Executive Assistant and Office Administrator

Job Description

Job Description

About Tempo

Based in San Diego, California, Tempo develops thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems designed for energy-intensive industries. The platform enables industrial operators to shift energy use over time by sourcing power when it is most cost-effective and enables the electrification of high-temperature industrial heat at a cost advantage to using fossil fuels. By storing electricity thermochemically, the system delivers a continuous stream of combustion-free, high-temperature air at up to 1,200&degree;C.

Tempo is backed by leading climate and energy investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Prelude Ventures.

For more information, visit

Job Description

We are seeking a resourceful and highly organized Executive Assistant and Office Administrator to join our rapidly growing startup. As we develop cutting-edge products for our thermochemical energy storage systems in our engineering and research facilities, we need someone who can keep our leadership team and our day-to-day operations running smoothly. This is a vital, multi-faceted role. You will serve as the administrative engine for our leadership team while also owning the systems that keep our office running and serving as the face of the company at the front desk. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable managing complex international travel, scheduling high-priority meetings, and making a strong first impression on investors, board members, and candidates walking through the door.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Support

• Provide direct administrative support to the leadership team, including managing calendars, proactively scheduling internal and external meetings, and resolving scheduling conflicts with sound judgment on priorities.
• Coordinate complex domestic and international travel arrangements, including flights, accommodations, ground transportation, and detailed itineraries.
• Support board and investor logistics, including meeting preparation, materials coordination, and visitor arrangements.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with consistent discretion.
• Coordinate meeting logistics, including physical and virtual room booking and required technology.

Front Desk and Hospitality

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all visitors and deliveries, maintaining a professional, organized, and welcoming reception area while directing guests to the appropriate host.
• Own the ordering and coordination of catering for office lunches, team events, board meetings, and daily executive meal orders.
• Maintain mailroom duties, receiving and sending office related mail and packages that are G&A related. This does not pertain to production or manufacturing.

Office and Facilities

• Keep the office and breakroom fully stocked by proactively monitoring and ordering office supplies, snacks, coffee, and beverages while ensuring cost-effective purchasing.
• Act as the main point of contact for our cleaning crew and other facility vendors to ensure the office and common spaces are maintained to a high standard.
• Oversee maintenance for all office equipment, including printers and copiers.
• Maintain storage room cleanliness and ensure general office supplies are always accessible to employees.
• Assist with company events and team building, taking ownership of the process from start to finish once kicked off by tracking budget, logistics, and other critical moving pieces.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience as an executive assistant or in a senior administrative role, preferably within a startup or technical environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing executive calendars and coordinating complex domestic and international travel.
• Proven ability to manage a busy front desk while staying focused on detailed administrative work.
• Sound judgment and consistent discretion when handling confidential information.
• Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail across scheduling, inventory management, and office upkeep.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with investors, board members, and staff.
• High proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, and Slack, with experience using cloud-based platforms and services.
• A self-starter who identifies needs before they become problems and works well with minimal supervision.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field preferred.

Working at Tempo

Tempo is a lean organization working on exciting challenges, and the people who thrive here share a few things in common beyond their technical skills.

• Clear, direct communication: You professionally say what you mean, lead with empathy, use tact, ask when you're unsure, and keep the people around you informed without being asked. At a company our size, communication gaps are expensive, and good communicators add to success and efficiency!
• Low-ego helpfulness: You're willing to jump in on work that isn't strictly yours, whether that's helping a teammate debug something, lending a hand in the shop, or flagging an issue you noticed outside your lane. No one here succeeds in a silo.
• Intellectual curiosity: You're genuinely interested in how things work, not just your piece of it, but the broader system. Tempo sits at the intersection of chemistry, mechanical engineering, power electronics, and software; the more you understand about the whole, the more valuable you become.
• Business awareness: You understand that your work exists in a business context. You think about cost, timeline, and tradeoffs—not just technical elegance—and you make decisions accordingly. Comfort with ambiguity: Processes here are still being built. You can make progress without a perfect playbook, and you know when to ask for direction versus when to use your judgment and move forward. Accountability: You own your outcomes, including the misses. When something goes sideways, the instinct here is to fix it and learn from it, not to explain why it wasn't your fault.

Compensation Range 

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $68,000 to $82,000 + equity and benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, location, and relevant education or training. 

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity or benefits .

Physical Demands

• Sitting and standing: Extended periods at a desk performing computer-based design, simulation, and documentation work, balanced with time at a lab bench or in the shop during hardware build and testing
• Lifting and carrying : Lift and carry equipment, test fixtures, or hardware assemblies up to 50 lbs.; heavier items handled with mechanical assistance or team lift
• Hand dexterity: Frequent use of hands for assembly, fabrication, instrumentation hookup, and operation of test and shop equipment
• Visual acuity: Ability to read engineering drawings, inspect hardware, and identify dimensional and surface quality features during fabrication and testing
• PPE compliance: Ability to wear and work effectively in required personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, heat-resistant gloves, safety shoes, and other appropriate gear in high-temperature lab and shop environments
• Safety acumen: Demonstrated understanding of lab and shop safety protocols, including hazard recognition and risk mitigation in environments involving high-temperature equipment, energized systems, and fabrication machinery
• Travel: Occasional travel (estimated <5%) for tool or material pickup

Working at Tempo

Tempo is a lean organization working on exciting challenges, and the people who thrive here share a few things in common beyond their technical skills.

• Clear, direct communication: You professionally say what you mean, lead with empathy, use tact, ask when you're unsure, and keep the people around you informed without being asked. At a company our size, communication gaps are expensive, and good communicators add to success and efficiency!
• Low-ego helpfulness: You're willing to jump in on work that isn't strictly yours, whether that's helping a teammate debug something, lending a hand in the shop, or flagging an issue you noticed outside your lane. No one here succeeds in a silo.
• Intellectual curiosity: You're genuinely interested in how things work, not just your piece of it, but the broader system. Tempo sits at the intersection of chemistry, mechanical engineering, power electronics, and software; the more you understand about the whole, the more valuable you become.
• Business awareness: You understand that your work exists in a business context. You think about cost, timeline, and tradeoffs—not just technical elegance—and you make decisions accordingly.
• Comfort with ambiguity: Processes here are still being built. You can make progress without a perfect playbook, and you know when to ask for direction versus when to use your judgment and move forward.
• Accountability: You own your outcomes, including the misses. When something goes sideways, the instinct here is to fix it and learn from it, not to explain why it wasn't your fault. 

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Tempo reserves the right to modify, add, or remove responsibilities as business needs evolve. Employees may be asked to perform duties outside of those listed above from time to time.

Tempo is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Tempo participates in E-Verify. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check including employment and education check. 

California Privacy Notice (CCPA) - In connection with your application, Tempo collects personal information that you voluntarily provide, such as your name, contact information, employment history, and other information relevant to your candidacy. This information is collected and used solely for the purpose of evaluating your application and administering the hiring process. Tempo does not sell applicants' personal information. For more information about your rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please contact HR.

Tempo does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles from external recruiters, staffing agencies, or third-party search firms. Submission of unsolicited resumes by any external agency — whether to a Tempo employee, hiring manager, or any other representative — does not constitute or imply an agreement for placement fees, and Tempo will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited submissions under any circumstances. Any candidate submitted without a prior, fully executed, written fee agreement between the agency and Tempo's Human Resources department will be deemed the sole property of Tempo. Tempo reserves the right to pursue and hire such candidates without obligation to the submitting agency.