[Closed] Office Manager (Cambridge)

Institute for Law & AI; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 48,226 - 63,065; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks of PTO

12 weeks of paid parental leave

Employer pension contribution

Health insurance

$4,000 annual reimbursement for productivity

$4,000 annual reimbursement for mental health support

$2,500 annual reimbursement for equipment and supplies

Job summary

A prominent think tank in Cambridge is seeking a proactive Office Manager to oversee daily operations and maintain a professional workspace. This role involves acting as the main contact for guests and staff, supporting events, and enhancing the office environment. The ideal candidate will have experience in office management and strong organizational abilities. This full-time position offers a salary range of $65,000–$85,000 depending on experience, along with benefits such as health insurance and generous leave policies.

Qualifications

• Experience in an office management, facilities, or operational support role.
• Organized and dependable with attention to detail.
• Comfortable working in a growing organization.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day office operations to maintain a welcoming environment.
• Serve as primary contact for building management and office guests.
• Support planning and delivery of events and administrative tasks.

Skills

Office management experience

Strong organizational skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Technical confidence

Job description

The Institute for Law & AI (LawAI) is an independent think tank that researches and advises on the legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence. We believe that sound legal analysis will promote security, welfare, and the rule of law. We conduct research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, law, and policy and advise governments, research organizations, and private actors. You can review LawAI’s recent publications on our website and learn more about our focus areas in this overview of our Workstreams and Research Directions .

About the role

We are seeking a proactive and highly organized Office Manager to oversee our Cambridge office and ensure it runs smoothly, professionally, and efficiently. This role is central to the day-to-day functioning of our UK presence, acting as the first point of contact for LawAI staff, fellows, and visitors while maintaining a well-run, welcoming, and productive workspace.

Beyond day-to-day operations, our Cambridge space is intended to be a hub, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and lawyers working in our space to exchange ideas and engage with some of the most important legal and policy questions shaping the future of artificial intelligence. As this is a recently opened office, you will be integral to establishing new processes, setting operational standards, and shaping how the space functions as we grow.

You will take clear ownership of the office environment and its operations, proactively identifying improvements and ensuring high standards are maintained. In addition to managing office operations, the role will support Cambridge and UK-based events and provide administrative assistance to the wider team, including the Director. As a growing organization, responsibilities may evolve over time, and this role offers meaningful scope to shape how our Cambridge office operates as we scale.

The Office Manager reports to the Cambridge-based Executive Associate and works closely with the wider UK-based team. This is an in-person role and requires consistent on-site presence in our Cambridge office.

Your main responsibilities would include:

Cambridge office & operations

• Own day-to-day office operations to keep the workspace welcoming, functional, and well stocked
• Serve as the primary point of contact with building management for facilities requests, maintenance, and repairs
• Act as the main contact for LawAI staff and office guests, including fulfilling requests, welcoming visitors, coordinating lunches, and managing deliveries
• Manage building access logistics, including key card requests, visitor access processes, and maintaining up-to-date access documentation
• Oversee office IT and connectivity on a day-to-day basis, including troubleshooting basic Wi-Fi and AV issues and escalating technical problems where necessary
• Manage meeting room bookings and space coordination
• Order and maintain office supplies, furniture, and equipment
• Monitor and process facilities-related bills, service charges, and general office expenses
• Track and execute small office improvement projects to enhance the workspace experience

Cambridge & UK-based events

• Support planning and delivery of Cambridge and UK-based events
• Coordinate venue bookings, catering, accommodation, and travel logistics
• Manage on-the-ground logistics during program weeks and in-person gatherings
• Track event-related expenses and support supplier coordination

Administrative & team support

• Provide administrative support to the wider team, including the Director
• Process and track expenses
• Support onboarding logistics for Cambridge-based fellows and visitors

About you

You are organized, dependable, and take pride in creating environments that run smoothly and feel welcoming. You enjoy being the person others rely on to keep things functioning well, and you approach your work with ownership, professionalism, and attention to detail. You are comfortable working in a growing organization where priorities can shift and where taking initiative is valued.

You might be a strong fit if you:

• Have experience in an office management, facilities, or operational support role
• Are service-oriented and responsive, with strong judgment in creating a professional and welcoming environment that reflects the needs of our community.
• Take ownership and work independently without needing close supervision
• Are highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Communicate clearly and confidently with staff, fellows, visitors, and external suppliers
• Remain calm and adaptable when priorities shift in a fast-moving environment
• Have an optimizing mindset and proactively improve systems and processes
• Are technically confident, with the ability to set up and manage office technology and infrastructure
• Are comfortable working in-person at the Cambridge office on a consistent basis

This role may benefit from you having some of the following experience, though you could still be a highly competitive candidate without it:

• Supporting in-person events, retreats, or multi-day programs
• Working in a think tank, academic, nonprofit, or high-growth organization
• Coordinating an office move or workspace transition

All of the above said, there’s no such thing as a perfect candidate; we don’t expect a successful hire to excel in all of the dimensions here. If you are on the fence about applying because you are unsure whether you are qualified, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $65,000–$85,000 depending on experience. For exceptional candidates whose experience exceeds our expectations in terms of relevance and seniority, we may consider higher compensation.

We are ideally looking for someone able to start immediately but are open to waiting for longer if the ideal candidate is not available immediately.

Time zones and location

This is a full-time, permanent position based in Cambridge, UK. We are not considering part-time candidates at this time.

Visas: We may be able to sponsor visas in some instances for this role, though individual eligibility is not within our control.

Our benefits include:

• 5 weeks of PTO recommended per year, plus 8 UK public holidays
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave that can be taken prior to birth or adoption and during the first year, with the option to take additional unpaid leave
• Employer pension or matching 401(k) contribution up to 4% of your salary
• Health insurance
• An annual reimbursement fund of $4,000 for productivity and professional development
• An annual reimbursement fund of $4,000 for mental health support
• An annual reimbursement fund of $2,500 for equipment and office supplies
• A friendly, open work culture that encourages feedback and close collaboration, and a team that appreciates the contributions of all team members

Diversity

We aim to employ people with many different experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who share our mission. We are committed to creating an environment where all employees have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race, religion, disability, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation.

Requests for accommodation

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability or incompatible assistive technology, please contact [e-mail] to request reasonable accommodations.

application process

If you think you might be a good fit for the role but are unsure whether you should apply, we strongly encourage you to do so. The hiring process looks like this:

• Initial screening call with the Executive Associate
• Invitation to take a work test (~2hrs) designed to simulate the work you would do if hired and/or evaluate certain skills important for success in the role
• Interviews & reference checks
• Employment offer

Referral program

This position is eligible for LawAI’s referral program. The referral program offers $5,000 to eligible individuals who refer a candidate who is ultimately hired for one of our open positions. Full terms can be found here .