Senior Manager, Workplace Experience
Instacart
We're transforming the grocery industry
At Instacart, we invite the world to share love through food because we believe everyone should have access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together. Where others see a simple need for grocery delivery, we see exciting complexity and endless opportunity to serve the varied needs of our community. We work to deliver an essential service that customers rely on to get their groceries and household goods, while also offering safe and flexible earnings opportunities to Instacart Personal Shoppers.
Instacart has become a lifeline for millions of people, and we’re building the team to help push our shopping cart forward. If you’re ready to do the best work of your life, come join our table.
Instacart is a Flex First team
There’s no one-size fits all approach to how we do our best work. Our employees have the flexibility to choose where they do their best work—whether it’s from home, an office, or your favorite coffee shop—while staying connected and building community through regular in-person events. Learn more about our flexible approach to where we work.
Overview
About the Role
The Senior Manager of Workplace Experience will be responsible for shaping and executing a strategic vision for workplace operations while delivering a best-in-class experience for employees and visitors. You will lead a team that drives operational excellence and ensures workplace environments are engaging, functional, and aligned with company values. This role includes team leadership, collaboration across departments, strategic planning, and day-to-day management of workplace operations.
Instacart employs over 3,000 people across the United States, Canada, China, and Australia, with headquarters in San Francisco and additional offices globally. These office spaces serve as collaboration hubs for employees and teams throughout the year, and we are in the process of refreshing our San Francisco office space in pursuit of this goal. Reporting to the VP of Total Rewards, you will manage a team made up of full-time employees, contingent staff, and vendor partners in multiple locations.
About the Team
The Total Rewards team oversees compensation, benefits, workplace, and wellness programs to ensure they are aligned with the company’s talent strategy. We build compelling employee programs to attract the best talent and motivate them throughout all stages of their career.
About the Job
Strategy & Vision
- Develop and execute the team strategy and vision for workplace environment and employee engagement aligned with overall company values and objectives.
- Define and execute on long-term goals for workplace experience, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
- Curate in-office experiences for local employees that encourages gathering and working in the office, in lieu of an in-office mandate. Create an equally desirable experience for non-local employees and guests who visit less often.
- Promote a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and productivity across all physical office environments.
People Management & Team Leadership
- Directly manage site leads across multiple locations, providing guidance and oversight to ensure successful execution of workplace initiatives.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, aligned with Instacart’s vision and values.
- Set clear expectations, provide coaching, and support professional growth within the team.
- Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and team check-ins to track progress, provide feedback, and align on goals.
- Proactively engage with VP+ level executives and senior leadership to align workplace services with company priorities.
Financial Management
- Develop, maintain, and oversee detailed budget proposals for workplace initiatives and ensure all expenses align with organizational goals.
- Manage budget ownership and ensure accurate allocation of spending, including identifying cost-savings initiatives related to facilities and services.
- Review, approve, and manage invoices to support compliance and transparency in workplace expenditures.
Office Space Strategy
- Lead strategic planning and execution for physical office spaces, including moves, build-outs, renovations, and expansions.
- Oversee site-specific projects and ensure project timelines, budgets, and outcomes meet organizational expectations.
- Partner with landlords, real estate brokers, and Legal teams to finalize agreements and ensure efficient property management and lease negotiations.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Relationship Management
- Build and nurture strong relationships with internal partners and stakeholders across teams to ensure alignment on workplace initiatives. Partner closely with Instacart’s Events team and Executive Assistants for events that take place at Instacart’s office spaces.
- Maintain key external relationships, including landlords, real estate brokers, and vendors.
- Provide oversight and direction to site leads and vendors for site-specific priorities and deliverables.
Workplace Operations & Quality Management
- Oversee quality, service, and maintenance standards across all office facilities.
- Implement and apply standardized workplace programs, policies, and practices in collaboration with local office leads.
- Lead and manage key workplace services, including:
- Food and snack provisioning
- Site safety
- Emergency response and planning protocols
- Cleaning services
- Front desk and guest services
- Ensure proactive planning and preventive maintenance for all physical spaces.
- Identify and implement cost-saving solutions for ongoing maintenance and operations.
- Optimize vendor management to achieve service excellence and cost efficiency.
Onsite Health, Safety, and Emergency Management
- Partner with internal teams to support workplace health and safety programs.
- Oversee emergency preparedness protocols, ensuring all employees are trained and equipped to handle emergencies.
- Drive initiatives to maintain compliance with local and international safety regulations.
About You
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be located within commutable distance to our San Francisco office (300 Mission Street) and be onsite a minimum of 3 days per week. Must be able to travel to other Instacart offices periodically as needed.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Facilities Management, Operations Management, or a related field (preferred).
- 8+ years of experience in workplace operations or facilities management, with 3+ years in a leadership role.
- Proven leadership experience in managing high-performing teams across workplace services.
- Strong understanding of office space management, food services, maintenance, and employee experience best practices.
- Experience working in high-growth, fast-paced technology environments.
- Exceptional project management skills and proven success in delivering initiatives on time and within budget.
- Knowledge of workplace safety, compliance protocols, and emergency preparedness.
- Experience managing and scaling workplace operations for multi-location businesses preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in a similar role, managing large-scale corporate facilities and teams across multiple locations.
- Experience in leading innovative and cost-effective workplace enhancements while driving exceptional employee services.
- Strong vendor management expertise and stakeholder communication skills.
- Ability to proactively align workplace services with evolving company needs and objectives.
- Proven ability to influence VP+ level executives and implement strategic, company-wide initiatives effectively.
Offers may vary based on many factors, such as candidate experience and skills required for the role. Additionally, this role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants. Please read more about our benefits offerings here.
For San Francisco, CA based candidates, the base pay ranges for a successful candidate are listed below.