements. • Capture lessons learned and share best practices to strengthen laboratory planning capabilities and improve future outcomes. Team Leadership and Technical Guidance Internal AZ Job Description • Provide guidance and technical leadership to planners, coordinators, analysts, or project resources supporting laboratory planning activities. • Lead cross-functional working teams associated with laboratory planning, optimization, or renovation initiatives. • Coach stakeholders through planning decisions and change impacts, helping teams adapt to new space models and operating approaches. • Contribute to a culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, customer focus, and continuous improvement.

Essential

Bachelor’s degree in lab-based biomedical, pharmaceutical, or biological science required • Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory environments, laboratory operations, and space planning principles within an R&D, pharmaceutical, biotech, or similarly regulated scientific setting. • 1-3 years of relevant managerial experience • 3-5 years Lab planning experience • Strategy setting & execution skills • Strong critical and analytical thinker • Strong aptitude for customer service • Good interpersonal and problem-solving skills • Highly organized, efficient, and self-motivated • Successful previous work in a matrix or project organization • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Desirable Strong preference for previous Lab Operations experience • Master’s degree, MBA or higher preferred • Customer Focus • Decision Quality • Directing Others • Motivating Others • Organizing • Priority Setting • Process Management

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $150,839.20 - $226,258.80 USD. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

Date Posted

11-Nov-2026

Closing Date

26-Nov-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.