Architecture Lab Planning Director

This Opportunity

Provides strategic leadership, technical expertise, and client advisory services for complex Science & Technology, Life Sciences, Higher Education, Healthcare Research, and Advanced Technology projects nationwide. Serves as a trusted advisor to clients and project teams throughout the planning, programming, design, and delivery of large-scale laboratory and research facilities. Leads multidisciplinary teams in the development of innovative, high-performance environments that support scientific discovery, research operations, and institutional growth.

Responsible for driving project excellence, client satisfaction, business development, and market growth while overseeing the design and delivery of complex projects from master planning and programming through construction. Guides senior clients and stakeholders through critical facility planning, operational, and capital investment decisions while ensuring technical quality, regulatory compliance, and alignment with business objectives.

• Serve as a senior laboratory planning and architectural subject matter expert for major Science & Technology, Life Sciences, and Higher Education pursuits and projects
• Develop and maintain executive-level client relationships, serving as a trusted advisor on facility strategy, laboratory operations, campus planning, and capital project initiatives.
• Lead large, multidisciplinary project teams across multiple offices and project delivery phases.
• Direct laboratory programming efforts, facility master plans, strategic planning studies, and complex project pursuits.
• Mentor architects, planners, and designers while fostering technical excellence and professional growth throughout the practice.
• Contribute to business development, proposal strategy, client presentations, conference participation, and market visibility initiatives.
• Identify emerging market opportunities and support strategic growth within the Science & Technology and Life Sciences sectors.
• Provide executive oversight of project scope, budgets, schedules, risk management, quality assurance, and client satisfaction.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture or closely related discipline.
• 12+ years of relevant post-education experience in architecture, laboratory planning, programming, and science and technology facility design.
• Registered Architect required. NCARB certification preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in laboratory planning and programming for life sciences, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic research, healthcare research, and advanced technology projects.
• Extensive experience leading planning and design efforts for large-scale, complex projects exceeding 100,000 square feet and involving multiple stakeholder groups.
• Strong knowledge of laboratory operations, research workflows, equipment planning, safety requirements, and facility programming methodologies.
• Advanced understanding of building planning, space programming, project planning, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration.
• Well-developed knowledge of applicable building codes, accessibility requirements, laboratory design standards, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams while maintaining quality, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and other industry-standard architectural software platforms.
• Demonstrated high level of self-leadership with attention to detail, project prioritization, and quality assurance/quality control practices.
• Proven track record of supporting major institutional, university, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare research, and corporate R&D clients.
• Ability to travel as required for project and client needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Architecture, Planning, or related discipline.
• Experience serving as a Senior Laboratory Planner, Laboratory Programmer, Project Architect, or Science & Technology Market Leader.
• Experience with biomedical research facilities, pharmaceutical research and development campuses, clean rooms, cGMP facilities, and higher education science buildings.
• Established relationships within life sciences, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, and higher education markets.

• Job Identification 90403
• Posting Date 07/02/2026, 05:50 PM

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help…