Project Manager - Life Sciences

Gilder Search Group; Raleigh, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Annual Bonus

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Job summary

Clayco / LJC Design & Engineering seeks a Design Project Manager for life sciences to lead multidisciplinary teams through GMP-regulated facilities from concept to construction documents.

You will ensure regulatory alignment, manage scope, budget, and schedule, and maintain strong client relationships while mentoring engineers and designers in a fast-paced, design-build environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, or related technical field.
• 10+ years in engineering or architectural design for GMP/FDA or regulated environments.
• Experience leading design PMs or senior technical leads.
• Pharma/biotech life sciences facility design experience.
• Strong leadership and communication with clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams on life sciences projects.
• Plan scope, budget, schedule, and staffing for profitable delivery.
• Coordinate design with construction and external consultants.
• Oversee design from concept to construction documents.
• Ensure GMP/FDA regulatory alignment and design quality control.
• Present designs in client-facing reviews and meetings.
• Mentor engineers and designers.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Regulatory design

GMP/FDA familiarity

Communication

Mentoring

Strategic planning

Team coordination

Client relations

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Microsoft Office

Project management software

Job description

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $8.1 billion in revenue for 2025, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for mission critical, industrial, life sciences, power & energy, aviation, commercial, institutional, residential and sports & entertainment related building projects.

About LJC

LJC Design & Engineering is a full-service architecture, engineering, and design firm committed to enhancing the quality of the human experience through integrated design. We are a team of high-energy professionals who share a passion for design, a collaborative approach, and a casual culture. We solve challenges by leveraging the collective expertise and ingenuity of the best and brightest minds across development, design, and construction.

The Role We Want You For

As a Design Project Manager - Life Sciences, you will lead multidisciplinary design teams in the delivery of complex, regulated facilities for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and advanced life sciences clients. This role spans the full design lifecycle - from early planning and concept development through construction support - ensuring projects meet operational, regulatory, schedule, and budget expectations.

This is a highly visible, client-facing role within LJC/Clayco’s design-build model. You will balance technical understanding, team leadership, and project management rigor while partnering closely with construction, process, and engineering leaders to deliver efficient, compliant, and buildable solutions.

While this role is ideally suited for an experienced design project manager, LJC is also open to senior technical discipline leads (architecture or engineering) who demonstrate strong leadership skills, client presence, and readiness to step into a broader project management role.

The Specifics of the Role

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary architectural and engineering design teams on life sciences projects of varying scale and complexity.
• Plan, track, and manage project scope, budget, schedule, and staffing to ensure successful delivery and profitability.
• Serve as the primary point of coordination between design teams, construction teams, and external consultants to support LJC/Clayco’s integrated design-build delivery.
• Lead multidisciplinary coordination reviews to ensure cohesive, well-integrated design solutions, while confirming discipline-level quality control processes are executed.
• Identify and proactively manage project risks, scope changes, and technical challenges throughout the design lifecycle.
• Oversee the development of designs from early planning and concept through detailed design and construction documentation.
• Ensure designs align with GMP, FDA, and other applicable regulatory requirements, engaging subject matter experts as needed.
• Review design deliverables, submittals, RFIs, and change documentation to maintain alignment with design intent and project objectives.
• Participate in site visits and coordination meetings to verify design intent is being executed and constructability concerns are addressed early.
• Serve as the primary design-side contact for assigned projects, maintaining clear, consistent, and proactive communication with clients.
• Lead design presentations, technical reviews, and project update meetings with clients and internal leadership.
• Build trusted client relationships through accountability, responsiveness, and technical credibility.
• Support front-end project efforts by contributing to proposal development, interviews, pursuit strategies, and early project definition.
• Mentor engineers and designers, supporting professional growth and development of future project leaders.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team environment aligned with Clayco’s culture and values.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of LJC’s design standards, tools, workflows, and best practices for life sciences projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in engineering or architectural design for GMP, FDA, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Prior experience as a design project manager or demonstrated leadership as a senior technical discipline lead on complex projects.
• Proven experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences facility design.
• Strong understanding of construction methods, process systems, and regulatory-driven design requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex coordination efforts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with confidence presenting to clients and senior stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, or similar design tools preferred.
• Ability to travel to project sites and client facilities as required.
• Resilient, adaptable, and motivated by fast-paced, complex project environments.

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide
• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco & LJC

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Top 400 – Top Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 3).

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.