Space Planner Project Manager

About the Department                                                                                                                                               

Our Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge and Seattle reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting-edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients.

 

The Position

The Space Planner Project Manager is responsible for managing phased growth, major move planning, and the implementation of optimized workspace solutions (NN WoW) across key US R&D sites, including Lexington and Waltham. Reporting to the Associate Director of Engineering and Projects, the Space Planner Project Manager will serve as a dedicated point of contact for stakeholders, coordinating space needs, driving cultural transitions, and ensuring strategic alignment. This position will also support other sites as needed and will focus on data-driven space management and long-term planning. As the company transitions to a growing, open-plan, unassigned seating model, this role is crucial in ensuring efficient space utilization, supporting the company's long-term growth strategies, and leading the change management process.

 

Relationships

Reports to the Associate Director of Engineering and Projects. Collaborates with stakeholders across various departments and lines of business (LoB) to align space planning with organizational needs and strategic goals. Interacts with external vendors, contractors, and technology providers involved in space management, workplace optimization, and relocation services.

 

Essential Functions

• Space Program Management: Act as the dedicated customer-facing single point of contact (SPOC) for space program management, managing stakeholder relationships and aligning space needs with long-term strategic goals
• Develop and manage space utilization strategies that optimize workspace layouts, avoiding reactive and ad hoc expansions, and ensuring efficient use of space across the organization
• Workspace Optimization (NN WoW): Oversee and manage the implementation of Novo Nordisk's Ways of Working (NN WoW) workspace optimization program across US R&D sites
• Direct change management efforts to ensure smooth transitions to the new open-plan, unassigned seating model, fostering employee engagement and addressing any concerns or resistance
• Local Project Management: Manage space-related projects within the MA locations
• Data-Driven Space Management: Implement and manage technologies, sensors, (WattIQ, Verge-Sense, etc) that collect data on lab, workstation, and meeting room usage to enable informed planning and decision-making. Present data-driven insights and recommendations to senior management and other key stakeholders
• Use space utilization data to forecast future workspace and lab needs, proactively identifying opportunities for more efficient space use that balances flexibility and cost-effectiveness
• Move Planning & Execution: Lead and own the planning of major moves, particularly the upcoming Waltham move, starting in early 2025. Coordinate logistics, timelines, and communications to ensure seamless transitions during moves
• Change Management & Cultural Transition: Drive the transition from assigned cubicles/offices to an open-plan, unassigned seating model, ensuring that this change is implemented with minimal disruption and maximum employee engagement
• FM Ownership of Space: Take full ownership of space planning and management across office and lab environments, ensuring that