Office Manager / Administrative Assistant

FuturHand Robotics; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Ownership of office operations

Flexible part-time schedule

Competitive hourly compensation

Job summary

FuturHand Robotics, a Carnegie Mellon University spin-off in Pittsburgh, seeks a part-time Office Manager/Administrative Assistant. You will oversee purchasing, inventory, and general office operations to keep the team running smoothly in a fast-growing robotics startup.

You’ll source supplies, track deliveries, support HR and accounting paperwork, and help manage onboarding and benefits processes. This role requires good judgment, strong organization, and a hands-on approach with vendors.

Qualifications

• Experience with purchasing processes and supplier management.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Discretion handling confidential HR/financial information.

Responsibilities

• Purchasing & inventory: source items, track orders, and manage vendors.
• Office & facilities: coordinate deliveries, stock supplies, and set up equipment.
• Administration: complete recurring forms and support general admin tasks.
• HR & accounting support: assist onboarding paperwork and invoicing processes.

Skills

Attention to detail

Independent & resourceful

Organizational skills

Procurement research

Confidentiality

In-office presence

Tools

Amazon Business

Job description

FuturHand Robotics is a Carnegie Mellon University spin-off developing next-generation dexterous robotic systems that transform how robots interact with the world. We build on cutting-edge research in dexterous hands and manipulation to solve real-world problems, developing dexterous bimanual robots that operate reliably outside controlled lab environments.

The Role

About FuturHand Robotics

FuturHand Robotics is a Carnegie Mellon University spin-off developing next-generation dexterous robotic systems that transform how robots interact with the world. We build on cutting-edge research in dexterous hands and manipulation to solve real-world problems, developing dexterous bimanual robots that operate reliably outside controlled lab environments.

We’re looking for a part-time Office Manager / Administrative Assistant to oversee purchasing and keep our office and team running smoothly. Day to day, that means sourcing and ordering what people need, monitoring delivery timelines and following up on orders, handling the everyday logistics of running a growing robotics company — deliveries, supplies, and the like — and providing administrative support on HR and accounting paperwork such as new-hire onboarding, healthcare elections, and invoicing.

You’re not expected to anticipate everyone’s needs on day one. As you get to know our team, our vendors, and how the business runs, you’ll build up the context to start anticipating what’s coming — flagging reorders before we run low, getting ahead of lead times — but that’s something you’ll grow into over time, not a starting expectation.

This role requires good judgment as much as it requires organization. When someone says “I need X cable” or “I need a specific fastener,” we need to trust that you’ll track down the right part — not just the first or cheapest option on Amazon. We’re happy to point you to the standard vendors we already rely on for certain categories, but you’ll need the instinct to know when a substitute is fine and when it isn’t.

One clarification on scope: we want this role to support HR and accounting with paperwork and process — not to be our HR and accounting department. You’ll help process forms, keep onboarding and benefits paperwork moving, and assist with invoicing, but the substantive HR and accounting work (policy, compliance, payroll, financial decisions) stays with the people who own those functions. Think administrative support alongside them, not ownership of the function itself.

What You’ll Be Doing

Purchasing & Inventory

• Figure out exactly what people need when they request something, check what we already have or have ordered before, and source the right item — using our go-to vendors where we have them
• Place and track orders, monitor delivery timelines, follow up on delays, and chase down lost or misdelivered packages
• Charge purchases to the correct card/account and keep spending records straight
• As you learn our recurring needs and vendors, start flagging reorders and lead-time risks before they become urgent

Office & Facilities

• Assemble, install, and allocate equipment as needed (desks, furniture, monitors, etc.), prioritizing getting people what they need quickly
• Serve as the point of contact for everyday deliveries
• Keep the office stocked — snacks and other supplies — reordering as things run low
• Run local errands as needed (Target, Home Depot, FedEx print/copy pickups, and similar)

Administration

• Complete recurring online forms and applications for the company (e.g., parking passes)
• Take on other administrative support tasks as they come up

HR & Accounting Support

(Administrative support alongside our HR/accounting functions — not ownership of them.)

• Support new employee onboarding paperwork — offer/new-hire forms, I-9s, benefits enrollment, and setting new hires up with what they need
• Help employees complete healthcare elections and other benefits paperwork, and keep those records organized
• Assist with invoicing — sending/tracking invoices, matching receipts, and helping keep records organized for accounting
• Handle other HR- and accounting-adjacent paperwork as needed, with an emphasis on accuracy and confidentiality

What We’re Looking For

• Sound judgment and an eye for detail — you know the difference between “a cable” and “the right cable,” and you don’t guess when you’re not sure
• Independent and resourceful, but knows when to ask for help rather than push forward on a guess
• Strong organizational skills — comfortable juggling multiple open orders, accounts, and requests without dropping any of them
• Comfortable researching and evaluating products online (Amazon and beyond) rather than defaulting to the first or cheapest listing
• Trustworthy and discreet with confidential HR/financial information
• Comfortable with paperwork and forms — accurate, organized, and able to follow a process closely (e.g., onboarding checklists, benefits elections, invoicing)
• Reliable transportation and willingness to run local errands
• Curious and willing to learn our team’s vendors, parts, and typical needs over time — this role grows into anticipating what’s needed rather than requiring it from day one
• Able to be in the office in person for at least part of the day, a minimum of 3 days per week

Nice to have:

• Prior experience in office management, operations, or executive/administrative support
• Experience with Amazon Business or similar procurement tools
• Exposure to HR or accounting administrative processes — onboarding, benefits enrollment, invoicing, or bookkeeping support
• Comfort with basic tool use and hardware/furniture assembly
• Prior experience in a startup, lab, or small-team environment

Logistics

• Schedule: Part-time; in-office in person at least 3 days per week (exact hours/days flexible)
• Location: Pittsburgh, PA (on-site)

What We Offer

• A hands-on role with real ownership — you’ll directly shape how smoothly the office and team run
• Close collaboration with a small, fast-moving robotics team building novel technology
• A flexible part-time schedule
• Competitive hourly compensation