Our mission is to reinvent the way people learn, starting with language.
Learning a language can change a life by opening doors to new cultures, careers, and communities. Two billion people around the world are actively trying to learn a language, but the best way to learn (one-on-one tutoring) is hard to access at scale and hasn’t been meaningfully improved in decades. Speak is building a human-level, AI-powered tutor in your pocket: a conversation-first experience that lets learners actually speak, get instant feedback, and progress through carefully designed lessons. The result is a complete path from beginner to confident speaker across multiple languages.
Speak first launched in South Korea in 2019, where Speak has now become the number one language learning app, and we now serve learners across many markets and 15+ languages. Speak is one of the world’s leading AI companies, with over $150m raised in venture investment from OpenAI, Accel, Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, and more, with a distributed team across San Francisco, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, and Ljubljana.
As Speak continues to grow globally, our San Francisco HQ has become our largest and most active hub. We’re looking for a highly organized, people-centered Workplace Experience Manager to help shape and elevate our in-office experience.
This role sits within the People Operations team and plays a critical part in ensuring our office runs smoothly, feels welcoming, and reflects our company culture. You’ll be responsible for everything from office operations and vendor management to new hire experience and events. As our first hire dedicated to this function, you’ll have the opportunity to build foundational systems and processes that scale with us.
We’re looking for someone who’s deeply motivated by creating an environment where people feel supported, connected, and excited to come to work. This role is based in San Francisco and requires regular in-office presence (four days per week, up to five when needed).
You’ll serve as the primary point of contact for our office.
Office Operations & Facilities
Manage daily operations of our San Francisco HQ, ensuring everything runs efficiently for our local employees.
Manage relationships with building management, vendors, and service providers (e.g., catering, cleaning, maintenance, security).
Oversee mail management, including incoming and outgoing deliveries.
Manage seating arrangements, facilities projects, and general office upkeep.
Track and manage office supplies, food & beverage, and equipment inventory.
Develop and implement efficient office processes and systems to optimize workflows.
Ensure compliance with workplace safety, security, and emergency preparedness protocols.
Employee Experience
Create a welcoming, inclusive, and productive environment for employees and visitors alike.
Manage front-of-house operations: entry, guest check-ins, and visitor flow.
Act as a cultural ambassador by bringing our values to life through daily operations and moments that foster connection.
Plan and execute local team events, celebrations, swag, and engagement programs that foster connection in SF office and across global hubs.
Play a key support role in planning and logistics for our annual company offsite.
Organize culture-building initiatives that reinforce Speak’s values and ways of working.
Support initiatives that strengthen belonging and cross-team collaboration.
Onboarding & Employee Support
Deliver an exceptional onboarding experience for new hires, including Day 1 tour and logistics.
Help coordinate logistics for visitors as needed.
Be the first responder for workplace questions and requests.
Budget & Vendor Management
Manage the SF office budget for supplies, food, events, and vendors.
Negotiate and manage vendor contracts to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness.
Continuously assess and improve operational processes for efficiency and scalability.
If you don't think you meet all of the criteria below but still are interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box, and we're looking for someone excited to join the team.
You have at least 4 years of experience in office operations, event operations, or similar operational / hospitality roles;
You’re able to run day-to-day operations efficiently while also building processes and programs from the ground up;
You have strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
You demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate across all levels of the company;
You have experience managing vendors, budgets, and contracts with a high degree of responsibility;
You’re proficient in tools like GSuite, Slack, and basic project management systems;
You’re able and willing to work from the SF office at least four days a week (and up to five when needed);
You’re physically able to lift up to 20 pounds.
You’re right for this role if:
You value empathy and customer service.
You take pride in the details.
You love creating structure and order but are flexible when things change.
You take initiative and consistently find ways to get things done efficiently.
You have a positive attitude and are flexible when things change;
You enjoy building community and making people’s days a little brighter.
You have a growth mindset and are excited to help shape what Workplace Experience means at Speak.
Bonus points:
You have experience with a globally distributed workforce
You’ve worked at a technology start-up or high-growth company
You have event experience
Join a fantastic, tight-knit team at the right time: we're growing very quickly, we've most recently raised our Series C from some of the top investors in the valley, and we've achieved product-market fit in our initial markets. You'd join at a magical time when a single person could significantly change the course of the company.
Do your life's work with people you’ll love working with: we care strongly about our craft and want every person at Speak to feel like they're growing every day. We believe in the idea that working with people you both enjoy and have respect for makes everything better. We hire thoughtfully and only work with people we admire deeply.
Global in nature: We're live in over 40 countries and launching in a number of new markets soon. We have dedicated offices in San Francisco, Ljubljana, Seoul, and Tokyo, and you’ll have the opportunity to talk to users in each of these regions on a regular basis as well as travel.
Impact people's lives in a major way: Learning a language is one of the single most life-changing skills one can learn, and right now 99% of people never achieve their goal because the process is broken. We’re helping millions of people achieve their goals and improve their lives.
Speak does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with
Speak