Northwest Center @ Amazon operates in a fast-paced, high-visibility corporate environment where we deliver five-star service across a portfolio of managed operational programs. The Manager is a people leader accountable for the end-to-end performance of an assigned program or functional area, its service levels, operational and financial health, customer experience, and the growth and performance of the team that delivers it.
As our Events & Activations Manager, you'll have the opportunity to lead and inspire a high-performing, nationwide team that plays a critical role in creating exceptional workplace experiences. Overseeing our Activation & Events division, you'll guide a multi-layer team supporting Event Hospitality Ambassadors, Workplace Coordinators, and Activation Coordinators across Washington, Texas, California, Tennessee, New York, and Virginia.
This is more than an operations role. It's a chance to support strategy, build scalable programs, and facilitate how thousands of employees experience workplace events and engagement initiatives across the country. You'll set the vision for a growing organization, design team structures that support long-term success, and partner with stakeholders to drive meaningful business outcomes.
We're looking for a confident and thoughtful leader who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys solving complex challenges, and is energized by developing people and teams. You'll own results, make impactful decisions, and serve as the trusted leader for some of the organization's most important initiatives, helping create memorable experiences that bring people together and strengthen workplace culture.
Location: Seattle (South Lake Union), Bellevue & Redmond, WA
Schedule: Full-time, 8am - 5pm with flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.
Salary Range: $98,550 - $112,476 per year
What we can offer:
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance, effective the month after 30 days of employment
- 17 Accrued Paid Time Off Days Annually
- Additional 10 Annual Floating Holidays, Parental Leave, and Paid Compassion Leave
- Retirement 401(K) with a company match
- Employment Assistance Program (EAP) via Spring Health
- Mental Wellness Program including six free therapy sessions per year
- Opportunity for career development with our NWC Mentorship Match program
- Wellness Reimbursement Program - $25/month
- Student Loan Contribution Program - $50/month
- Seattle, WA: Company-Provided Orca Pass – Unlimited use
- Pet Insurance Discount Program
* Please submit a resume with your application. Cover letters preferred but not required. *
What You Will Do
Operational Excellence & Service Delivery
- Own the day-to-day operation and overall performance of the assigned program or functional area.
- Ensure service level agreements, operating standards, and customer satisfaction targets are met or exceeded.
- Define and monitor day-to-day service levels and KPIs, leveraging reports, dashboards, and trend analysis to measure performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Establish and continuously improve workflows, SLAs, and operational mechanisms that ensure quality, accountability, and measurable outcomes.
- Working closely with the Senior Manager or Director to support the vision and strategy of the program.
- Develop and maintain subject matter expertise across the operations.
- Maintain a rhythm-of-business calendar.
- Manage the operational, budgetary, and financial performance of the assigned area, including labor management and variance to plan.
- Support forecasting, headcount planning, and business case development for changes to the program.
Stakeholder Engagement, Partnership & Communication
- Act as the liaison between Northwest Center, Amazon, and vendor partners, ensuring continuity and ongoing improvement of those relationships.
- Deliver presentations and business reviews to audiences ranging from frontline staff to senior leadership and stakeholders.
People Leadership & Talent Management
- Build and lead a high-performing team through talent development, performance management, succession planning, and employee engagement.
- Drive consistent people practices, operational excellence, and a positive, collaborative workplace culture.
- Ensure current training resources are available to all staff, and that institutional knowledge is captured and transferred rather than held individually.
- Model elevated customer service in every interaction and hold the team to the same standard.
- Perform additional duties as required in support of NWC@Amazon operations.
- Bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or change management certification preferred.
- 6+ years of people management experience in a client-facing or operational environment, ideally including experience managing other leaders.
- Demonstrated experience managing a multi-layer team and being accountable for program-level goals, service levels, and customer outcomes.
- Advanced computer skills in MS Office, including the ability to build and interpret reports and dashboards.
- Experience operating in a managed services or outsourced service delivery model with a large enterprise client. Preferred.
- Experience in a high-profile, high-volume, or public-facing environment. Preferred.
- Experience standing up a new program or leading a program through significant change. Preferred.
- Experience contributing to strategic planning and executing against it within a corporate organization. Preferred.
