Senior Manager - Workplace Management

Organizations everywhere struggle under the crushing costs and complexities of “solutions” that promise to simplify their lives. To create a better experience for their customers and employees. To help them grow. Software is a choice that can make or break a business. Create better or worse experiences. Propel or throttle growth. Business software has become a blocker instead of ways to get work done.

There’s another option. Freshworks. With a fresh vision for how the world works.

At Freshworks, we build uncomplicated service software that delivers exceptional customer and employee experiences. Our enterprise-grade solutions are powerful, yet easy to use, and quick to deliver results. Our people-first approach to AI eliminates friction, making employees more effective and organizations more productive. Over 72,000 companies, including Bridgestone, New Balance, Nucor, S&P Global, and Sony Music, trust Freshworks’ customer experience (CX) and employee experience (EX) software to fuel customer loyalty and service efficiency. And, over 4,500 Freshworks employees make this possible, all around the world.

Fresh vision. Real impact. Come build it with us.

Job Description

The Senior Manager – Workplace Operations is a high-visibility leadership role responsible for the office operations of our India portfolio with three offices in Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. Based in Chennai, you will act as the Regional Lead for office operations, harmonizing global workplace standards with local operational excellence across these three major tech hubs.

This role will balance the complexities of a 24/7 work environment—including mission-critical uptime for all mechanical and electrical systems, high-volume employee transport, and diverse F&B programs. You will be the custodian of our corporate culture in the physical workspace, ensuring that our offices are safe, sustainable, and optimized for high-performance teams.

Detailed Key Responsibilities

1. Multi-Site Operations & Critical Infrastructure

• Maintenance & Uptime: Ensure 100% availability of critical power and cooling systems (UPS, DG Sets, Chillers) to support uninterrupted IT operations.
• Service Standardization: Implement uniform SOPs for Soft Services (Housekeeping, Front-of-House) and Hard Services across Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.
• Asset Management: Own the full lifecycle of facility assets, from procurement and installation to Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) and eventual decommissioning.

2. Specialized Employee Services

• Food & Beverage (F&B): Oversee large-scale cafeteria operations, focusing on vendor hygiene audits (FSSAI), menu diversity, and tech-driven "Smart Cafeteria" solutions.
• Transport Operations: Manage a robust 24/7 employee commute network. You are responsible for route efficiency, cost-per-seat optimization, and the highest standards of safety (GPS tracking, female employee escorts, and driver compliance).
• Security & Admin: Lead the regional physical security strategy, including manned guarding, electronic surveillance, and crisis management protocols.

3. Budget Planning

• Monthly Financial Reviews: Conduct granular analysis of Actual Spend vs. Projected Budget. You must identify variances early, provide data-backed justifications, and implement mitigation strategies to prevent overruns.
• Value Engineering: Constantly seek opportunities for cost optimization without compromising service quality or employee safety.

4. Sustainability & ESG (Global Standards)

• Environmental Impact: Drive regional initiatives for energy conservation, water recycling, and plastic-free workplaces.
• Compliance: Maintain 100% adherence to statutory requirements across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana (CLRA, Fire Safety, and Labor laws).

5. People & Stakeholder Leadership

• Team Development: Directly manage and mentor teammates across all India offices. Foster a "One Team" culture across distributed locations.
• Executive Liaison: Partner with Business Leaders to align workplace strategies with evolving business headcounts.

Qualifications

A Senior Manager for an India portfolio is expected to have 10–15 years of experience, with at least 5 years in managing and leading a team.

• Facilities Operations: Oversight of "Hard Services" (HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing) and "Soft Services" (Security, Housekeeping, Cafeteria management ) , Food & beverage , oversee employee transportation, base builder co-ordination, parking management.
• Financial Acumen: Managing multi site Opex budgets.
• IFMA (International Facility Management Association): Certified Facility Manager (CFM) or Facility Management Professional (FMP) would be an added advantage.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BBA), Real Estate, Facilities Management, or a related technical field like Civil/Mechanical / Electrical Engineering / Hospitality management.

Additional Information

At Freshworks, we have fostered an environment that enables everyone to find their true potential, purpose, and passion, welcoming colleagues of all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and ethnicities. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and believe that diversity in the workplace creates a more vibrant, richer environment that boosts the goals of our employees, communities, and business. Fresh vision. Real impact. Come build it with us.