Senior Space Planner

Stanford Health Care; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto is seeking a Senior Space Planner to lead complex healthcare planning programs, align with enterprise standards, and support governance.

As part of the Facilities Planning & Design team, you will develop space solutions, manage multiple sites, and present data‑driven recommendations to executives.

This hybrid role requires 10 years in space planning, with CAFM/IWMS governance expertise, and collaboration with clinical leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Planning, or related field required.
• 10 years of professional experience, which includes 8+ years of progressive space planning required, with healthcare or academic settings and CAFM/IWMS governance proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Define project scope and planning assumptions for complex, multi‑department initiatives; develop budget recommendations.
• Coordinate communication, schedules, deliverables, and interdependencies across departments, service lines, and multiple sites; manage the critical path for planning deliverables.
• Ensure compliance with SHC policies; CBC and ADA requirements.
• Oversee selection and standards for furnishings and finishes; align with branding, infection-prevention, and sustainability guidelines.
• Create auditable planning documentation including narratives, analyses, diagrams, and decision documents for governance.
• Develop and compare test fits, blocking/stacking, and migration scenarios; present trade-offs.
• Lead multi-site space studies; define space allocation standards and utilization benchmarks.
• Own CAFM/IWMS data governance; maintain metrics like utilization and ASF per FTE.
• Facilitate governance for prioritization and investment decisions; prepare executive materials.
• Mentor junior planners and coordinate with Capital Projects on scope, schedule, and budget.
• Resolve complex planning challenges requiring expert judgment and cross-functional impact.

Skills

Space planning

Data governance

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Interior Architecture/Planning or related field

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Bluebeam

PowerPoint

Microsoft Office

CAFM/IWMS

Job description

Senior Space Planner

1.0 FTE Full time Day - 08 Hour R2657304 Hybrid 108460030 Facilities Planning and Design Facilities & Hospitality PALO ALTO, 3430 W Bayshore Rd, California

Day - 08 Hour (United States of America)

Help shape the environments where world‑class healthcare happens. This is a unique opportunity to influence how Stanford Health Care grows, evolves, and delivers exceptional patient care through strategic space planning and program leadership.

As a Senior Space Planner on the FPD Planning team, you will lead complex healthcare planning programs that support organizational growth, operational efficiency, and informed decision‑making. Working across a diverse stakeholder landscape, you will develop strategic space solutions while navigating competing priorities in a dynamic healthcare environment.

• Lead operations‑funded healthcare planning and construction programs from intake through implementation
• Guide space requests, occupancy planning, and displacement strategies that align with enterprise standards and operational needs
• Partner with project teams, clinical leaders, and executives to evaluate impacts, resolve issues, and drive consensus‑based decisions
• Develop executive‑level presentations and data‑driven recommendations that support governance and leadership decision‑making
• Hybrid role with on‑site presence as needed; ideal for professionals with healthcare planning, architecture, construction, interior design, occupancy strategy, or program management experience

The Facilities Services division enhances health through leadership, collaboration, and innovation. Our team offers essential non‑clinical support 24/7, ensuring safe operations and planning for future needs. We represent the intersection of planning, construction, general services, and facilities operations. Learn more about Facilities Services at: Facilities Services | Stanford Health Care.

The Facilities Planning & Design (FPD) business unit leads the planning, design, and improvement of Stanford Health Care’s spaces to advance excellence in care, innovation, and experience. With expertise across Planning, Design, Land Use & Licensing, Art, Wayfinding, Signage, and Facilities Administration, FPD turns vision into reality, creating functional, compliant, and inspiring environments aligned with Stanford Medicine’s mission.

The Planning team within Facilities Planning & Design (FPD) transforms strategic vision into data‑driven solutions that optimize clinical and operational space across Stanford Health Care. Through Medical and Space Planning, the team aligns facility needs with clinical priorities, growth objectives, and enterprise standards. By integrating analytics, governance, and strategic insight, Planning enhances patient care, staff experience, and overall efficiency.

