Workplace Specialist

Avalara, Inc.; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 77,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness benefits

Paid time off

Diversity & inclusion culture

Employee resource groups

Job summary

Avalara, Inc. seeks a seasoned Workplace Specialist to lead operations, safety, and employee experience across global programs. You will act as SME for workplace policies, drive SOP development, and collaborate with leaders to improve workplace standards.

You will partner with HR and leadership to foster a positive culture, manage events, and coordinate facilities, while delivering responsive, confidential support to employees across regions.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in employee engagement, workplace experience, or related roles.
• 2+ years of experience in office operations, workplace coordination, or facilities support.
• Knowledge of workplace policies, procedures, and health & safety standards.
• Experience developing global or cross-regional workplace initiatives, SOPs, or standards.
• Ability to work autonomously with good judgment.
• Ability to build trust and maintain confidentiality with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate across teams as SME and trusted resource.
• Experience leading workplace programs, initiatives, or events.
• Highly adaptable with multi-priority management in fast-paced environment.
• Strong ownership, initiative, and accountability.
• Customer-service mindset with responsive, thoughtful support.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Creative problem-solving and ability to implement practical solutions.
• Ability to analyze feedback to improve workplace experience.

Responsibilities

• Foster a positive, inclusive, and engaging workplace environment aligned with company values.
• Serve as SME on workplace and health & safety policies and best practices.
• Develop, document, and maintain SOPs and workplace standards.
• Ensure policies are communicated and regularly updated.
• Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to maintain facilities and services.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and connect teams.
• Support onboarding experiences to welcome new hires.
• Plan and execute workplace events and community-building activities.
• Provide responsive, solutions-oriented employee support.

Skills

Workplace operations

Employee engagement

Policy compliance

Cross-regional initiatives

Autonomy

Relationship building

Program leadership

Adaptability

Ownership

Customer-service mindset

Communication skills

Organization & time management

Problem solving

Feedback analysis

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Google Workspace

Job description

What You\'ll Do

We are seeking an experienced, collaborative, and highly motivated Workplace Specialist to join our team. As a Workplace Specialist, you are a fully qualified, career-level professional who brings deep expertise in workplace operations, employee experience, and health & safety practices.

In this role, you will independently manage a diverse scope of responsibilities, applying strong judgment in selecting methods and approaches to resolve a wide range of issues. You will serve as a subject matter expert and trusted resource for employees, stakeholders, and leadership, actively contributing to global workplace initiatives, SOP development, and process improvement efforts in support of global program direction.

You will network with senior internal and external contacts within your area of expertise. Reporting to the Director, Workplace Americas and Europe, you will be an integral member of the broader Workplace Team, contributing to a cohesive and people-centered workplace strategy.

#LI-Onsite

What Your Responsibilities Will Be

Foster Workplace Culture

• Champion a positive, inclusive, and engaging workplace environment aligned with company values
• Act as a cultural ambassador, reinforcing behaviors that support collaboration, respect, and belonging
• Partner with leadership and HR to promote employee engagement initiatives

Policies, Procedures & Subject Matter Expertise

• Serve as a subject matter expert on workplace and health & safety policies, procedures, and best practices
• Contribute to the development, documentation, and maintenance of SOPs and workplace standards in alignment with global direction
• Ensure workplace policies and procedures are clearly communicated, consistently applied, and regularly updated
• Support compliance with company standards, safety protocols, and regulatory requirements across regions
• Provide guidance and coaching to employees and stakeholders on workplace practices and expectations

Operational Excellence

• Independently oversee day-to-day workplace operations to ensure a smooth, safe, and efficient environment
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve processes, streamline workflows, and enhance employee experience
• Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to maintain facilities and services

Collaboration & Teamwork

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration by creating spaces and opportunities for teams to connect
• Build strong relationships across departments and with senior internal and external contacts in your area of expertise
• Support teamwork through proactive communication, coaching, and creative problem-solving

Employee Experience & Engagement

• Support and help shape programs that enhance employee satisfaction and productivity
• Gather feedback and insights to continuously improve workplace experience in alignment with global program goals
• Support onboarding experiences to ensure new hires feel welcomed and connected

Events & Community Building

• Plan, coordinate, and execute workplace events, including team-building activities, celebrations, and company-wide gatherings
• Manage event logistics, budgets, and vendor relationships
• Create opportunities for social connection and community within the workplace

Communication & Support

• Maintain clear and consistent communication regarding workplace updates, events, and initiatives
• Provide responsive, solutions-oriented support to employee needs
• Act as a liaison between employees, leadership, and external partners

What You\'ll Need to be Successful

• 3+ years of experience in employee engagement, workplace experience, or related roles
• 2+ years of experience in office operations, workplace coordination, or facilities support
• Strong, demonstrated knowledge of workplace policies, procedures, and best practices, including health & safety standards
• Experience developing or contributing to global or cross-regional workplace initiatives, SOPs, or standards
• Proven ability to work with significant autonomy, applying good judgment to select appropriate methods and solutions
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, foster relationships with senior internal and external contacts, and maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and serve as a subject matter expert and trusted resource
• Experience supporting or leading workplace programs, initiatives, or events that drive employee engagement and community
• Highly adaptable with the ability to manage multiple priorities and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Strong sense of ownership, initiative, and accountability
• Customer-service mindset with a focus on delivering responsive, thoughtful, and people-centered support
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with attention to detail
• Effective problem-solving skills with the ability to think creatively and implement practical solutions
• Ability to analyze feedback and identify opportunities to enhance workplace experience and operations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms)

Pay Range Details

The base pay range(s) below are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations.

Washington - $77,300 - $136,600 [annually]

The pay range above is the general base pay range for a successful candidate in the state listed. The successful candidate’s actual salary/wage may be based on various factors, such as geographic location, candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

This role is eligible for an annual bonus based on individual and company performance, depending on the terms of the applicable plan and the employee’s role.

Avalara is an AI-first Company

AI is embedded in our workflows, decision-making, and products. Success here requires embracing AI as an essential capability.

• You\'ll bring experience using AI and AI-related technologies, ready to thrive here.

• You\'ll apply AI every day to business challenges - improving efficiency, contributing solutions, and driving results for your team, our company, and our customers.

• You\'ll grow with AI by staying curious about new trends and best practices, and by sharing what you learn so others can benefit too.

How We\'ll Take Care of You

Total Rewards

In addition to a great compensation package, paid time off, and paid parental leave, many Avalara employees are eligible for bonuses.

Health & Wellness

Benefits vary by location but generally include private medical, life, and disability insurance.

Inclusive culture and diversit y

Avalara strongly supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is committed to integrating them into our business practices and our organizational culture. We also have a total of 8 employee-run resource groups, each with senior leadership and exec sponsorship.

What You Need To Know About Avalara

We\'re defining the relationship between tax and tech.

We\'ve already built an industry-leading cloud compliance platform, processing over 54 billion customer API calls and over 6.6 million tax returns a year. Our growth is real - we\'re a billion dollar business - and we\'re not slowing down until we\'ve achieved our mission - to be part of every transaction in the world.

We\'re bright, innovative, and disruptive, like the orange we love to wear. It captures our quirky spirit and optimistic mindset. It shows off the culture we\'ve designed, that empowers our people to win. We\'ve been different from day one. Join us, and your career will be too.

We\'re An Equal Opportunity Employer

Supporting diversity and inclusion is a cornerstone of our company — we don\'t want people to fit into our culture, but to enrich it. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, national orientation, disability, sexual orientation, US Veteran status, or any other factor protected by law. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.