Director, Facilities

About This Role

This role involves providing strategic leadership and hands-on technical oversight for Denali’s facilities portfolio, focusing on lab infrastructure and critical building systems. The Director of Facilities will manage long-range planning, capital projects, vendor relationships, and compliance, leading a team to ensure a safe, efficient, and scalable work environment for the company's mission.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead Denali’s integrated facilities strategy, including maintenance, operations, space planning, lab infrastructure, and environmental sustainability
• Provide hands-on technical oversight of site-wide building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, compressed gases, BMS, emergency power), including system performance review, troubleshooting, and risk mitigation
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team across multiple levels, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance culture
• Direct and technically review capital improvement projects, tenant improvements, renovations, and equipment installations, managing project scope, timelines, and budgets
• Serve as the technical authority for facilities and lab infrastructure, providing engineering judgment, reviewing designs and changes, and ensuring solutions meet operational, safety, and regulatory requirements
• Serve as the primary liaison for external vendors, contractors, landlords, and key internal partners across Legal, Finance, Lab Ops, EH&S, and IT
• Ensure full compliance with safety standards, building codes, and applicable regulations, partnering with EH&S on audits, documentation, and training programs
• Manage departmental budgets, forecasts, and procurement strategies; oversee contracts, service agreements, and vendor performance
• Lead facilities planning for headcount growth, workplace strategy, and space utilization in partnership with HR and business leaders
• Champion continuous improvement through the implementation of facilities technologies (e.g., CMMS, BMS, digital platforms) and process enhancements

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field
• 10+ years of facilities management experience
• 8+ years of people leadership and vendor oversight in a complex, regulated environment
• Proven expertise in building operations, infrastructure planning, and lab environment support
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with engineering design, construction, or commissioning of complex facilities
• Technical expertise in facility systems (HVAC, BMS, CMMS, electrical, mechanical)
• Demonstrated success managing capital projects, budgets, and vendor contracts
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field
• 10+ years of facilities management experience, including 8+ years of people leadership and vendor oversight in a complex, regulated environment (biotech or pharma preferred)

Nice to Have

• Advanced degree
• Background as a General Contractor or in electrical/mechanical engineering
• Experience in biotech or pharma
• Experience with strategic space planning, emergency preparedness, and sustainability initiatives
• Proficiency in relevant facilities software and systems (e.g., CMMS, BMS, AutoCAD, digital permitting tools)

Skills

* Required skills

Benefits