Office Operations Manager

$80,000 - $95,000/Yr

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Llp (Som) - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Chicago, IL

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Office Operations Manager at SOM is responsible for ensuring that the facility meets the firm's standards and that maintenance of these standards is updated daily. This role acts as the first point of contact for office renovations, staff issues, repairs, and emergencies, while also managing relationships with building management and vendors. The position requires strong leadership skills to inspire and mentor team members, develop work plans, and implement sustainable strategies across projects.

Responsibilities

• Ensures the facility meets SOM Standards and maintenance of standards is updated daily.
• Acts as first point of contact for all office renovations, staff issues, repairs, and improvements; all office emergencies including loss of power, leaks, HVAC elevator emergencies.
• First point of contact with landlord/building management for all operational items/actions.
• Acts as point of contact for the Emergency Management Team and works in conjunction with HR and IT to ensure best practice.
• Implements policy for Office Facilities including fire safety, business standards, help desk tickets.
• Maintains and administers office security cards, building card access and weekly security reports; updates Intranet site for key office listings.
• Manages seat assignments with Senior Leadership and updates seat assignments, floor maps, seat reporting for studio heads.
• Ensures all desks are cleaned, IT equipment setup and appropriate furniture is available for new hires.
• Coordinates and oversees all aspects of internal staff moves.
• Communicates and interacts daily with staff and new hires to ensure facilities procedures are compliant with SOM standards.
• Communicates with firm-wide peers to develop and implement best practices.
• Schedules maintenance cleaning, painting, furniture repair and storage.
• Supervises ordering of pantry supplies, office supplies and furniture.
• Oversees building cleaning company to ensure contracted services are provided.
• Develops relationships and works daily with vendors on COL, contracts, and solicits proposals.
• Reviews monthly expenditures to ensure adherence to budget guidelines.
• Coordinates purchases and disposal of furniture and fixtures with Finance.
• Inspires and leads others by example, participates in staff mentoring and training, clearly defines team member expectations and responsibilities, empowers others, and delegates where appropriate based on team members' recognized abilities and potential.
• Develops and/or manages, in collaboration with team members, a clear and consistent work plan to achieve the project budget, deliverables, and schedule.
• Actively engages in internal and external professional development opportunities.
• Contributes to the implementation of sustainable strategies in all project assignments and the associated development of staff knowledge.
• Contributes to the development of standards, policies, and procedures.
• Protects SOM from financial and legal risk.

Requirements

• College degree preferred or equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Minimum of 6 years experience as an office operations/administrative professional or equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Experience in architecture is preferred.
• Minimum 3 years supervisory experience.
• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal skills, communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to interact with all levels of staff and Partnership.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in architecture is preferred.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance
• 401K matching
• Pre-tax spending accounts
• Employee discount programs
• Hybrid/flexible schedules
• Paid family leave
• Paid vacation
• Backup child and elder care
• Employee assistance program
• Reimbursement for professional licenses, associated renewals, and exam fees
• Specialized in-house career development