Locations

Stanford Health Care

What You Will Do

• Define project scope and planning assumptions for complex, multi‑department initiatives; develop budget recommendations consistent with institutional priorities.
• Coordinate communication, schedules, deliverables, and interdependencies across departments, service lines, and multiple sites; manage the critical path for planning deliverables.
• Ensure compliance with SHC policies; Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) standards; California Building Code (CBC) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements
• Oversee selection and standards for furnishings, and finishes, ensuring alignment with branding, infection‑prevention, and sustainability guidelines.
• Create and maintain complete, auditable planning documentation including narratives, alternatives analyses, diagrams, and decision documents used by executive governance.
• Develop and compare complex test fits, blocking and stacking strategies, and migration/decanting scenarios; present operational, schedule, cost, and experience‑related trade‑offs.
• Lead multi‑site space studies; define space allocation standards, utilization benchmarks, and methodologies for prioritization and sequencing.
• Own data governance for computer‑aided facilities management/integrated workplace management systems (Computer‑Aided Facilities Management (CAFM)/Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS)); maintain metrics such as utilization, density, and assignable square feet (ASF) per full‑time equivalent (FTE).
• Facilitate governance processes for prioritization and investment decisions; prepare executive‑ready materials and secure alignment across stakeholders.
• Mentor junior planners and provide technical oversight of planning deliverables; coordinate with Capital Projects on scope, schedule, and budget impacts.
• Independently resolve complex, novel planning challenges requiring expert judgment, scenario development, and balancing of multiple, competing institutional drivers. (P4 expectation: advanced problem solving, cross‑functional impact)

Education Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Planning, or related field required.

Experience Qualifications

• 10 years of professional experience, which includes 8+ years of progressive space planning required, with experience in healthcare or academic settings, with demonstrated expertise in computer‑aided facilities management/integrated workplace management system (CAFM/IWMS) governance and proficiency with spreadsheets and data.

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Advanced ability to analyze competing needs across departments, set allocation standards, and recommend sequencing or migration strategies to optimize portfolio performance.
• Expertise developing complex test fits, stacking diagrams, and program translations with clear articulation of trade‑offs.
• Data systems leadership, including ownership of CAFM/IWMS data structures; development of key performance indicators (KPIs) such as utilization and density; and demonstrated spreadsheet experience (such as pivot tables and basic data formulas).
• Strong working knowledge of CBC and ADA; Familiarity with Department of Healthcare Access & Information (HCAI) processes a plus.
• High‑quality communication and stakeholder alignment skills, including development of Microsoft PowerPoint materials for executive audiences; ability to facilitate workshops and consensus across multiple departments.
• Ability to navigate multidisciplinary environments and coordinate with contractors, engineers, clinical leaders;
• Skilled in mentoring and coaching junior planners.
• Proficiency with Bluebeam, Microsoft Office Suite, and architectural review tools; ability to read and interpret as‑built drawings and iterate layouts using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD.
• Ability to lead advanced problem solving and make recommendations that balance safety, cost, operations, and experience impacts. (P4 expectation: wide organizational impact + independent decision making)

SHC Commitment to Providing an Exceptional Patient & Family Experience

Stanford Health Care sets a high standard for delivering value and an exceptional experience for our patients and families. Candidates for employment and existing employees must adopt and execute C‑I‑CARE standards for all of patients, families and towards each other. C‑I‑CARE is the foundation of Stanford’s patient‑experience and represents a framework for patient‑centered interactions. Simply put, we do what it takes to enable and empower patients and families to focus on health, healing and recovery.

You will do this by executing against our three experience pillars, from the patient and family’s perspective:

• Know Me: Anticipate my needs and status to deliver effective care
• Show Me the Way: Guide and prompt my actions to arrive at better outcomes and better health
• Coordinate for Me: Own the complexity of my care through coordination

Equal Opportunity Employer

Stanford Health Care (SHC) strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination in all of its policies and practices, including the area of employment. Accordingly, SHC does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity and/or expression, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability, or the perception of any of the above. People of all genders, members of all racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants with criminal convictions will be considered after an individualized assessment of the conviction and the job requirements.

Base Pay Scale: Generally starting at $64.63 - $85.65 per hour

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training. This pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage.