Associate Director, Facilites
3 days ago
Philadelphia
The Associate Director, Facilities is accountable for the strategic and operational leadership of integrated Engineering, Facilities Management, and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) functions for the Philadelphia site. This role provides oversight across both GMP and non-GMP environments, ensuring safe, compliant, and reliable operations while delivering a best-in-class workplace experience through the execution of comprehensive soft services. The scope of responsibility includes people leadership for staff, contractors, and vendors; ownership of operational and capital budgets; execution of small and large-scale construction, renovation, and infrastructure projects; development and maintenance of compliant facilities systems; and leadership of enterprise business continuity and disaster recovery efforts. The role serves as a culture champion, promoting safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the site. This position partners closely with Corporate, Clinical, CMC, Manufacturing, Quality, Research, and other cross-functional stakeholders to support corporate strategy, clinical timelines, and manufacturing objectives. It is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role requiring strong interpersonal skills, a service-oriented mindset, and a commitment to mentoring and developing high-performing teams while balancing strategic planning with daily operational excellence. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Develops, communicates, and executes a strategic vision for Facilities, Engineering, and EHS that ensures reliable, compliant, and efficient daily site operations while supporting long-term business growth., • Provides overall leadership and oversight of integrated GMP and non-GMP engineering, facilities management, and EHS programs across U.S. site(s)., • Establishes and manages departmental strategy, operational budgets, capital planning, and long-range infrastructure plans aligned with corporate objectives., • Leads and supports capital projects including site expansions, renovations, equipment installations, and infrastructure upgrades in live GMP environments., • Serves as a key participant and subject matter expert in internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and compliance readiness activities., • Defines, tracks, and reports performance metrics (KPIs) related to facilities reliability, compliance, cost efficiency, safety, and service delivery., • Ensures 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., • Provides strong leadership, coaching, and mentorship to engineering, facilities, soft services, and EHS teams, fostering accountability, engagement, and professional development., • Owns the development, execution, and continuous improvement of soft site services, including but not limited to:, • Office space planning, layout design, and moves, • Supply ordering, inventory control, and distribution, • Conference room, town hall, and company meeting support, • Operational documentation and run books, • Policies and procedures for site operations, • Site security, access control, and visitor management, • Office maintenance, janitorial services, and vendor oversight, • Landlord and property management relationships, • Emergency preparedness and site response readiness, • Overall workplace experience and operational excellence, • Ensures all facility utilities and critical systems are fully operational, compliant, safe, and proactively maintained to support uninterrupted manufacturing and business operations., • Takes a hands-on leadership role in soft services execution while maintaining strategic ownership and accountability., • Owns and leads the integrated enterprise business continuity and disaster recovery programs for U.S. site(s), ensuring operational resilience and regulatory compliance., • Partners cross-functionally with Quality, Manufacturing, MSAT, IT, HR, Finance, and Executive Leadership to align facilities operations with business and compliance needs., • Drives continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, operational efficiency, and cost optimization., • Acts as a culture champion, reinforcing safety, quality, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization., • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Facilities Management, or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience; Master's degree or advanced technical certification preferred. 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/aseptic injectable pharmaceutical manufacturing operations., • Advanced technical knowledge of mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), HVAC, utilities, and life-safety systems within a regulated GMP environment., • Exceptional customer service orientation with strong relationship-building and stakeholder management capabilities., • Proven people leadership skills, including staff development, succession planning, performance management, and team building., • Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all organizational levels., • High-energy, results-driven leader with a positive, "can-do" attitude and the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and business needs., • Experience conducting systems investigations, deviations, and root cause analysis using structured problem-solving methodologies., • Proficiency with CMMS and BMS platforms, including program design, implementation, optimization, and data-driven performance management., • Demonstrated experience supporting EHS programs, regulatory compliance, audits, and corporate business continuity and disaster recovery planning., • Strong presentation and executive communication skills, with experience preparing and delivering materials to senior leadership., • Experience supporting pharmaceutical and/or biopharmaceutical facility ramp-ups, equipment layout planning, installation, qualification, and calibration activities., • Self-directed professional with a strong sense of accountability and ownership for operational performance and compliance., • Ability and willingness to serve as a culture champion, promoting safety, quality, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement., • Proven ability to lead, build, and scale high-performing, cross-functional teams in a growing and dynamic organization., • Strong background in safety and compliance programs including emergency response, biosafety, lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined space, environmental hazard management, and ISO-standard implementation., • Demonstrated ability to develop, write, and maintain department operational, maintenance, engineering, and compliance SOPs in alignment with regulatory requirements., • Experience developing and scaling integrated facilities functions to support organizational growth, business continuity, and long-term site strategy., • Working knowledge of Pennsylvania OSHA, Pennsylvania EPA, and applicable county and municipal building, safety, and environmental codes and regulations., • Strong understanding of construction practices, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems and infrastructure., • High proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project); experience with AutoCAD or similar design software strongly preferred., • Experience with RFQ/RFP development, vendor evaluation, contract negotiation, and contractor management., • Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively engage and influence all levels of the organization, from frontline operators to executive leadership, demonstrating professionalism, clarity, and respect., • Frequently required to stand, • Frequently required to walk., • Frequently required to sit., • Frequently required to talk or hear., • Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds)