Workplace Manager

As the company scales, success increasingly depends not just on research excellence, but on building an environment where teams can consistently operate at a high tempo—with minimal friction and a strong sense of belonging.

Success in this role looks like building and operating a workplace that “just works”: day-to-day operations are quiet and reliable, employees feel supported and welcomed, and the workplace becomes a competitive advantage for focus, collaboration, and retention.

The Team

This role is a key partner to People/Operations and works cross-functionally with Research, Engineering, IT, Finance, Legal, and external vendors (building management, contractors, security, A/V, furniture, etc.). It sits close to leadership priorities because workplace decisions directly affect productivity, culture, and cost.

There is no narrow lane: the mandate is to own workplace outcomes end-to-end and continuously improve how the office functions as we scale.

In This Role You Will

- Own day-to-day workplace operations to keep the office running smoothly (facilities issues, supplies, conference rooms, mail, visitors, onsite support, shared spaces).

- Build and manage the vendor ecosystem (janitorial, security, access control, furniture, catering, repairs, IT/AV partners, etc.), including sourcing, negotiating, and performance management.

- Create scalable workplace systems and processes (ticketing/intake, procurement workflows, inventory, onboarding checklists, documentation, office norms) that reduce interruptions and increase reliability.

- Partner with People Ops on holistic employee experience, including onboarding moments, in-office rituals, events, and programming that reinforces belonging and connection - all while facilitating focused work.

- Support wellness-oriented workplace practices, such as ergonomic setups, workspace standards, healthy routines, and clear guidance/resources—coordinating with benefits/People where applicable.

- Drive health, safety, and preparedness basics, including emergency planning, incident response readiness, first aid supplies, and safety guidelines appropriate for our work environment.

- Own workplace budgets and planning, tracking spend, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and making high-ROI investments that improve the employee experience and reduce friction.

- Act as the “quiet operator” behind a great office, anticipating issues before they happen and ensuring employees can stay focused on mission-critical work.

What We Hope You’ll Bring

- Proven ownership in workplace operations / office management / facilities / employee experience, ideally in a fast-moving environment.

- Strong project management skills, with a track record of delivering complex, deadline-driven work (an office move experience is a major plus).

- Operational rigor and attention to detail—you notice what’s broken, fix it quickly, and prevent repeats.

- Vendor and budget fluency, including negotiating, managing contracts, and making practical tradeoffs.

- High EQ and service mindset, paired with strong boundaries and prioritization instincts (helpful, responsive, and able to protect team focus).

- Exceptional written and verbal communication, especially for coordinating across stakeholders and setting clear expectations.

- Comfort with ambiguity and building structure, including creating processes that scale without becoming bureaucratic.

- Strong π-fit: respect for research/engineering culture, good judgment, intellectual humility, and a bias toward enabling others.

Bonus Points If You Have

- Led or supported an office move (planning, vendors, comms, execution, post-move stabilization).

- Experience in R&D-heavy; environments (labs, robotics, hardware-adjacent workplaces) where safety, equipment, and space needs are more complex than a standard office.

- Facilities/safety exposure, such as emergency planning, basic compliance coordination, or ergonomic program ownership.

- Experience scaling a workplace from early-stage (<100) through growth (100–300+), including space planning and policy evolution.

- Strong hospitality instincts, creating a workplace experience that feels intentional, welcoming, and high-quality without being “fluffy.”

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.