Senior Workplace Manager

Join AIR’s Workplace Management team as a Senior Workplace Manager and play a leadership role in strengthening resilient, scalable, and high-performing workplace operations. This role supports AIR’s multi-site portfolio by advancing operational service continuity, portfolio planning, complex project delivery, systems improvement, transition planning, and team capability. This position reports to the Director of Workplace Management.

You will serve as a senior operational leader, integrating daily workplace operations, real estate and portfolio priorities, project execution, systems innovation, vendor and budget accountability, and people development to improve service quality, reduce risk, and support AIR’s evolving workplace needs.

This position is an in-office role, requiring four designated days per week in AIR’s Arlington, Virginia office. Occasional travel for meetings, training sessions, site visits, and/or professional conferences may be required.

About AIR:

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

Responsibilities:

The Senior Workplace Manager will:

• Lead workplace operations and service continuity across AIR’s multi-site portfolio by setting priorities, managing workload distribution, maintaining service standards, and mitigating operational risk during periods of transition and change.
• Support portfolio planning and workplace strategy by contributing to space utilization analysis, location planning, occupancy decisions, real estate-related projects, and recommendations that align workplace resources with AIR’s evolving business needs.
• Manage complex workplace projects and programs, including renovations, relocations, decommissionings, infrastructure upgrades, and other portfolio initiatives, ensuring scope, timelines, budgets, quality expectations, and cross-functional coordination are effectively managed.
• Improve systems, processes, and data practices by optimizing workplace tools, advancing automation and digitization, strengthening reporting, and establishing scalable practices that support efficient operations and continuous improvement.
• Support transition planning and knowledge continuity by documenting critical processes, strengthening knowledge transfer, identifying operational gaps, and helping convert individual knowledge into scalable team practices.
• Lead team development and workforce planning by coaching direct and indirect reports, supporting career development, strengthening accountability, and helping shape future team structures through hiring, onboarding, and role clarity.
• Strengthen vendor, budget, and partner accountability through vendor strategy, procurement coordination, contract and service agreement oversight, cost and value analysis, budget discipline, and performance management.
• Ensure risk management, compliance, safety, and emergency preparedness are embedded into workplace operations and aligned with organizational policies, operational standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Advance sustainability and environmental stewardship through energy efficiency, waste reduction, responsible resource management, and vendor partnership.
• Build strong cross-functional communication and workplace experience partnerships with HR, Technology and Finance offices, vendors, and other stakeholders to support alignment, collaboration, inclusive service delivery, and effective workplace experience outcomes.
• Early Priorities
• Understand AIR’s current workplace operations, portfolio, staffing structure, systems, and key service expectations.
• Identify operational risks, workload gaps, process dependencies, and opportunities to strengthen service continuity.
• Support transition planning, knowledge transfer, and documentation of critical Workplace Management processes.
• Partner with the Director of Workplace Management to support role clarity, team alignment, and practical operating practices that strengthen collaboration and service delivery.
• Advance priority workplace projects, including relocations, decommissionings, systems improvements, and service delivery enhancements.
• Adapt responsibilities as business needs evolve.

Qualifications:

 Education, Knowledge, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; degree in facilities management, business administration, real estate, operations, engineering, architecture, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in workplace management, facilities management, corporate real estate, operations, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience, including coaching, performance management, and developing team capability.
• Proven experience leading complex workplace projects or programs, such as relocations, renovations, decommissionings, infrastructure upgrades, systems initiatives, or multi-site operational improvements.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, budgets, contracts, service delivery expectations, or operational performance metrics preferred.
• Professional certification such as CFM, FMP, BOC, PMP, LEED, or similar credential preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage workplace technology platforms and data such as work order systems, room reservation tools, IWMS, access control dashboards, and space planning applications to support project execution, measure operational performance, and guide continuous improvement.

Skills

• Strong communicator and relationship builder who translates stakeholder needs into clear priorities, influences alignment, and collaborates effectively across virtual, cross-functional teams, vendors, and partners.
• Experienced project and program manager who leads multiple priorities in fast-paced environments, manages deliverables from planning through completion, and balances scope, quality, budget, and timelines.
• Strategic, analytical problem solver who uses sound judgment, critical thinking, data, and process insight to navigate ambiguity, anticipate risks, and improve outcomes.
• Collaborative people leader who mentors others, sets clear standards, strengthens accountability, and drives adoption of best practices across teams.
• Change-oriented and technology-fluent leader who adapts quickly, learns new tools, and uses workplace platforms, Microsoft Office, digital, automation, reporting, and emerging technology tools to improve deliverables and operational effectiveness.
• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to balance day-to-day execution, long-term priorities, service quality, business needs, and scalable operational practices.

Disclosures: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law, including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braid, locks, and twists), creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition (e.g., cancer), sex, gender, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, civil union status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, genetic information, or military or veteran status. AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks. AIR maintains a drug-free work environment. 

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone at [email protected] or call 202.403.5000.

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer: AIR is aware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives. Fraudulent job scams seek to extract sensitive information or money from victims. To protect yourself, please be aware that AIR recruitment will only email you from an “@air.org” domain. Please take extra caution while examining the email address, for example [email protected] is correct and [email protected] is not a legitimate AIR email address. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a communication you have received, please reach out to [email protected]. If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general. Find out more about how to avoid scams atftc.gov/scams.

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