Director, Workplace Operations

About the role:

We are seeking a dynamic Director of Workplace Operations, to lead our Workplace Operations and Experience teams across America with a strategic and forward-thinking approach. In this role, you will oversee physical office facilities, deliver exceptional hospitality services, and manage regional hub Managers and locations. You will spearhead complex projects, drive continuous operational improvements, and shape a long-term vision for facilities and workplace services that align with our strategic goals. With a mission to revolutionize workspaces for collaboration and hybrid work, you will partner with Real Estate and Programs colleagues to optimize our real estate portfolio and develop sustainable workplace programs to ensure efficient space utilization and an exceptional employee experience.

This is a hybrid position requiring at least 2 days per week in our San Francisco office. Relocation assistance will not be provided for this role.

In this role, you will: 

• Team Leadership and Management:
• Lead, mentor and inspire a diverse team of Workplace Managers and Workplace Coordinators to achieve individual and collective goals.
• Provide regular guidance, coaching and feedback and seek development opportunities to ensure team effectiveness and career growth.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
• Act as a role model by embodying and promoting Samsara's core values and principles, setting a high standard for all team members to follow.
• Define team objectives aligned with organizational and leadership goals and establish clear performance metrics.
• Address challenges proactively, promoting innovative solutions and risk mitigation strategies.
• Make informed decisions to navigate complex team and project dynamics effectively.
• Facilities Operations:
• Manage operations in multiple leased and service offices locations, ensuring consistent service and operational excellence by creating planned preventative maintenance schedules, conducting regular site assessments, seeking customer feedback, identifying improvement opportunities whilst adhering to lease terms and company standards.
• For leased offices, manage building infrastructure, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and other critical systems, ensuring timely maintenance and repair whilst being a lead role in business resiliency.
• Lead and promote initiatives to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and overall performance of workplace facilities.
• Monitor utilities usage and work toward reducing the environmental footprint.
• Experience with operating a NNN lease building is a must.
• Vendor Relationship Management:
• Coordinate with external vendors and contractors for food and beverages, cleaning, front of house, landscaping, internal events and other essential services.
• Negotiate contracts, monitor performance, and ensure service-level agreements are met.
• Operational Effectiveness:
• Work closely with Real Estate to provide detailed input, requirements, and expertise as it relates to facilities operations for all lease renewals, new builds or renovations to ensure effective operations from the first day of business.
• Partner with Workplace Programs to establish templates and processes to streamline Workplace Operations and needs whilst balancing local needs with global consistency and best practices.
• Analyze data from occupancy data, customer surveys, actual spend to develop workplace strategies and identify trends for improvement in line with facts. 
• Budget Management:
• Develop forecasts and manage the workplace operations budget for the Americas region.
• Monitor expenditures and ensure adherence to budgetary guidelines.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising service quality.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
• Collaborate closely with all business units to design and implement workplace plans and programs that exceed customer expectations and align with Samsara’s standards.
• Lead workplace initiatives through effective change management strategies, ensuring clear and consistent communication throughout the process.
• Deliver regular updates to stakeholders on workplace operations, project progress, and performance metrics to maintain transparency and alignment.
• Prepare and present comprehensive reports detailing workplace operations, key performance indicators, and project milestones.
• Utilize the DACI model to drive cross-functional collaboration and ensure successful execution of complex projects.
• Champion, role model, and embed Samsara’s cultural principles (Focus on Customer Success, Build for the Long Term, Adopt a Growth Mindset, Be Inclusive, Win as a Team) as we scale globally and across new offices.
• Hire, develop and lead an inclusive, engaged, and high performing team.

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Experience:
  • Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in facilities management, real estate, or workplace operations, with an emphasis on multi-site management.
  • 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams across multiple locations and organizational levels.
  • Bachelor’s degree.
• Leadership and Team Development:
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
  • Skilled in building and maintaining strong cross-functional partnerships.
• Technical and Strategic Expertise:
  • Deep understanding of facilities management best practices, operational standards, and site assessment methodologies.
  • Experience implementing continuous improvement initiatives to optimize operations.
  • Strong strategic thinking and planning skills with a history of developing scalable long-term operational strategies.
• Industry Knowledge:
  • Familiarity with workplace trends, including hybrid and remote work practices.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Proficient interpersonal and communication skills to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
  • Proven ability to advocate for resources and lead cross-departmental initiatives.
• Location and Travel:
  • Able to work from the San Francisco HQ a minimum of two days per week, fill in for absences on your team, and travel as needed to regional hubs where team members are based (currently Atlanta, Phoenix, Mexico plus additional locations as they come up).

#LI-Hybrid