Manager, Operations

Illumination is seeking a Manager of Operations responsible for ensuring the seamless day-to-day functionality, safety, and presentation of our facilities while delivering a best-in-class workplace experience for employees and guests. This role oversees all aspects of facility operations, maintenance, security, vendor management, and space planning. The Manager of Operations will lead complex projects, manage budgets, and respond to building and emergency needs, playing a critical role in maintaining an efficient, well-organized, and welcoming environment that supports the company’s creative and operational goals.

Must Have

• Ensure overall operation, maintenance, organization, and aesthetic of the entire facility.
• Ensure routine/preventative maintenance and service is completed by vendors throughout the facility.
• Manage larger scale facilities projects and build-outs from inception to completion.
• Approve requests for facility and workspace related purchases.
• Manage overall parking operations and determine parking assignments.
• Manage current responsibilities of daily onsite vendors (security guards and cleaning staff).
• Manage Operations team’s overall ideation, planning, and execution of company-wide programs, events, and parties.
• Work with HR, IT, and Operations team to ensure operational items are ready for new hires.
• Act as point person for all building and security emergencies.
• Own and regularly manage emergency preparedness plan.
• Manage (Security) Receptionist and Office Assistants.
• Oversee Office Assistant and manage day-to-day operations for the company’s smaller office site.
• Manage overall relationships with landlord, property manager, campus staff, and UMG.
• Manage and track spending of Facilities budget.
• Oversee management of asset inventory.
• Manage office space planning within workplace management system.
• Ensure work orders are created, assigned, and followed through to completion.
• Ensure Operations related invoices are received and processed in a timely manner.
• Track and review all campus/landlord related expenses charged back to Illumination.
• 5+ years of experience in Facilities, Office, or Workplace Operations in a multi-site corporate environment.
• Proven ability to manage day-to-day facilities operations, preventative maintenance programs, and vendor performance.
• Experience leading office build-outs and facilities projects, including contractor oversight, budgets, and change orders.
• Strong budget and financial management skills.
• Demonstrated experience managing on-site staff and vendors.
• Experience owning emergency preparedness, building security, and incident response.
• Strong cross-functional partnership skills.
• Must work on-site 5 days a week.

Perks & Benefits

• Comprehensive and competitive benefits package
• Medical insurance for employees and their family
• Dental insurance for employees and their family
• Vision insurance for employees and their family
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement

Responsibilities

• Ensure the overall operation, maintenance, organization and appearance/aesthetic look of entire facility.
• Ensure routine/preventative maintenance and service is completed by vendors throughout the facility. Maintenance and service includes HVAC, plumbing/appliance repairs, painting, general building/furniture repairs, light bulb replacement, landscaping, handyman, pest control, shredding services, deep cleaning, landlord preventative main etc.
• Manage larger scale facilities projects and build outs from the inception to completion. Monitor contractor’s performance and work closely with them to ensure work is completed according to specifications, manage change orders, track spending against designated budget and flag potential overages.
• Approve requests for facility and workspace related purchases and escalate approval process when necessary.
• Manage overall parking operations and determine parking assignments for new hires.
• Manage current responsibilities of daily onsite vendors (security guards and cleaning staff), their overall performance and address any performance concerns.
• Manage Operations team’s overall ideation, planning and execution of designated company-wide programs, events and parties (picture releases, holiday parties, etc.)
• Work with HR, IT and the rest of the Operations team to ensure operational items are ready for new hires (seating assignment, fobs, parking, campus access system).
• Point person for all building and security emergencies.
• Ownership and regular management of emergency preparedness plan. Regularly update materials, arrange in-office drills/necessary training sessions and ensure routine maintenance of emergency systems.
• Manage (Security) Receptionist and Office Assistants.
• Oversee the Office Assistant and manage day-to-day operations for the company’s smaller office site on the Universal lot.
• Manage overall relationships with landlord, property manager, campus staff and UMG to ensure we are maintaining a positive and proactive rapport with all parties.
• Manage and track spending of Facilities budget (determine estimates, track actuals, identify areas for cost savings.
• Oversee management of asset inventory.
• Manage office space planning (projecting department growth, new employee locations, office moves, etc.) within workplace management system.
• Ensure work orders are created for all employee building concerns and requests, department projects and areas of concern identified during team sweeps. Assign work orders to member of Operations team and ensure they are all followed through to completion.
• Make sure Operations related invoices are received and processed in a timely manner. Review all invoices on a weekly basis before they are processed to ensure there are no areas of concern/inconsistencies.
• Track and review all campus/landlord related expenses charged back to Illumination (CAM, building specific expenses) and audit when necessary.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Facilities, Office, or Workplace Operations in a multi-site corporate environment
• Proven ability to manage day-to-day facilities operations, preventative maintenance programs, and vendor performance
• Experience leading office build-outs and facilities projects, including contractor oversight, budgets, and change orders
• Strong budget and financial management skills, including invoice review, expense tracking, and cost optimization
• Demonstrated experience managing on-site staff and vendors (security, cleaning, office support)
• Experience owning emergency preparedness, building security, and incident response
• Strong cross-functional partnership skills with HR, IT, Finance, and leadership to support onboarding, space planning, and company-wide initiatives
• Must work on-site 5 days a week.

The base salary range for this role is $90,000-$110,000 per year. We rely on market indicators to determine compensation and an offer will consider various factors including experience, qualifications, skills, and training. Our comprehensive and competitive benefits package includes medical, dental and vision insurance for employees and their family, 401(k), paid time off, tuition reimbursement and a variety of other perks.

About Illumination

Illumination, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry’s leading producers of event-animated films, including Despicable Me—the most successful animated franchise in cinematic history—as well as Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch and The Secret Life of Pets and Sing films. The 2023 release of Illumination's The Super Mario Bros. Movie has joined the studio library, now comprising three of the top 10 animated films of all time. Illumination’s iconic, beloved franchises—infused with memorable and distinct characters, global appeal and cultural relevance—have grossed more than $9 billion worldwide. Illumination has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures.

Illumination is based in Santa Monica, CA and its studio, Illumination Studios Paris, is located in the center of Paris, France.

Illumination's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. Illumination will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, where applicable.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.