Project Director - Laboratory

Project Director – Laboratory

Join Cannon Design as a Project Director – Laboratory and lead the design and planning of world‑class laboratory and vivarium environments.

The Laboratory Project Director is an experienced professional responsible for providing advanced expertise in laboratory and vivarium environments. The position leads client management and stakeholder engagement, facilitates Lab and Vivarium User Group Meetings with client teams, and drives planning and design across cross‑functional teams, including laboratory planning, architecture, and interior coordination.

The role entails mentoring staff, advancing quality of work, integrating design services, managing processes, and delivering solid financial performance. The Laboratory Project Director bridges scientific requirements with architectural and interior solutions, ensuring stakeholder needs are met and project outcomes support world‑class laboratory and vivarium environments.

• Lead the laboratory and vivarium planning teams, facilitating stakeholder user group meetings and ensuring productive dialogue.
• Oversee integration of laboratory and vivarium requirements into planning documents, architectural designs, and interior coordination.
• Serve as liaison between laboratory/vivarium planning teams, architecture, and interiors coordination teams.
• Provide expertise in laboratory/vivarium workflows, equipment selection, space programming, and compliance standards.
• Advise on best practices for laboratory and vivarium operations, safety, and sustainability.
• Review and validate design documents, specifications, and deliverables for alignment with scientific and operational needs.
• Present collaborative meetings, manage stakeholder expectations, and drive consensus among diverse groups.
• Synthesize laboratory/vivarium requirements with architectural and interior design elements.
• Anticipate challenges and propose innovative solutions; lead development of project goals and work plans to achieve design excellence, quality, budget, schedule, innovation, and profitability objectives.
• Develop partnering relationships with clients early in engagement to establish shared expectations and clarify decision‑making authority.
• Implement Cannon Design process expectations, best practices, reference standards, tools, templates, and technology to achieve competitive advantage, quality service delivery, and profitability.
• Maintain statutory requirements for the project, ensuring compliance and documentation.
• Participate actively in the QA/QC process.
• Manage and coordinate workload of the team, providing leadership of team activities.
• Communicate client objectives to team members, give constructive feedback, and share lessons learned.
• Facilitate key meetings and presentations, including status updates with clients, internal teams, and firm leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in laboratory and vivarium environments, including 10 years with Bio/Pharma laboratories and vivariums; proven subject‑matter expertise.
• Minimum Bachelor’s or advanced degree (master’s preferred) in a relevant scientific, engineering, or architectural field.
• Comprehensive understanding of laboratory and vivarium design, operations, and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated experience leading large multidisciplinary teams on complex laboratory and vivarium planning projects.
• Current licensure or registration in the United States preferred.
• LEED accreditation preferred.
• PMP certification preferred.
• Strong client and team leadership skills, and ability to build rapport with project team and clients.
• Familiarity with MS Project, Deltek Project Planning, Microsoft Office, Bluebeam, and other data‑management software.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, conveying complex technical concepts to non‑experts.
• Advanced proficiency in laboratory and vivarium space planning, programming, and workflow optimization.
• Strong business acumen, coordination and communication skills.
• Ability to travel to the South San Francisco office full‑time.

The salary range for this position is $166,400…