Laboratory Planner, Capital Projects

About the role

Provides senior-level planning, programming, project formulation, and evaluations for the science and research capital portfolio on central campus. Co-leads Yale’s specialty laboratory team, carrying a multi-project portfolio of laboratory and research-building projects from feasibility studies and programming through design, construction, commissioning, and transition to research operations.

Applies laboratory planning and delivery expertise to decisions involving lab ventilation and pressurization, containment, vivarium and imaging environments, and utility shutdowns and phasing in occupied research buildings, working with faculty, Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), and operations partners to protect research continuity.

Responsibilities

• Develops planning models based on the needs of department and institutional priorities.
• Participates in the resolution of planning and technical conflicts and recommends cost effective options and approaches.
• Ensures that institutional planning objectives and strategies are incorporated into departmental plans and projects.
• Manages authorizations by preparing succinct presentations that distill complex project issues into distinct, clear options, thereby allowing for informed and timely decision-making.
• Establishes priorities for the allocation of design resources.
• Provides information and recommendations on physical and comprehensive planning and design issues, large scale planning studies, and special facilities planning topics.
• Manages and reviews the progress and quality of the work performed by outside and in-house consultants.
• Manages the work efforts of external architects and engineers.
• Acts as the primary contact among project architects, other consultants various building committees, technical and operations groups, and staff members during the planning phase of the project.
• Provides advice to ensure conformity with specifications, codes, regulations, and University Design Standards.
• Develops engineering and architectural program requirements.
• Solves conflicting issues with consultants, project scope, budgets and schedules.
• Develops overall project budgets including construction, consultant and other fees, furnishings and equipment, operations and testing costs.
• Selects consultants.
• Ensures projects in the planning phase are completed within the approved budget and schedule, and conform to applicable codes and zoning ordinances.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of laboratory and research-building planning, design, and construction, including lab ventilation and pressurization, containment, and lab support systems;
• Ability to synthesize scientific and technical needs into planning solutions;
• Advanced team leadership and communication skills, with a strong ability to present planning options and recommendations to faculty, EH&S, operations, and institutional stakeholders;
• Proficiency in Excel, Word, construction scheduling software, and project management information systems, with solid project cost management experience;
• Strong organizational, analytical, and managerial skills to carry multiple concurrent projects in occupied research buildings, set priorities, and plan utility shutdowns and phasing that protect research continuity;
• Ability to lead third-party contracted teams and communicate with researchers and diverse communities to understand and translate specific programmatic needs.

Preferred Skills And Abilities

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, or Construction Management;
• Five years’ experience planning and managing laboratory, vivarium, or research-building projects for institutional owners, including renovations in occupied research facilities;
• Working knowledge of recognized laboratory planning, ventilation, and biosafety standards and guidance, including the NIH Design Requirements Manual, ANSI/ASSP Z9.5-2022, the ASHRAE Laboratory Design Guide, and CDC/NIH BMBL guidance;
• Valid professional registration or certification (P.E., R.A., C.C.M., or P.M.P.); LEED accreditation preferred;
• Proficiency with PMIS platforms (e.g., e-Builder), BIM/3-D modeling, and database and reporting tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture or Planning and seven years of related work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills

• Knowledge of laboratory and research-building planning, design, and construction, including lab ventilation and pressurization, containment, and lab support systems;
• Ability to synthesize scientific and technical needs into planning solutions;
• Advanced team leadership and communication skills, with a strong ability to present planning options and recommendations to faculty, EH&S, operations, and institutional stakeholders;
• Proficiency in Excel, Word, construction scheduling software, and project management information systems, with solid project cost management experience;
• Strong organizational, analytical, and managerial skills to carry multiple concurrent projects in occupied research buildings, set priorities, and plan utility shutdowns and phasing that protect research continuity;
• Ability to lead third-party contracted teams and communicate with researchers and diverse communities to understand and translate specific programmatic needs.