Workplace Experience Manager

Workplace Experience Lead @ Clay

Clay is an in-person first company with three global offices in San Francisco, New York, and London. We believe creative magic happens when we collaborate face-to-face. Our offices are central hubs for communication, connection, and collaborationdestinations where customers, Claymates, and community come together. We're passionate about creating an awesome environment for our Claymates to thriveour Workplace Experience team plays a massive role here through real estate, office and facilities management, and of course, events!

Clay HQ in New York is our flagship officea brand new, state-of-the-art 160,000 square foot space that will serve as the heart of our company. This isn't just another officeit's a statement about how we work and what we value. We need an experienced leader to bring this vision to life and set the standard for workplace excellence as we scale.

We're looking for a Workplace Experience Lead who will own and elevate every aspect of our HQ operations. You'll be responsible for creating a world-class workplace environment that enables our team to do their best work while fostering the culture and community that makes Clay special. This role requires someone who has successfully led large-scale office operations, has a strategic mindset, and can balance operational excellence with hospitality and culture-building.

What You'll Do

• Strategic Operations Leadership: Own all workplace operations for Clay HQ, including facilities management, space planning, vendor relationships, budget management, and long-term strategic planning for a 160,000 sq ft space.

• Thought Leadership & Team Culture: Lead by example and set the standard for excellence in workplace operations. Mentor and coach the NYC workplace team, establish best practices and norms, and serve as a role model for service excellence. Future opportunity to formally manage the team as we scale.

• Facilities Management Excellence: Oversee all aspects of facility operations including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, janitorial services, security systems, access control, and building maintenance for our new flagship space.

• Vendor & Stakeholder Management: Manage relationships with landlords, building management, cleaning services, catering partners, security providers, and other key vendors. Negotiate contracts and ensure service level excellence.

• Space Strategy & Planning: Partner with leadership to optimize space utilization as we scale, manage seating assignments, coordinate office moves and reconfigurations, and plan for future growth.

• Workplace Services & Office Operations: Lead the strategic operation of Clay HQ, including seating plans and space assignments for 250+ people, setting company-wide office norms and standards, kitchen and pantry management, meeting room technology, and ensuring all services run smoothly. Partner with the front desk and mailroom teams without direct day-to-day oversight.

• Health, Safety & Compliance: Ensure compliance with all building codes, fire safety regulations, ADA requirements, and workplace safety standards. Lead emergency preparedness planning and response.

• Budget Ownership: Manage the workplace experience budget, track expenses across multiple categories, identify cost-saving opportunities, and deliver exceptional experiences within financial parameters.

• Culture & Community Building: Partner with the broader workplace experience team on events, programming, and initiatives that strengthen Clay's culture and create memorable moments for Claymates.

• Innovation & Creative Programming: Dream up and execute innovative workplace experiences that wow Claymates. From unique amenities and surprise-and-delight moments to cutting-edge workplace programs, you'll constantly push the boundaries of what an office can be. We want someone who can look at our 160,000 sq ft space and see endless possibilities.

• Cross-Office Collaboration: Work closely with workplace leads in SF and London to share best practices, standardize processes, and ensure consistency while respecting local needs.

• Data-Driven Improvements: Track key metrics, gather employee feedback, analyze utilization data, and continuously improve the workplace experience.

What You'll Bring

• Must Have: 4+ years of workplace/facilities experience with demonstrated success leading an office of 250+ people. You've scaled office operations and know what it takes to manage a large, complex workspace.

• Must Have: Large-scale office move experience. You've successfully planned and executed a major office relocation or move, managing the complex logistics, timelines, vendor coordination, and employee experience that comes with it.

• Large-scale facility operations: Deep experience managing facility operations for 100,000+ square foot spaces, including knowledge of building systems, preventive maintenance, and vendor management.

• Strategic thinking: Ability to develop long-term workplace strategies, anticipate future needs, and proactively solve complex operational challenges.

• Project management excellence: Strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, exceptional attention to detail, and calm under pressure.

• Vendor & contract management: Proven experience negotiating and managing complex vendor relationships, service level agreements, and multi-year contracts.

• Stakeholder management: Exceptional ability to work with senior leadership, building management, external partners, and cross-functional teams at all levels.

• Problem-solving mindset: Quick thinker who can troubleshoot complex facility issues, make sound decisions under pressure, and find creative solutions to operational challenges.

• Communication excellence: Clear, professional, and proactive communicator in writing and verbally, with strong presentation skills and ability to influence stakeholders.

• Service-oriented mindset: Genuine passion for creating exceptional workplace experiences and going above and beyond to support employees.

• Creative vision & innovation: You're full of ideas and love experimenting with new concepts. Whether it's a unique wellness program, an unexpected amenity, or a creative use of space, you see opportunities where others see constraints. You're not afraid to try new things and iterate based on what works.

• Nice to Have: Experience at a 500+ person company. You understand the unique challenges and complexities of supporting a large, fast-growing organization.

Bonus Points

• Experience opening or managing brand new, large-scale office spaces (100,000+ sq ft)

• Experience in fast-growing tech companies

• High Taste Strong design sensibility and experience collaborating with architects and designers

• Background in commercial real estate or corporate real estate

• Experience managing multi-site or multi-office operations