Space Planning Manager

Neurocrine Biosciences•San Diego, CA

23h•$119,700 - $164,000

About The Position

The Space Planning Manager develops and leads complex workplace and space-planning initiatives across Neurocrine Biosciences’ San Diego headquarters and global portfolio. The role provides strategic and operational leadership in optimizing office and laboratory space, managing occupancy and capacity, supporting organizational growth, and ensuring effective use of company facilities. It develops and implements planning standards; manages forecasting, scenario planning, space allocation, and occupancy; and leads projects such as renovations, reconfigurations, densification, and moves, adds, and changes. The Manager partners with Facilities, Workplace Services, Real Estate, Finance, HR, IT, EHS, Procurement, and business leadership to develop workplace solutions aligned with organizational priorities, financial objectives, operational requirements, and long-term growth. The role oversees planning processes, systems, data governance, drawing management, and workplace standards across the organization; evaluates space-management technologies; improves operational efficiency; and establishes consistent practices across global locations. It requires the ability to analyze complex space challenges independently, develop strategic recommendations, manage projects, engage stakeholders, and present solutions to senior leadership.

Requirements

High school diploma and 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in workplace planning, facilities management, space management, architecture, interior design, construction management, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Advanced knowledge of workplace and space-planning principles, including office and laboratory planning, occupancy and capacity management, utilization analysis, furniture systems, and workplace standards.
Strong proficiency in AutoCAD, including interpreting, reviewing, and overseeing architectural drawings, floor plans, and space-planning documentation.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, including developing forecasting models, dashboards, analytical reports, and presentations.
Knowledge of space-management systems, data governance, and process automation.
Experience with project budgeting, cost analysis, vendor management, and resource planning.
Familiarity with workplace accessibility, safety, and regulatory considerations applicable to space planning.
Demonstrated experience leading complex space-planning initiatives and cross-functional projects, including facility reconfigurations, stakeholder coordination, and operational planning.
Experience developing and implementing workplace-planning standards, occupancy-management processes, and space-utilization practices.
Ability to lead multiple complex initiatives, establish priorities, manage competing deadlines, and drive project execution across cross-functional teams.
Strong business acumen, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to recommend practical, cost-effective solutions aligned with business priorities.
Strong collaboration and influencing skills, including the ability to guide cross-functional teams and gain alignment among stakeholders with competing priorities.
Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences and senior leadership.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, evaluate alternatives, and recommend solutions to complex workplace-planning challenges within established objectives and guidelines.
Ability to develop functional standards, improve processes, and promote operational efficiency, data accuracy, and accountability.
Ability to adapt to changing business needs, manage ambiguity, and prioritize effectively in a dynamic environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with CAFM/IWMS or enterprise space-management platforms.
Experience with Revit, Bluebeam, and related architectural or workplace-planning tools.
Experience providing technical guidance or functional leadership to cross-functional project teams, consultants, or vendors.
Experience supporting multiple locations or a global workplace portfolio.
Experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, laboratory, or other technically complex workplace environments.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute office and laboratory space-planning strategies across the San Diego headquarters and global portfolio.
Recommend short- and long-term space solutions aligned with organizational growth, business priorities, financial objectives, and operational requirements.
Direct space allocation, occupancy planning, and capacity management to optimize facilities while maintaining workplace standards.
Manage renovations, reconfigurations, densification, departmental consolidations, new construction, and workplace improvement initiatives.
Oversee space plans, test fits, blocking plans, seating layouts, and alternative planning scenarios.
Set planning priorities based on headcount projections, functional requirements, space availability, costs, and business needs.
Partner with Real Estate and Facilities leadership on portfolio planning, expansion strategies, site master planning, and long-term facility requirements.
Manage global workplace forecasting and scenario planning with Finance, HR, Real Estate, Facilities, and business leadership.
Develop and maintain multi-year space-capacity and headcount forecasts and identify potential space constraints.
Establish and monitor KPIs for occupancy, utilization, capacity, allocation efficiency, and workplace performance.
