Temporary to Hire Operations Manager (Eastern or Central Time Zone Hours Required)

Hawthorne Lane; Washington; Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawthorne Lane is seeking a hands-on Operations Manager to work across a growing team, tackling a broad range of operational needs and coordinating critical vendors and services. The role requires organization, comfort with ambiguity, and a pragmatic approach to building structure in a fast-moving environment.

You will support travel logistics, processes, and internal documentation, while refining workflows and tools to enable scalable operations as the company grows.

Qualifications

• Startup operations experience required.
• Advanced Google Workspace skills.
• Highly organized with strong time management.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity.
• Pragmatic problem-solver with practical judgment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key operational resource for day-to-day needs and priorities.
• Coordinate with external vendors and service providers (contracts, insurance, payroll, accounting, etc.).
• Support operational logistics including travel, systems, and evolving business needs.
• Establish and refine workflows, tools, and processes for growth.
• Track projects, deadlines, and operational priorities to keep initiatives moving.

Skills

Vendor coordination

Problem solving

Organized

Ambiguity tolerance

Time management

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

This startup is seeking a hands-on Operations Manager to join its team and operate in Eastern or Central Time Zone working hours. This role is for a pragmatic and resourceful professional to step into an early-stage startup and make an immediate impact. Working across a growing team, you will tackle a wide range of operational needs, coordinating critical vendors and services, improving processes, and finding solutions to whatever challenges arise. If you are highly organized, comfortable navigating ambiguity, and excited by the opportunity to build structure within a fast-moving environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a key operational resource, managing and responding to a broad range of day-to-day needs and priorities.
• Coordinate with external vendors and service providers, supporting areas such as contracts, insurance, technology, payroll, accounting, and other organizational services.
• Assist with operational logistics, including travel coordination, administrative processes, systems support, and other evolving business needs.
• Establish, organize, and refine workflows, tools, and processes that enable the organization to operate efficiently as it grows.
• Track projects, deadlines, outstanding needs, and operational priorities, ensuring timely follow-up and helping to keep important initiatives moving forward.
• Identify challenges and gaps, use sound judgment to troubleshoot issues, and escalate more complex matters to the appropriate team members.
• Support the development and maintenance of internal documentation, procedures, templates, and other resources that promote consistency and cohesion.
• Partner with colleagues to coordinate operational needs, improve communication, and create practical solutions in a constantly evolving environment.
• Take on special projects and emerging responsibilities, remaining flexible as organizational priorities and the role continue to develop.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• Join a mission-driven startup at an exciting stage of growth and play a meaningful role in helping build the operational foundation for its future.
• Enjoy the variety and challenge of a true generalist role where no two days look exactly alike and your ideas and initiative can have a direct impact.
• This role offers remote work, requiring candidates to operate in Eastern or Central Time Zone.

What We’re Looking For:

• Hands-on startup operations experience required. You have at least four years of experience in a startup or private sector organization with constantly changing needs.
• A natural problem-solver. You are comfortable stepping into unfamiliar situations, assessing what needs to be done, and finding practical solutions without requiring extensive direction.
• Google-savvy. This role requires advanced Google Workspace experience.
• Organized and accountable. You know how to manage multiple moving pieces, keep track of deadlines, and follow through on commitments in a timely manner.
• Comfortable with ambiguity. You do not need every process to be fully defined.
• Pragmatic judgment. You can distinguish between what requires immediate attention and what can wait and know when to bring others into the conversation.
• Ready to jump in. You are excited by the opportunity to join an organization during an important period of growth, roll up your sleeves, and contribute wherever your skills are most needed.

The hourly listed reflects the anticipated compensation range for this position. Actual compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, qualifications, location, business considerations, and internal equity. Final offer amounts are determined at the employer’s discretion.

Essential to Hawthorne Lane’s success is our ability to attract talent from a range of backgrounds. Our network reflects the diverse community around us, and we believe in a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed. Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.