National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Associate Director / Director - Laboratory Design

Buro Happold group.
London
1 month ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Associate Director/ Director Payer Marketing

Associate Director/Director, Business Development, Payers, Providers & Government Connected Hea[...]

Associate Director/Director, Public Affairs - UK & Ireland

Associate Director

Quantitative Associate Director/Director

Quantitative Associate Director/Director

Associate Director / Director - Laboratory Design

Thrive on openness, respect and collaboration? Good. Us too. Join ourLaboratory Consulting teamin this leadership role and create transformative outcomes for people, planet and places.

This hire will be a key enabler as we continue to scale the team and diversify our offering and markets, therefore offering a significant platform for career growth.

Laboratory Consulting @ Buro Happold

Buro Happold’s laboratory designers bring a wealth of expertise to projects, informed by decades of experience delivering some of the most complex yet human-scale research facilities to world-leading clients.

From design concept to delivery to peer review and post-occupancy evaluation, our laboratory consultants can provide the support required at each stage. We are also able to draw on Buro Happold’s deep experience of integrated engineering and design knowledge from a wide range of projects around the world.

Our track record in laboratories, research facilities, innovation districts and university research buildings spans a wide range of scientific disciplines and technologies and is based on developing a deep understanding of our clients’ needs. We understand that different branches of science and technology need very different approaches and use our experience to create spaces which encourage creativity and accommodate changing technologies. This reduces the need for future investment while providing scientists with stimulation, safe and effective workspaces.

Our current workload includes UCB Project Apple where we are supporting Heatherwick Studio to create a major new headquarters for a global biopharmaceutical company. With Kadans and the Canary Wharf Group, we are supporting KPF Architects on One North Quay, Europe’s tallest purpose-built commercial lab.

Your next role

You will provide exceptional technical, commercial and design leadership to the Laboratory Consulting team and wider Science & Technology sector.

As a key member of the senior leadership within the Laboratory Consulting discipline, you’ll be responsible for the work winning and delivery of projects, aligned to our Sector strategy, developing strong relationships with existing and new architects, collaborators, and clients.

  • Inspiring design excellence in the Laboratory/Science sector, providing leadership to key clients and collaborators across our global project portfolio.
  • Taking ownership for key client and collaborator relationships and working as a "trusted advisor" on Laboratory Planning and Design, both internally and externally.
  • Winning work and driving expansion in our client and market coverage, e.g. in target growth areas such as Cambridge and the USA.
  • Occupying a Project Director role on appropriate commissions led by the Laboratory Consulting team, delivering projects within the target quality, commercial and financial objectives.
  • Driving collaboration with the Laboratory Consulting team in the US and S&T sector leaders globally.
  • Extensive experience in a design leadership role in the Science, Technology and/or research sectors.
  • An ability to inspire clients and collaborators through creative thinking and communication.
  • Experience leading multi-client stakeholder groups on impactful projects in the Science sector.
  • Well-networked with both clients and collaborators, and able to demonstrate evidence of work-winning success.

What we offer:

  • Attractive benefits package including car allowance, pension (10% EC), private medical insurance, life assurance and income protection.
  • Annual Performance incentive scheme - up to 8% (Associate Director) or 10% (Director) of salary.
  • For Directors, eligibility to participate in our Director Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) scheme.
  • Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts.
  • Enhanced parenthood leave policies.
  • A strong commitment to your continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you.
  • Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions.
  • A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities.
  • A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.

Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.

We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.


#J-18808-Ljbffr

National AI Awards 2025

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

10 Biotechnology Recruitment Agencies in the UK You Should Know (2025 Job‑Seeker Guide)

The UK’s biotech boom—fueled by the £650 million Life Sciences Vision Fund and rapid mRNA, cell & gene‑therapy adoption—continues to outpace talent supply. Lightcast reported +45 % year‑on‑year growth in UK adverts mentioning “CRISPR”, “GMP bioprocess” or “cell therapy” during Q1 2025. Yet only about 25,000 specialised biotech professionals work nationwide, while monthly live vacancies average 1,800–2,100. All data verified 22 July 2025; re‑audit quarterly for freshness.. Specialist recruiters remain critical for tapping stealth roles, benchmarking salaries and streamlining the lab‑tour interview gauntlet. We reviewed 60 + consultancies and kept only agencies with: A registered UK head office (Companies House). A dedicated Biotechnology / Life‑Sciences practice. At least five UK biotech roles advertised between March and June 2025. Below you’ll find a hiring‑landscape snapshot, a quick directory of 10 vetted agencies, salary medians, in‑demand skills, interview expectations, FAQs and next steps—mirroring our AI and quantum guides.

Biotech Jobs Skills Radar 2026: Emerging Tools, Platforms & Technologies to Learn Now

The UK biotechnology sector is entering a new era—fuelled by AI integration, synthetic biology, and next-gen diagnostics. With biotech investment breaking records and a surge in demand for skilled talent across R&D, biomanufacturing, and regulatory fields, it’s vital for job seekers to future-proof their skillsets. Welcome to the Biotech Jobs Skills Radar 2026—a forward-looking guide to the emerging tools, lab techniques, platforms, and digital skills driving hiring in the UK's biotechnology industry. This radar is updated annually to help students, researchers, and transitioning professionals stay competitive in a fast-changing landscape.

How to Find Hidden Biotechnology Jobs in the UK Using Professional Bodies like the RSB, BIA, BioIndustry Association & More

The UK biotechnology sector is thriving. From cutting-edge gene therapies and synthetic biology to bio-manufacturing and agricultural innovation, the demand for skilled biotech professionals continues to grow. Yet many of the best opportunities—particularly in early-stage companies, startups, and research-intensive roles—are never listed on conventional job boards. So where do these hidden biotech jobs live? Often, they’re shared through word-of-mouth, member networks, or professional communities—especially those associated with leading biotech institutions and associations. Whether you’re a graduate looking for your first role, a research scientist ready to move into industry, or a regulatory professional seeking your next challenge, joining the right professional bodies can give you exclusive access to job leads, collaborations, and insider opportunities. In this article, we’ll show you how to strategically leverage UK-based organisations such as the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), BioIndustry Association (BIA), and Biotech and Life Sciences Networks to uncover hidden jobs and build a long-term, sustainable career in biotechnology.