Analyze utilization trends and recommend ways to maximize resources, improve efficiency, and reduce unnecessary real estate expenditures.
Develop business cases and financial assessments for workplace initiatives, including costs, resources, risks, and operational impacts.
Present data-driven recommendations and strategic alternatives to senior leadership.
Collaborate with Finance and Procurement on budgets, cost tracking, vendor proposals, and cost-saving opportunities.
Contribute to workplace and space-planning standards, procedures, and best practices across company locations.
Establish standards for offices, workstations, laboratories, collaboration areas, conference rooms, shared spaces, and furniture.
Oversee space-allocation guidelines, seating assignments, utilization practices, and moves, adds, and changes processes.
Develop and maintain drawing standards, documentation requirements, naming conventions, and space-data procedures.
Establish governance processes for accurate space information, occupancy records, and floor plans across global facilities.
Partner with global site representatives to apply consistent planning practices while accounting for local operational requirements.
Evaluate workplace standards and recommend improvements based on growth, benchmarks, employee needs, and evolving workplace strategies.
Direct complex workplace planning projects from initial business requirements through implementation and completion.
Oversee departmental relocations and moves, adds, and changes, including sequencing, swing-space planning, communications, and post-move documentation.
Coordinate simultaneous initiatives and manage dependencies, risks, resources, and scheduling impacts.
Set project timelines, deliverables, responsibilities, and performance expectations.
Coordinate operational and infrastructure requirements with Facilities, IT, Infrastructure, EHS, Security, architects, contractors, and furniture vendors.
Provide planning oversight for office and laboratory renovations, reconfigurations, and construction initiatives.
Evaluate project alternatives and recommend solutions balancing operations, employee experience, standards, costs, and long-term flexibility.
Resolve complex space-allocation challenges, competing priorities, and operational constraints.
Ensure planning activities comply with company policies, applicable regulations, safety requirements, and project standards.
Manage evaluation, selection, implementation, and ongoing management of CAFM/IWMS and space-planning technology.
Evaluate technologies and system enhancements for occupancy management, utilization analytics, headcount forecasting, reporting, and data accuracy.
Partner with IT, HR, Finance, Facilities, and technology providers on system requirements and integration opportunities.
Oversee accurate AutoCAD drawings, floor plans, seating plans, occupancy databases, and space-management records.
Develop reporting tools, dashboards, and analytics for operational planning and executive decisions.
Lead improvements to data integrity, reporting efficiency, system adoption, and planning automation.
Oversee workplace-planning documentation, SharePoint resources, standards, and reference materials.
Provide strategic planning oversight for laboratory and specialized workplace environments.
Partner with laboratory leadership, Facilities, Engineering, EHS, and technical stakeholders on laboratory requirements and operations.
Oversee preliminary laboratory planning concepts, equipment inventories, and space-utilization assessments.
Coordinate with architects, engineers, consultants, and project teams to incorporate laboratory requirements into facility projects.
Assess laboratory constraints and recommend solutions supporting efficiency, safety, and future growth.
Support feasibility studies, laboratory renovations, specialized equipment planning, and long-term laboratory capacity assessments.
Oversee furniture planning, standards, specifications, inventory, and installation programs.
Develop standardized furniture solutions supporting functionality, consistency, cost efficiency, and flexibility.
Partner with Procurement, manufacturers, dealers, and project teams to assess furniture solutions, pricing, and proposals.
Identify opportunities to reuse furniture assets, reduce expenditures, and improve inventory management.
Oversee furniture planning for renovations, moves, new construction, and reconfigurations.
Ensure furniture plans meet workplace standards, ergonomic and accessibility considerations, and operational needs.
Serve as a subject-matter expert to business leaders on space planning, occupancy management, standards, and capacity planning.
Build partnerships with senior leaders, department heads, global site representatives, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Lead planning discussions to assess space requirements, resolve competing priorities, and develop aligned solutions.
Prepare and deliver executive presentations, dashboards, business cases, and strategic recommendations.
Provide direction to team members, consultants, vendors, and project partners supporting space-planning activities.
Set priorities, coordinate resources, delegate assignments as appropriate, and ensure accountability for deliverables.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to colleagues and project partners and support knowledge sharing and consistent practices.
Represent space planning in cross-functional meetings, strategic planning discussions, and workplace improvement initiatives.
Drive continuous improvement in processes, governance, reporting, and service delivery.