- Commitment to Northwest Center’s mission of inclusion and ability to work successfully in a diverse environment.
- High judgment in fast-paced, high-stress, and ambiguous situations. Identifies and evaluates alternative solutions rather than escalating by default.
- Interpersonal skills to motivate others, lead change, and drive innovation.
- Strong oral and written communication, with the ability to tailor a message from frontline staff to executive leadership.
- Analytical, planning, and process development skills. Detail-oriented and thorough while retaining the wider view.
- Ability to manage changing priorities, competing deadlines, and a dynamic business environment.
- Responds calmly and professionally to emergencies, escalated customers, and other stressful workplace situations.
- Manages confidentiality without exception.
Physical Requirements
- Must be able to frequently carry and lift a backpack containing a laptop and other supplies, up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to move within a 1.5-mile radius, including walking between various Amazon buildings.
- Ability to stand and/or sit at a computer workstation for up to 8 hours per workday.
- Fine motor skills to operate computer equipment and other office machinery.
- Vision: ability to see both distance and details at close range (with or without corrective lenses).
- Hearing: ability to identify and understand speech (with or without a personal auditory hearing device).
- Verbal: clear English-language communication skills.
- Any additional program-specific physical requirements are listed in the Program Addendum.
Work Environment
- Primary work setting is a combination of office environment and actively visiting Amazon buildings.
- Dog-friendly environment with over 1,000 dogs on campus.
- For Spheres positions, the humidity and or heat conditions may vary in order to sustain the plant life in the space. The temperature will be maintained between 70 and 75 degrees, with an average humidity of level of 60%.
- Fast-paced, dynamic environment requiring quick adaptation and decision-making.
- May involve exposure to various weather conditions when traveling between buildings.
Schedule & Travel
- Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet business needs, including occasional early morning, evening, and weekend hours.
- Regular travel between Amazon buildings. Occasional domestic travel for multi-site operations.
About Us
At Northwest Center, we do not just accept diversity and inclusion — we celebrate it, support it, live it, and flourish in it to benefit our employees, the community, and our clientele. We believe that our strength lies within our diversity and the forward motion towards a day when people of all abilities can learn and work together.
We believe that curiosity and critical thinking are essential to the dialogue and improving decision-making, planning, resource allocation, and how we treat others. Our goal is to create and implement more equitable practices, policies, and culture. To be equitable means to value and respect individuals from all cultural backgrounds, genders, races, identities, and abilities. Northwest Center is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, including disability and veterans’ status.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
- 6+ years of people management experience in a client-facing or operational environment
- Experience managing a multi-layer team and accountability for program-level goals, service levels, and customer outcomes
- Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office, including building and interpreting reports and dashboards
- Ability to work successfully in a diverse environment and commitment to Northwest Center's mission of inclusion
- High judgment in fast-paced, high-stress, and ambiguous situations
- Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
- Analytical, planning, and process development skills
- Ability to manage changing priorities, competing deadlines, and a dynamic business environment
- Ability to work flexible early morning, evening, and weekend hours as needed
- Ability to regularly travel between Amazon buildings and occasionally domestically
- Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or change management certification
- Experience operating in a managed services or outsourced service delivery model with a large enterprise client
- Experience in a high-profile, high-volume, or public-facing environment
- Experience standing up a new program or leading a program through significant change
- Experience contributing to strategic planning and executing within a corporate organization
What We Do
We envision a day when all people have the same opportunities to grow, contribute to our society and enjoy a fulfilling life. Since 1965, our mission has been to promote the growth, development and independence of people with disabilities through programs of education, rehabilitation and work opportunity. Northwest Center employees embody our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Each of our business divisions is unique, offering a micro-community that is also part of the larger non-profit organization and mission. Our passionate staff members are connected by our core value of inclusion for people of all abilities. Our corporate headquarters are located in Seattle and we operate throughout the United States and internationally. For more information and to get involved, visit: www.nwcenter.org Like us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/nwcenter Follow us on Twitter - www.twitter.com/nwcenter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/nwcenter
Why Work With Us
Work with a Northwest Center business and you receive best-in-class services and help build a world that fully includes people with disabilities. We operate businesses as social enterprises; and their profits help fund our services for children and adults with disabilities.
