Sites Manager

Cambridge Boston Alignment Initiative•Cambridge, MA

1d•$84,000 - $90,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Cambridge Boston Alignment Initiative ("CBAI") is a nonprofit research organization working to advance research and education directed towards ensuring that society navigates a safe and beneficial transition to advanced AI systems. Our work takes the form of producing original research efforts and accelerating AI safety research through fellowship programs. CBAI has been the anchor organization for AI safety in Cambridge since late 2022. We serve as the connective tissue between the AI safety research community across Harvard, MIT, and Northeastern, running workshops, convenings, and networking events that bring together researchers, students, and practitioners working on the most important problems in the field. CBAI serves as the fiscal sponsor for the AI Safety Student Team (AISST) in Harvard Square and MIT AI Alignment in Kendall Square. CBAI also runs regular research fellowships throughout the year, as well as other upskilling programs that directly strengthen the AI safety talent pipeline. You will serve as the point person for CBAI's three Harvard Square office locations, taking the lead on keeping every site set up for success and running smoothly. The role combines three things in roughly equal measure: hands-on facilities and technical competency (you'll often function as the closest thing to on-site IT), operational systems thinking (inventory, budgets, vendors, and playbooks), and an eye for detail and design (curating warm, inviting spaces that people enjoy working in). On any given day, you might diagnose a WiFi issue, rethink and restock the snack setup, coordinate with a co-tenant on shared space use, and source new furniture. You'll anticipate issues before they arise, move quickly when they do, and work cross-functionally with program staff, leadership, and external partners to keep friction as low as possible for staff and program participants. This is a role for someone who takes real pride in spaces that work. When you do it well, the offices simply run, and the people in them get to focus entirely on their work.

Requirements

A hands-on troubleshooter. You think fast on your feet when something breaks, whether it's a printer, the WiFi, or a jammed door. You don't need deep technical expertise on day one, but you're comfortable figuring things out yourself, and you know when to bring in a professional.
A natural operator. You have a bias toward action and get things done reliably. Supplies stay stocked, vendors show up, and nothing falls through the cracks across three sites. You anticipate problems before they happen and follow through on everything you commit to.
An eye for space. When you look at a room, you see how to make it warmer, cleaner, and more inviting. You care about the details that make an office not just functional but enjoyable to be in, and you're energized by spaces that keep evolving.
You take ownership seriously. When something is your responsibility, you treat it as yours, genuinely caring that the outcome is good. You don't wait to be told something is broken; you notice it and fix it.
Warm and clear with people. You're direct with vendors, responsive with staff, and proactive when you spot a potential issue. You build easy relationships with co-tenants, program participants, and colleagues, and you understand that a big part of this role is making people feel taken care of.
Organized and resourceful. You keep clear systems, document what you do, and build playbooks others can follow. You find good solutions that don't require spending more than necessary, and you stay grounded when priorities shift in a growing organization.
Mission-motivated. You are aligned with CBAI's mission and care about contributing to an organization working on one of the most important problems of our time, in an operational capacity.
Meaningful experience in office management, facilities, or a similar operations role, ideally in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
Comfortable managing vendors and contractors.
U.S. work authorization required.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on facilities, sites, or office management experience
Comfort troubleshooting everyday office technology (WiFi and networking, printers, AV), or the ability to pick it up quickly
An eye for interior design, space planning, or hospitality
Experience with procurement, inventory, or budget tracking systems
Familiarity with the AI safety landscape, or strong motivation to build it quickly

Responsibilities

Serve as the first line of defense for anything that breaks, from WiFi and printers to AV and fixtures. Diagnose and fix what you can on your own, arrange quick workarounds, and coordinate with vendors, contractors, and building management on longer-term repairs.
Own the ordering, stocking, and curation of snacks, beverages, and office supplies across all three sites, iterating based on feedback and observed consumption and building scalable procurement systems as CBAI grows.
Keep every office warm, clean, and productive, from plant care to layout. Regularly assess furniture and equipment, manage replacements end to end, and continuously improve shared spaces based on user feedback.
Manage relationships with co-tenants and building management through regular communication, coordinating shared space use and amiably resolving any points of tension.
Act as the office point of contact for arriving staff and program participants, ensuring workspaces, access credentials, supplies, and building logistics are ready from day one, and run the matching offboarding checklist to keep assets and access current.
Maintain accurate records of facilities and operations spending across all three locations, track expenditures against budget, flag variances proactively, and provide regular summaries to CBAI leadership.
Establish and own health and safety practices across all offices, including first aid supply maintenance, emergency procedure documentation, and coordination with building management on fire, security, and accessibility requirements.