Associate Director of Architecture

MSD Netherlands; Boxmeer; Hybrid; EUR 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid

Job summary

MSD Netherlands is seeking an Associate Director of Architecture to lead holistic facility design for global capital programs. You will define, develop, and govern architectural solutions aligning with GMP requirements and regulatory standards across manufacturing and labs.

The role requires 10+ years in architecture for biopharma environments, strong leadership, and ability to travel up to 30% worldwide. Hybrid work site options include Boxmeer (NL) or Dublin (IE).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related field required.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant industry experience in GMP facility design for biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities or laboratories.
• Experience leading architectural design for capital projects in manufacturing and laboratory environments.
• Strong knowledge of building codes, materials, and MEP integration; proficient in producing layout deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Define business needs and translate into facility design solutions across programs.
• Lead front-end planning activities including site selection and facility options development.
• Develop architectural scope, layouts, and preliminary concepts for capital projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to progress designs and approvals.

Skills

Architectural Design

AutoCAD Engineering

Change Management

Clinical Manufacturing

Constructability Reviews

Construction Bidding

Cost Controls

Cross-Functional Teamwork

Design Development

Design Management

Design Principles

Drug Product Manufacturing

Engineering Management

Facility Design

Facility Engineering

GMP Compliance

Project Development

Regulatory Compliance

Results-Oriented

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

2D/3D design tools

Job description

Job Description

Bring your architectural expertise to high-impact global capital projects and help turn business needs into innovative, compliant facility solutions worldwide. For our Global Engineering Solutions organization, we are currently recruiting an Associate Director of Architecture.

Welcome to our team

With more than 300 employees, our Global Engineering Solutions (GES) organization is responsible for managing investment capital and designing and executing capital projects for our global organization worldwide. GES is organized as a Technology Center (responsible for the design and start-up of projects), a Project Delivery organization (responsible for project management) and a Business Service organization (responsible for project financial reporting). Within the Technology Center, our Global Design Engineering Solutions (DES) team, provides technical leadership and front-end design management to deliver fit-for-purpose, compliant, and cost-effective facility solutions for our company’s global capital programs.

Purpose of the role

Reporting into, and under the guidance of, the Technology Director of DES (based in the U.S.), this role leads the development of holistic global facility design solutions that support critical manufacturing and business objectives across multiple programs and business units. It partners with internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams to translate business needs into practical, compliant, and cost-effective architectural solutions. The role also provides architectural subject matter expertise across the front-end planning lifecycle, from early concept development and site selection through FEL 3 Basis of Design. The focus is on delivering facility designs that align with business needs, internal standards, and industry best practices; enabling successful capital project execution through clear architectural definition; and ensuring facilities are efficient, compliant, and fit for purpose. In addition, the role strengthens architectural standards and governance while building trusted relationships and providing technical leadership across global initiatives.

This role can be based in Boxmeer (NL) or Dublin (IE).

Primary Tasks And Responsibilities

• Partner with internal clients and stakeholders to define business needs and translate them into facility design solutions.
• Lead front-end planning activities, including site selection, facility programming, and facility options development.
• Develop architectural scope, conceptual layouts, and preliminary facility concepts for capital projects.
• Evaluate facility layout options, capital phasing approaches, and design alternatives based on business priorities and critical success factors.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support decision-making and convergence on preferred solutions.
• Work with external EPCM firms, engineering partners, and vendors to progress design deliverables.
• Ensure facility designs meet internal requirements, cGMP principles, safety expectations, and industry best practices.
• Own, develop, author, and maintain architectural engineering standards, guidelines, and design documents.
• Create and review process, people, and material flow diagrams as they relate to facility design.
• Develop master planning and site selection analyses for new or existing facilities.
• Support modular building and lean facility design strategies, including creation of center-of-excellence practices.
• Conduct peer reviews and provide subject matter expertise across multiple projects.
• Participate in constructability reviews, equipment selection, and pre-charter planning activities.
• Maintain knowledge of internal practices, regulatory expectations, and industry trends.
• Collaborate with Quality, Safety, Regulatory, Operations, and Production System teams to integrate requirements into designs.
• Support field walk-downs during construction, troubleshooting, and active project execution.
• Mentor and coach junior engineers, providing technical guidance and oversight.
• Support existing operations with troubleshooting, investigations, and remediation as needed.
• Manage work within cost, schedule, and departmental constraints.

Your profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant industry experience.
• Proven experience in GMP facility design for biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities or laboratories.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing facility design, engineering fundamentals, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading architectural design for capital projects in manufacturing and laboratory environments.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and other 2D/3D design tools, with the ability to produce facility layout deliverables.
• Strong working knowledge of building codes, construction materials, and building systems, including MEP integration.
• Experience with master planning and site selection analysis for new or existing facilities.
• Knowledge of GMP-regulated facility design, including segregation strategies, clean space classification, and hygienic zoning.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively in ambiguous environments and support capital projects through business case development.
• Ability to produce drawing deliverables, project specifications, URS documents, and design reports.
• Able to spend 2 – 3 days a week on one of the locations mentioned above and willing and able to travel around 30 % of your time (worldwide).

What We Offer

An opportunity to influence front-end design, set architectural standards, and deliver projects with real business impact. A globally visible role with the opportunity to make a direct impact on delivering innovative products that help improve and save lives, advancing health and well-being for people and animals worldwide. Benefits depend on the job location but are in any case very competitive.

Required Skills

Architectural Design, AutoCAD Engineering, Change Management, Clinical Manufacturing, Constructability Reviews, Construction Bidding, Cost Controls, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Design Development, Design Management, Design Principles, Drug Product Manufacturing, Engineering Management, Facility Design, Facility Engineering, GMP Compliance, Project Development, Regulatory Compliance, Results-Oriented

Employee Status

Regular

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

Job Posting End Date

• A job posting is effective until 11 59 59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID

R421062