Associate Director Life Sciences

Overview

As a senior member of Buro Happold’s UK Building Services team, you will lead and shape projects in the Science & Technology sector, from labs and cleanrooms to R&D facilities. You’ll work with sector leadership to deliver high-quality designs, grow client relationships, and contribute to low-carbon and net-zero initiatives. The role combines technical leadership, commercial focus, and mentorship to build a thriving, diverse team. This is a high-impact opportunity in a globally active practice focused on innovation and growth in a key sector.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working arrangements
• life assurance
• income protection
• private medical cover
• car allowance (10% of base salary)
• generous pension scheme

Responsibilities

• Act as Project Director for Science & Technology projects with a focus on London and the Southeast
• Represent Buro Happold as a key external figurehead in the sector in the UK
• Collaborate with Business Development and other disciplines to support work-winning
• Champion high-quality, robust designs and technical delivery in the Science & Technology sector
• Develop and nurture key client relationships to contribute to revenue targets
• Support sustainability goals, driving low carbon and net-zero consultancy offers
• Contribute to leadership in design excellence, commercial performance, and technical standards
• Support London leadership in growing a diverse and thriving team
• Maintain and raise standards for project delivery and technical excellence
• Collaborate with UK and global Building Services teams

Key requirements

• Significant experience in building services engineering with multidisciplinary project leadership
• Experience on highly serviced projects (labs, cleanrooms, R&D facilities, advanced manufacturing)
• Network of UK Science & Technology sector clients or collaborators (advantageous)
• Professionally registered with a relevant institution (e.g., CIBSE, IMechE)
• Strong client relationship and business development capabilities
• Leadership and mentoring experience

• leadership
• communication
• collaboration
• building services engineering
• design leadership
• multidisciplinary project delivery

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