Operations Lead

Apera; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

Apera’s Santa Monica HQ seeks an Operations Lead to blend office operations, executive support, HR coordination, and compliance administration, ensuring smooth day-to-day functioning. The role emphasizes proactive problem solving and a willingness to wear multiple hats in a startup-like environment.

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, with strong communication skills and on-site presence most of the week, partnering with the CEO and leadership team to drive efficiency and growth.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in operations, office management, EA support, or people ops (startup or small company preferred).
• Experience supporting senior executives, ideally a CEO or founder.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day office management for Santa Monica HQ.
• Manage vendors, supplies, equipment, and facilities issues.
• Coordinate team events, offsites, and onsite meetings.
• Serve as primary contact for visitors and office inquiries.
• Maintain a professional, welcoming, efficient workspace.
• Support CEO calendar, travel, and meetings.
• Triages requests to align CEO time with priorities.
• Prepare meeting agendas and follow-ups for key meetings.
• Handle confidential information with discretion.
• Assist onboarding/offboarding, HR records, and benefits logistics.
• Coordinate performance reviews, training, and culture initiatives.
• Maintain compliance with policies and postings; manage contracts.
• Collaborate with payroll, legal, and accounting for filings.

Skills

Operations management

Office management

Executive support

People operations

Startup experience

Job description

Apera is looking for an Operations Lead to keep our Santa Monica HQ running smoothly and help our CEO and leadership team stay focused on what matters most: building and growing the business. This role is a blend of office operations, executive support, HR coordination, and compliance administration.

This is a great fit for someone who is highly organized, proactive, and comfortable wearing many hats in a fast-paced, startup-style environment.

What You’ll Do

Office Operations

• Own day-to-day office management for our Santa Monica headquarters
• Manage vendors, supplies, equipment, and facilities issues
• Coordinate team events, offsites, and onsite meetings
• Serve as the primary point of contact for visitors and office-related inquiries
• Maintain a professional, welcoming, and efficient workspace

Executive Assistant to the CEO

• Manage and optimize the CEO’s calendar, meetings, and travel
• Prioritize and triage requests, ensuring the CEO’s time is aligned with strategic priorities
• Prepare agendas, materials, and follow-ups for key meetings
• Handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism

HR & People Operations Support

• Support onboarding and offboarding processes (documentation, equipment, orientation)
• Help maintain accurate employee records and HR documentation
• Assist with benefits administration logistics and HR-related communications
• Coordinate performance and feedback cycles, training sessions, and culture initiatives

Compliance & Administration

• Help maintain compliance with company policies, employment regulations, and required postings
• Support the tracking and organization of contracts, policies, and key corporate documents
• Partner with external advisors (payroll, benefits, legal, accounting) to ensure timely filings and updates
• Contribute to refining and documenting internal processes and SOPs

What We’re Looking For

• 4+ years of experience in operations, office management, EA support, or people ops (startup or small company experience is a plus)
• Proven experience supporting senior executives, ideally a CEO or founder
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail; you’re comfortable managing many moving parts
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• High level of discretion and integrity handling sensitive information
• Comfortable working on-site in Santa Monica the majority of the week
• Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with a bias toward action

Why Apera

• Opportunity to build and refine core operations at a growing company
• High visibility role working closely with the CEO and leadership team
• Competitive compensation and benefits package