Sr. Specialist, Space Planning

Neurocrine Biosciences • San Diego, CA

4d • $103,300 - $141,000

About The Position

The Senior Space Planning Specialist supports and may lead complex workplace planning, space utilization, and office and laboratory planning initiatives to optimize the use of company facilities across the San Diego headquarters and global portfolio. This role is responsible for space planning, occupancy management, seat allocation, renovation planning, drawing management, workplace data accuracy, and coordination of moves, adds, and changes. The position works closely with Facilities, Workplace Services, Real Estate, IT, EHS, Finance, HR, Procurement, business leaders, consultants, architects, and contractors to develop workplace solutions that support current operational needs and longer-term business growth. The Senior Space Planning Specialist serves as a key resource for workplace planning standards, space data, drawings, and planning tools and provides subject-matter guidance in support of forecasting, scenario planning, utilization reporting, and implementation of global workplace planning processes. The role applies sound judgment to evaluate planning alternatives, identify downstream impacts, and recommend solutions within established workplace standards and business requirements.

Requirements

• High School Diploma with 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in workplace planning, facilities planning, architecture, interior design, space management, or a related field; or BS/BA degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Facilities Management, Construction Management, Engineering, or related discipline with 4+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong knowledge of space planning principles, occupancy planning, workplace standards, office layouts, and moves/adds/changes
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, with demonstrated ability to create, interpret, and maintain architectural and space planning drawings.
• Strong ability to analyze headcount, occupancy, utilization, capacity, and space data and translate findings into planning recommendations
• Strong graphic and visual communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate complex space planning concepts through plans, layouts, diagrams, and other visual materials
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate moderately complex concepts and recommendations to employees, department leaders, executives, consultants, vendors, and global partners
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and judgment skills with demonstrated ability to independently identify issues, evaluate alternatives, and recommend appropriate solutions
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate effectively across functions while taking ownership of assigned projects and deliverables
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, including the ability to develop analyses, reports, presentations, and planning recommendations
• Ability to adapt to changing business priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment

Nice To Haves

• Experience with CAFM/IWMS or other space management platforms strongly preferred
• Experience with Revit and Bluebeam preferred
• Experience supporting laboratory environments and coordinating with EHS and technical stakeholders preferred
• Experience working with Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Real Estate, Facilities, or Workplace teams preferred

Responsibilities

• Independently manage and may lead complex office and laboratory space planning initiatives, including renovations, reconfigurations, densification, workplace improvements, and new construction projects
• Develop and evaluate space plans, test fits, blocking plans, seating layouts, and planning scenarios based on headcount, functional requirements, workplace standards, and business priorities, recommending appropriate alternatives based on business and operational considerations
• Manage seat allocation, occupancy tracking, and space assignments and maintain accurate records of employees, departments, workstations, offices, laboratories, and shared spaces
• Maintain accurate and current AutoCAD drawings, floor plans, seating plans, occupancy plans, and space databases
• Develop, implement, and maintain, within established workspace planning requirements, drawing standards, naming conventions, documentation practices, and processes to ensure consistent and reliable space information
• Analyze space capacity, occupancy, utilization, and headcount data to identify constraints, opportunities, and future space requirements
• Support longer-term space forecasting and scenario planning in partnership with Finance, HR, Real Estate, Facilities, and business leaders
• Develop planning recommendations and options for leadership, including space impacts, capacity, costs, risks, sequencing, and operational considerations
• Lead or coordinate moves, adds, and changes, including move planning, sequencing, departmental communications, temporary swing-space planning, and post-move documentation
• Evaluate the impact of multiple simultaneous workplace projects and identify dependencies between departmental moves, renovations, construction activities, and future growth
• Partner with stakeholders to gather business requirements, evaluate alternatives, and recommend workplace solutions aligned with company standards and operational needs
• Develop preliminary laboratory planning concepts, maintain laboratory equipment inventories, and coordinate requirements with Facilities, EHS, Engineering, consultants, and laboratory stakeholders
• Participate in feasibility studies, site master planning, renovation planning, and workplace strategy initiatives
• Coordinate with IT, Infrastructure, Facilities, EHS, Security, furniture vendors, architects, and contractors to identify infrastructure and operational requirements associated with space changes
• Support furniture planning, specification, installation, reconfiguration, inventory management, and workplace furniture standards.
• Partner with Procurement and project teams to support scopes of work, vendor coordination, contracts, purchase orders, and project documentation
• Develop clear reports, presentations, dashboards, floor plans, and executive-level materials to communicate space planning recommendations and project status
• Maintain workplace planning documentation, standards, procedures, SharePoint content, and reference materials
• Support the development and governance of global workplace and space planning standards, including office, workstation, collaboration, laboratory, and shared-space standards
• Serve as a resource to global sites by supporting consistent space data, floor plans, occupancy information, and planning processes
• Support the evaluation, implementation, and ongoing administration of CAFM/IWMS and space planning technology, including data validation, system configuration support, reporting, and user adoption
• Identify opportunities to improve space planning processes, reporting, data quality, and overall workplace planning efficiency
• Manage multiple planning assignments simultaneously and independently drive work from initial request through completion

Benefits

• retirement savings plan (with company match)
• paid vacation, holiday and personal days
• paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
• health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED