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.
- Performs additional duties and special projects as assigned to support evolving business needs and organizational growth.
QUALIFICATIONS: - 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.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, including strong organizational, time management, and deadline-driven execution skills.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:- 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)
- Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust or focus
WORK ENVIRONMENT: - The noise level in the work environment usually is quiet.
