The posting
LPA is seeking an experienced Office Manager to join our integrated team of architects, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, planners and other firmwide professionals.
This role is responsible for creating an exceptional workplace experience for our employees while ensuring the day-to-day operations of LPA's corporate headquarters run smoothly and effectively. While leading a studio of more than 300 employees, you will also guide a team of operations and administrative professionals and partner with their studio leaders, establish and maintain consistent practices, coordinate resources and improve firmwide processes and functions such as travel, meetings management, sustainability practices, event planning and more.
This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys leading people, solving problems, creating great experiences and bringing organization to a fast-moving paced and highly collaborative environment. Every day will be different!
What You Will Do
Lead Studio Operations + Workplace Experience
Create an organized, welcoming and highly functioning workplace for more than 300 employees in our corporate studio in Irvine.
- Oversee daily studio operations, ensuring employees, project teams and leaders have the resources and support they need to do their best work.
- Anticipate studio needs and proactively address issues with studio and firm leaders before they negatively impact employees or project teams.
- Oversee studio support office services, facilities management, safety, security, supplies, catering, and partner with external business partners to meet evolving workplace needs.
- Help create and oversee a studio an office environment that reflects LPA's highly engaged culture and provides a consistent, welcoming employee and guest experience.
- Partner with LPA’s Sustainability leaders to develop and advance programs that encourage more sustainable employee behaviors such as: including carpooling, alternative transportation, waste reduction, responsible purchasing, and other workplace initiatives.
- Support visiting employees, clients, candidates and other guests to ensure a thoughtful and welcoming experience.
Lead + Develop the Studio's Operations/Administrative Team and Studio Operations
Lead a team of operations and administrative professionals who support employees, project teams, guests and firm leaders while creating consistency where it adds value while recognizing the unique needs of each studio.
- Provide daily leadership, coaching and direction to the operations/administrative team.
- Establish clear roles, responsibilities and service expectations across the team.
- Coordinate workload, schedules and resources to ensure studio needs are addressed efficiently and effectively.
- Partner with studio leaders to anticipate changing team and studio administrative needs as the studios and firm continue to grow.
- Collaborate with other firmwide disciplines (HR, ID, IC etc.) to on-board, train and retain new team members.
- Serve as a resource and point of connection for operations and administrative professionals across the firm.
- Act as an escalation point of contact for firmwide issues that cross studios or require broader coordination.
- Help determine which services and processes should be managed firmwide and which are best managed locally.
- Coordinate and/or advise on business partner and sub-contractor relationships and purchasing practices where a firmwide approach improves service, consistency and/or value.
- Partner with firm leadership and appropriate internal resources on lease renewals, amendments, space needs and other lease matters.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with landlords, property management teams and other building partners.
Meetings, Events, Parties + Firm Culture
Help create experiences that connect employees and reinforce LPA's engaging culture.
- Lead planning and coordinate logistics for local as well as firmwide office meetings, events, workshops, parties and employee gatherings.
- Manage event logistics including space, technology coordination, catering, travel and other resources.
- Support visiting employees, clients, candidates and other guests to ensure a thoughtful and welcoming experience.
- Help translate firmwide programs and initiatives into a successful local office experience.
- Collaborate with other firmwide disciplines (HR, ID, IC etc.) on party planning, wellness programs, monthly “fun” activities.
What we’re looking for:
- 8+ or more years of demonstrated experience in office management, workplace operations, business administration, hospitality or a related field, including experience leading teams.
· Proven experience managing facilities and operations for a large office or workplace with 200 + employees.
- Demonstrated ability at managing a large, complex professional workplace.
- Experience in architecture, engineering, professional services or a similarly collaborative and professional environment is a real plus.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, develop and motivate operations and administrative professionals.
- Experience establishing processes and coordinating operations across multiple teams, locations or offices.
- Very strong organizational, communication and collaboration skills.
- A service-oriented and hands-on mindset combined with the confidence to establish expectations and hold others accountable.
- High level of confidence and skill at managing multiple priorities.
- At ease with navigating a dynamic, faced-paced environment with agility and composure.
- Calm, flexible demeanor and comfort with shifting priorities.
- Strong judgment and the ability to independently assess situations and make decisions quickly.
- Ability to build trusted relationships with employees and leaders at all levels of an organization.
- Comfort working with senior and executive leadership.
- Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive business and employee information.
- Strong time management skills.
- Proven track record of soliciting quotes and proposals and managing budgets, contracts, vendors and other service providers.
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, Powerpoint) and Microsoft Dynamics ERP/CRM or similar database software as well as comfort learning new workplace and administrative technologies.
- High School graduation required and Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred.
LPA is an integrated design firm with offices in California and Texas, focused on creating forward-thinking, sustainable spaces that make a positive impact. We believe great design begins with great people, which is why we foster a supportive, collaborative environment where creativity, curiosity, and professional growth are encouraged. Our culture values diversity, promotes wellness, and supports a healthy work-life balance. At LPA, we offer competitive salaries and a robust benefits package—including health and dental insurance, retirement and financial planning, wellness initiatives, and flexible work/life programs.
This position is eligible for an annual bonus. If you are hired at LPA, your base salary is based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, experience and/or project complexity. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as part of any final offer.
LPA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires.
NOTICE TO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES AND RECRUITERS:
Please note that LPA does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed contract, LPA will not agree to pay any recruiter fee. In the situation an agency or recruiter submits a candidate or resume without a previously signed agreement and/or without LPA’s request, LPA explicitly reserves the right to hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of LPA.
