Associate Director, Workplace & Facilities

Dispatch Bio

Philadelphia (Philadelphia County)

On-site

USD 100,000 - 130,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) with generous contribution

Flexible PTO policy

Life insurance

Job summary

A biotechnology startup in Philadelphia seeks an Associate Director for Workplace & Facilities. In this role, you will ensure the management of office operations and provide leadership in facility procedures, focusing on safety and efficiency. The ideal candidate will have at least 8 years of experience in facilities management, particularly in the life sciences, and will possess strong project management skills. This full-time position offers competitive compensation and substantial benefits, emphasizing collaboration and inclusivity.

Qualifications

At least 8 years of relevant experience, with at least 5 years in the life sciences industry.
Demonstrated success in planning and managing lab and office facilities.
Strong knowledge of safety compliance and building systems.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day operations of the company’s office facilities.
Lead the development of facility operational procedures.
Oversee office services such as reception and conference spaces.

Skills

Building systems knowledge

Interpersonal communication

Project management

Vendor management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management or related field

Tools

MS Office Suite

AutoCAD

Job description

Overview

Join to apply for the Associate Director, Workplace & Facilities role at Dispatch Bio.

About us

We’re a startup biotechnology company dedicated to engineering a universal treatment across solid tumors. We’re committed to the development of novel cell therapies, and we’re using viral vectors, universal targets, and novel cytokine biology to enhance CAR T activity. Our therapeutic approach has the potential to enable us to treat significant numbers of cancer patients. Our company was founded on pioneering work carried out in the laboratories of Dr. Carl June and Dr. Andy Minn (University of Pennsylvania), Dr. Kole Roybal (UCSF), and Dr. Christopher Garcia (Stanford University).

Our purpose is to help create a world where all cancer patients can be cured. We’re humbled by the opportunity to work together on some of the most pressing medical challenges of our time. At our company, you would become one of our early team members—not only playing a role in meeting our ambitious mission but also building our thriving culture. We are determined to deliver with urgency to discover new solutions and we always stay dedicated to scientific rigor; we have an ownership mindset because each and every one of us is integral to our success. Collaboration is core for us because we believe that by bringing people together with diverse perspectives, we make a stronger whole. And, we show we care about our work and each other by sharing feedback - ultimately in service of our vision to empower people to continue forward with their lives – cancer free.

The role

As Associate Director, Workplace & Facilities, you will be responsible for providing leadership and operational oversight for all facilities and workplace functions including laboratories, offices and shared spaces. Reporting into the Chief Culture & People Officer and working closely with the Laboratory Manager, Administrative team and IT, this role ensures the delivery of safe, sustainable and high performing environments that support scientific research, business operations and exceptional employee experience.

Key responsibilities

Manage day-to-day operations of the company’s office facilities, including preventive and emergency, security and vendor coordination.

Lead the development and implementation of facility operational procedures, policies and maintenance programs for all sites.

Lead the bidding, contracting and management of site maintenance, including supervising routine maintenance (i.e. janitorial, utilities, safety systems) contracts and ensuring that quality standards are met.

In partnership with Lab Manager and site Leadership, ensure the facility is compliant with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements; maintain a culture of safety.

Lead site renovation projects (relocations, expansions, redesigns), including partnering with internal stakeholders to ensure requirements are clearly defined and met, selecting and managing contractors, developing timelines and budgets and delivering projects on time and on budget.

Coordinate closely with R&D teams to understand and support lab-specific infrastructure needs (e.g., gas lines, fume hoods, biosafety cabinets).

Oversee office services such as reception, guests, mail, conference spaces, pantries and events.

Manage facilities-related budgets and procurement of services and supplies.

Lead emergency preparedness, including business continuity planning and incident response; respond to site emergencies both during and outside of normal working hours.

Collaborate closely with Lab Manager, Administrative staff and IT to ensure that the lab and site are consistently operational and that team members can be productive and do their best work.

Required experience & skills

Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Architecture, Engineering or related field

At least 8 years of relevant experience, with at least 5 years in the life sciences industry

Demonstrated success in planning and managing lab and office facilities, capital projects and vendor contracts

Strong knowledge of building systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical), lab operations, Environment Health & Safety (EH&S) and safety compliance

Demonstrated ability to identify and establish relationships with internal and external stakeholders including site leadership, service providers, landlords, real estate brokers, architectural and engineering firms

Strong interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to present complex project plans and status updates

Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative startup environment

Skilled at effectively gathering business requirements that inform short-term and mid-term site plans

Proficiency in using MS Office Suite and AutoCAD

Ability to regularly stand, walk, use fingers, hands and arms, climb, balance and kneel

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs

Ability to respond to after-hours emergencies and be on-call as needed

Ability to occasionally travel to Dispatch’s San Francisco office (approximately 15%)

Preferred experience & skills

US DOT Hazmat training

Familiarity with sustainability practices and energy efficiency initiatives

Familiarity with CAD system to manage facility maps, seating assignments and construction changes

Our values

Our values guide everything we do. While capabilities and skills are vital, understanding how a potential new colleague would embody our values is central to our hiring decisions.

Determined to deliver:

By working with focus and passion, we can provide patients with the solutions they need.

Own every outcome:

We can reach new heights when we stay centered on our shared success.

Collaboration at the core:

When we band together, our work is better.

Feedback is fundamental:

Constructive and authentic positive feedback may be difficult to master but it is vital to our success.

Working here

We offer a highly competitive compensation package with meaningful ownership through equity

Excellent coverage for medical, vision, and dental

401(k) with generous contribution

Life insurance

Flexible PTO policy

Additional substantial benefits

We are an equal opportunity employer.

We are committed to inclusion and diversity, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, color, marital status, veteran status, disability status, national origin, or any characteristic protected under applicable law.

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