Principal Laboratory Planner

HDR is committed to an inclusive culture where each of us is valued and empowered to bring our authentic selves and ideas to work every day. Our employee-owners aim to make a positive impact on communities around the world.

We believe architecture is about providing solutions to societal challenges and creating stronger, more vibrant communities. As part of HDR’s Architecture practice, you’ll contribute to the design and delivery of spaces and experiences that advance community well-being. From healing environments and learning spaces to research labs and civic landmarks, your work will influence how people experience the built world. We bring together architects, planners, designers, and technical experts to solve complex design challenges with creativity, curiosity, and collaboration.

This role focuses on leading laboratory programming and planning for physical science research environments, including clean rooms, vibration-sensitive labs, quantum computing, and engineering projects. You will work with designers, project architects, building engineers, and other design professionals as part of an interdisciplinary team.

We are seeking a Principal Laboratory Planner to join our Education and Science practice. The right candidate will build consensus across groups to move forward with innovative paradigms for research and teaching environments and related office and support spaces. The ideal candidate stays current with trends affecting clients and projects and demonstrates a deep interest in physical science research and environments.

• Lead programming and planning efforts with project team and client.
• Serve as the key contact for the client’s leadership team.
• Establish, track and maintain project programming and planning budgets.
• Coordinate programming and planning efforts with other design and engineering disciplines.
• Effectively manage other planning staff.
• Collaborate with the project team to meet project schedule, quality deliverables, budgets, and profit goals.
• Lead collection of project requirements such as goals and objectives, facility functions, room requirements, adjacencies, and blocking and stacking.
• Direct preparation of program statements, planning documents, contract documents, and specifications for research, educational and related spaces.
• Write technical specifications in compliance with standards, best practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate lab equipment, cabinetry and casework and assist clients in the selection process.

• Mentor planning staff, providing guidance for staff development and advancement.
• Contribute to program-specific content development such as benchmarking information, BIM library, master specifications, planning standards, etc.
• Participate in Quality Control through peer reviews, project charrettes and daily mentoring.
• Participate in program and company training, recognition and awards programs.
• Develop and present presentations for in-house education and training.

• Establish and maintain client relationships.
• Participate in project capture planning with the business development team.
• Contribute to the development of proposals and presentations.
• Be a difference-maker in winning work at interviews.
• Contribute to program public relations through speaking engagements, authoring technical papers, and participation in professional organizations.
• Create and present program expertise and capabilities to prospective clients.

• Be an industry thought leader and knowledge expert.
• Conduct technical presentations at national and international industry conferences and seminars.
• Publish technical articles in industry publications.
• Participate in client professional organizations and societies (e.g., Tradeline, SCUP, ISPE).
• Participate in company-sanctioned social media venues.

• Applicable planning experience with research and educational facilities.
• Programming, planning and design focus in physical science research environments including clean rooms, vibration-sensitive labs, quantum computing, engineering and beyond.
• Demonstrated experience in client…