Workplace Manager

The Company

Sofar is on a mission to connect the world’s oceans. We design, build, and deploy the largest privately owned network of marine weather sensors to power the world’s best marine weather forecasts. Our data helps our customers to increase efficiency and reduce emissions, delivering tools to governments and other stakeholders to understand impacts of climate change on extreme weather and ocean health. We live on Planet Ocean, and our goal is to create the ocean intelligence needed to ensure a sustainable future.

The Role

Sofar is on the lookout for an innovative and proactive Workplace Manager to lead our day-to-day office operations and create a vibrant, efficient, and inspiring workplace. In this role, you’ll combine organizational excellence with creative thinking to ensure our office supports a thriving company culture, adapts seamlessly as we grow, and celebrates both the big and small wins of our amazing team. If you love making spaces work beautifully for people and teams—and you’re always looking for fresh, fun ways to boost morale and foster connection—you might be just who we’re looking for. You will report to Sofar’s Head of People and work closely with the other members of the Operations and People Team. This is a full-time, onsite role in San Francisco located on Pier 28 (just 1 pier from the Ferry Building!)

Impact you’ll own

• Lead day-to-day office operations

• Take full ownership of the workplace, proactively addressing facility needs to ensure smooth, efficient daily operations.

• Manage vendor relationships (catering, maintenance, janitorial, event staff, etc.), coordinating and directing contractors to ensure compliance with policies and delivering high-quality services.

• Maintain office supply inventory and resolve workplace issues promptly (e.g., restroom floods, refrigerator malfunctions) to minimize disruption and maintain a well-functioning workspace.

• Track and manage budgets, submit and process vendor invoices, and ensure cost-effectiveness.

• Implement preventive maintenance schedules, conduct regular inspections, and ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations.

• Anticipate future needs and proactively identify and resolve issues to maintain a safe, organized, and inspiring workplace that enables Sofarers to do their best work.

• Stay current with industry trends, and recommend innovative solutions to improve facilities management processes

• Enhance employee experience & support growth

• Partner with the People Team to foster a vibrant and connected office culture by organizing impactful events like our Annual Onsite Week or other memorable gatherings.

• Develop meaningful ways to celebrate wins—big and small—whether recognizing team-specific achievements or company-wide milestones, to boost morale and foster a sense of accomplishment.

• Bring creativity to the workplace by introducing thoughtful enhancements and engaging touches that make the office an enjoyable and inspiring space.

• Welcome guests, investors, clients, and candidates with warmth and professionalism, ensuring every visitor feels welcome and supported.

• Adapt and optimize the office as we grow, designing solutions for evolving needs, such as reconfiguring spaces to accommodate team growth or creatively maximizing comfort and collaboration.

• Bring fresh ideas into the workplace that reflect Sofar’s values and culture, ensuring the space evolves in step with our company identity.

• Anticipate and execute with precision

• Leverage strong organizational and project management skills to manage multiple responsibilities efficiently and deliver results with minimal oversight.

• Proactively communicate with Sofar’s team members to ensure they have timely and clear updates about office activities, changes, or events, fostering transparency and minimizing disruptions.

• Maintain and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to keep workflows streamlined, ensuring everyone has the resources they need to work effectively.

About You

• 4+ years of experience in workplace management, facilities coordination, or hospitality (including leadership roles in service-oriented industries).

• Strong working knowledge of facilities-related systems, equipment, and infrastructure, with the ability to oversee maintenance, repairs, and services.

• Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail and follow-through.

• Excellent communication abilities, both verbal and written, with a focus on delivering clear and friendly communication.

• A service-oriented mindset, with a commitment to delivering a consistent and welcoming employee experience.

• Proactive, resourceful, and energized by challenges that require creative problem-solving and innovative solutions.

• Enthusiastic about creating functional, engaging spaces that reflect team values and enhance productivity.

• Reliable, flexible, and comfortable working independently in a dynamic startup environment.

• Willing to roll up your sleeves and handle day-to-day tasks—no task is too big or too small.

• Positive, professional, and aligned with Sofar’s core values, with a can-do attitude that inspires those around you.

• Pride and ownership of your role drive your commitment to excellence.

Bonus Points

• A passion for sustainability and the ocean 🌊

• Experience working with teams that build hardware

Salary Range:

• $85,000 - $110,000

• The range listed is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and may be modified in the future. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, experience, and equity package.

Sofar's Commitment to Climate Justice

We at Sofar Ocean acknowledge that careers in the marine sciences “... have traditionally been, and remain, non-diverse work environments”, thereby limiting the entry and prosperity of underrepresented groups in the space. (Johri et al., 2021) Many of these same groups are disproportionately affected by climate change, and are often excluded from decision making that directly address their interests and needs.

We are committed to addressing these climate injustices and highly encourage people who identify as women, LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to apply.

Employee Conduct

It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers, and vendors.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.