RoleWhatnot's Real Estate & Workplace team is looking for an experienced Workplace Operations & Experience Manager to help shape and scale workplace operations across our West Coast portfolio. You'll lead operations for our San Francisco hub while driving operational consistency, workplace programs, and regional initiatives across Seattle, Los Angeles, Tempe, and other locations as we grow. You'll do much more than keep offices running-you'll help build the operating model, programs, and standards to create a consistent, safe and engaging workplace experience.
This role blends strategy with execution. You're comfortable moving between long-term planning and day-to-day execution, create structure where none exists, thrive in ambiguity, and know that exceptional workplace experiences aren't accidental-they're built through thoughtful systems, strong partnerships, continuous improvement, and relentless attention to detail. You care deeply about creating environments where employees can do their best work while building scalable operations that will support Whatnot as we continue to grow.
What You'll DriveWorkplace Operations- Lead workplace operations for our San Francisco hub while establishing and implementing operational standards, playbooks, and procedures that create consistent and effective facilities operations across the regional U.S. office portfolio.
- Design and implement a regional vendor support strategy-from sourcing and contract negotiation to ongoing performance management-and evolve flexible support models.
- Manage workplace operating budgets, identify opportunities to improve efficiency, and continuously raise the bar for service, efficiency, and employee experience.
- Partner with Security, IT, and building partners to keep our workplaces safe, resilient, and running smoothly.
Workplace Experience- Be the face of Workplace in San Francisco, setting the standard for hospitality and operational excellence, anticipating employee needs, and continuously improving the workplace experience.
- Build workplace programs that strengthen culture and support intentional collaboration and connection while reflecting Whatnot's values and honoring our remote-first culture.
- Create thoughtful in-office experiences across food & beverage, employee events, and key company moments in partnership with internal stakeholders.
- Build clear workplace communications and resources that make our offices easy to navigate and enjoyable to use.
Strategy & Partnership- Act as a strategic and operational partner to the Head of Real Estate & Workplace, helping prioritize initiatives and translate long-term strategy into scalable execution across the workplace portfolio.
- Support strategic workplace decisions, helping to define our workplace operating model by developing systems across the portfolio and bringing operational rigor to vendor frameworks, standards, and best practices that scale while respecting local nuances.
- Partner across People, IT, Security, Finance, Legal, Communications, and other teams to ensure successful workplace operations and deliver exceptional workplace experiences.
- Leverage workplace utilization, occupancy, and operational data to inform space planning and help shape strategic real estate decisions.
- Drive operational readiness for office expansions, relocations, new site launches, and workplace projects from planning through execution.
- Identify risks and opportunities early, bring forward thoughtful recommendations, and continuously improve how our workplace function evolves as we grow.
- Represent the Real Estate & Workplace function in cross-functional initiatives, confidently driving decisions and influencing outcomes across the business when needed.
Location & TravelThis role is based in San Francisco, CA. Expected in-office cadence: 3-5 days per week, with flexibility to be on-site frequently and off-hours to support operations, events, and other facilities needs. This role includes regular domestic travel (~25-40%) to other offices to support operations as needed.
YouCurious about who thrives at Whatnot? We've found that low ego, a growth mindset, and leaning into action and high impact goes a long way here.
As our next Workplace Operations & Experience Manager, you should have 8+ years of experience in office operations, facilities, or workplace experience across multiple office locations at high-growth tech companies, plus:
- A track record of building scalable workplace programs and operations, not simply maintaining existing ones.
- Proficiency with AI tools for workplace related support.
- Experience leading complex vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, and managing operational planning and budgets.
- A hospitality-first mindset paired with operational rigor and high standards for execution.
- Strong judgment and the confidence to make thoughtful decisions independently.
- The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution and thrive in ambiguity.
- You're equally comfortable discussing long-term strategy with executives and solving operational challenges on the office floor.
Benefits- Generous Holiday and Time off Policy
- Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision
- Work From Home Support
- Home office setup allowance
- Monthly allowance for cell phone and internet
- Care benefits
- Monthly allowance for wellness
- Annual allowance towards Childcare
- Lifetime benefit for family planning, such as adoption or fertility expenses
- Retirement; 401k offering for Traditional and Roth accounts in the US (employer match up to 4% of base salary) and Pension plans internationally
- Monthly allowance to dogfood the app
- All Whatnauts are expected to develop a deep understanding of our product. We're passionate about building the best user experience, and all employees are expected to use Whatnot as both a buyer and a seller as part of their job (our dogfooding budget makes this fun and easy!).
- Parental Leave
- 16 weeks of paid parental leave + one month gradual return to work *company leave allowances run concurrently with country leave requirements which take precedence.
