Workplace Experience Manager

Your Role

Gensler’s Northwest Region is seeking a Workplace Experience Manager for its Oakland location.  

Reporting directly to office leadership, the Workplace Experience Manager is a key partner in ensuring a curated client and employee experience through our physical space, services, and programming, befitting of an industry-leading design firm. This role is for a hands-on leader who employs a collaborative approach to delivery of meaningful experiences and full-service support for our employees.  

What You Will Do  

Employee Experience  

• Develop programming in support of our office culture, including curation of services, presentations, and other events to create a destination for employees.  

• Mentor and train members of the Office Experiences Team to curate a welcoming environment that supports our people in doing their best work.

• Collaborate with office leaders to coordinate a well-rounded office events calendar of social, intellectual, educational, and inclusive reasons to come together.  

• Provide leadership in understanding how our Office is being used and working with Leadership to evolve the environment through observation, experimentation, and innovation.  

• Communicate effectively with all staff via various channels (Teams, email, All-Staff announcements, etc.) to share upcoming events, important announcements, changes in the workplace, and generally manage expectations for our employees.  

Facilities Management  

• Oversee all office facilities functions.  

• Develop / refresh processes and procedures; communicate these to staff.  

• Ensure cleanliness and organization of office, including but not limited to the replacement of light bulbs, carpet cleaning, paint touch up and general maintenance.  

• Coordinate new hire office orientation. 

• Hands on management of office moves including coordination with IT, HR, and office leadership.  

• Coordinate the purchase/lease of new office furniture and equipment with Regional Facilities Director 

• Serve as principal contact with our landlord for maintenance issues, building access, safety, and evacuation procedures, etc.  

• Collaborate with finance team to establish and manage budgets (events, storage, supplies, repairs, maintenance, moves, food & beverage, etc.), and ensure adherence to accounts payable procedures.  

Office Management  

• Manage, alongside HR and leadership within the office space.  

• Oversee management of Studio Coordinators, Front Desk/Reception experience and operations.  

• Collaborate with leadership on office operations; openly communicate and update leadership regarding office issues.  

• Manage inventory of office supplies including kitchen and sundries.  

• Maintain vendor relationships and periodically evaluate existing vendor accounts.  

• Oversee off-site and internal archive filing.  

• Implement best practices for building/office security.  

Event/Meeting Planning  

• Collaborate with teams to ensure the best meeting experience for employees, clients, and guests.  

• Provide support and staffing management for setup of internal events such as staff meetings, impromptu meetings, guests, in-house small meetings requiring food and beverage setups.  

• Provide event planning for both onsite and offsite events including All Staff Meetings, Holiday, and Bonus parties, Firmwide events as requested, and other special events.  

• Work closely with Leadership in the management of meeting/event space, catering and entertainment including creating and managing event budgets.  

Your Qualifications  

• Minimum of five years professional experience in office/facilities management role for large office (50-100 people).  

• Excellent judgment, problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills including ability to work with individuals at all levels of management and maintain confidentiality.  

• Must be self-motivated, resourceful, reliable, flexible, and willing to work overtime as needed.  

• Proven ability to prepare and manage budgets.  

• Highly organized and ability to prioritize and accomplish multiple tasks.  

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Teams, Zoom, etc.   

• Comfortable with technology and new software.  

• Experience in a professional services firm—architecture, hospitality preferred.  

• Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced, creative environment.  

• Demonstrated prior experience and passion for implementing sustainability and wellness-focused office initiatives including but not limited to supplies, vendors, catering, events, etc.  

• The right candidate will bring best practices and implement new processes as needed for improvement in all areas.  

*The base salary will be estimated between $90,000 - $110,000 plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience

Life at Gensler 

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests. 

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets. 

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.