WeWork - Head - Labs Business

WeWork Labs

Our mission is to make WeWork the long-term friend and partner to early-stage startups, helping them fulfill their destiny, and to power all organizations that share the same intention. Our vision is to be there for anyone who wishes to take the startup path, be the best place to start, and forever partner in success and failure. We offer a global platform that helps startups grow and succeed through community, education, mentorship, investments, press and more, and deliver directly under the WeWork Labs brand and indirectly by powering incubators and accelerators.

Position Goals & Objectives

Based per market, the Head of Labs role oversees all aspects of the WeWork Labs business within their market, which includes leading and managing qualitative and quantitative performance in programming, operations, community, and sales of all buildings in the market. As our business and footprint continue to expand, we need a strong business leader who can both run our Labs business in the market, and build sustainable relationships with local government, enterprises, partners, and the local startup ecosystem. This role must grow our WeWork Labs brand and drive the success of all operational support for the Labs and the Labs team in the market. Key to success for this role also includes being the voice of our local market internally and partner with key functions such as Real Estate, Finance, IT, Technology, HR, Development, Marketing, Sales, and Communications to grow the WeWork Labs community. In new Labs markets, Head of Labs for the market runs a Labs space. As markets mature, and spaces are added, Head of Labs for the market transitions out from running a space.

Hospitality-Driven

- Ability to successfully interact with diverse groups and cultures

- Demonstrated aptitude for B2B networking in order to leverage synergies between members

- Active in local community organizations

- Working knowledge of general management, sales, operations, and marketing

Super-Connector

- Experience interacting with local venture capital firms

- Deep familiarity with the local startup ecosystem: investors, journalists, enterprises, entrepreneurs, local accelerators, incubators, and start-up ecosystem at large (message boards, in-person networking, demo day attendance)

- Prior work experience in technology or startup industry

Strong Business Acumen

- Experience consulting, familiarity with business and product strategy

- Strong understanding of start-up financing and operations (burn rate, funding rounds, organizational scaling)

- Working knowledge of industrial-organizational psychology, general management, sales, and marketing

- Familiarity with software engineering principles, revenue management, product-market fit

Duties & Responsibilities

- Set the tone for the team, demand performance, and drive results while also growing the next generation of leaders in the market and in the company. Responsible for all hiring and firing in the market.

- Be the local market presence to support Real Estate, Sales, Community, and Labs Teams in the selection of future Labs sites

- Assist in programming the physical Labs space with the Design and Development Team

- Manage the P&L - Labs member growth, occupancy, revenue & margins - managing budgets & pro forma

- Be ultimately responsible for the health of Labs community and experience of Labs spaces

- Be ultimately responsible for the performance of local Labs teams and for local organizational health

- Drive growth, promotion, and oversee management of Labs programming for all spaces, with the ability to assess outcomes, receive feedback, analyze methods and techniques, and participate in the ongoing development of events and programming

- Inspire and collaborate with the local WeWork Labs team and members to identify and execute on opportunities and strategies to continually improve our value proposition

- Build a strong local brand through executing marketing campaigns (events, ad buys etc.), in partnership with the Brand & Marketing team

- Navigate local regulatory status and work with legal on government relations

- Coordinate with communications Be the local spokesperson for press

- Build and manage high-level relationships and partnerships within the market

- Partner with HQ to manage vendor relationships

- Mentor market Labs teams to reach Labs goals and execute on all objectives

- Act as liaison between your market teams and Corporate HQ

- Maintain WeWork and WeWork Labs brand standards in your market

Manage and guide local teams in the responsibilities below (but not limited to):

- Network, research, and create opportunities based on the unique needs of the early stage startups within WeWork Labs

- Develop opportunities for Labs members by exposing them to top industry mentors, investors and other key people crucial to success

- Ability to recommend Labs members to the right incubators and accelerators based on member needs

- Manage the Labs member pipeline: generate leads, conduct tours, build a pipeline of exciting new startups to join our program and ensure a full occupancy and community participation each month - take responsibility for sales and community dynamics

- Work with Sales Team to plan, coordinate, organize, and spearhead efforts to recruit Labs members

- Work closely with the Community, Operations, and Maintenance teams to ensure the highest level of member experience and satisfaction

- Manage day-to-day member needs and works to get to know member companies and develop meaningful relationships to provide them with the best resources and opportunities possible

- Coordinate and run events and ongoing tailored programming, with the ability to assess outcomes, receive feedback, analyze methods and techniques, and participate in the ongoing development of events and programming

- Manage meeting space and event inquiries

- Create and manage a Labs alumni community, continuing to involve them in mentoring the new generation of startups participating in the program

- Identify, strategize, and act on opportunities to extend WeWork Labs- influence and brand in your city

- Build strong relationships between the business community, local government, and the Labs community

- Manage the P&L, including member growth, occupancy, revenue and margins, managing budget

- Execute strategic initiatives developed by members of the corporate team, ensure appropriate equipment and materials are available for the successful operations related to these efforts

Qualifications & Experience

- Must reside in the local market

- Deep knowledge of the startup - scene,- and developed connections with influencers in the local startup ecosystem

- Deep knowledge of business incubation and acceleration programs

- Demonstrated passion for startups, and a desire to help them to succeed

- 10+ years experience in hospitality, FMCG, retail, startups, consulting or related experience with strong operational focus

- Experience in management, finance, analytics, operations, sales, project management, marketing, and customer service from an experience-based environment

- Managed organisations of 10+ people

- Proven experience with business scaling

- Experience in planning strategic growth

- P&L experience required

- Entrepreneurial experience is a plus

- Experience managing sales and building high visibility brands a plus

- Experience in real estate, facilities management or retail a plus

- Experience desired in any aspect of small business, or personally owning or operating a commercial venture

- Passion and understanding for entrepreneurial communities

- Thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining excellent attention to detail

- Strong communication, organisation and project management skills

- Assertive and have a strong drive to develop those around you, being an inspirational leader

- Demonstrate integrity, dependability, responsibility, accountability, self-awareness, work ethic, and empathy

- Technical background is highly desirable

- Fluent in both English and the local language, understand local culture

- BA/BS or equivalent in Business, Marketing, Hospitality, or other related degree

- MBA preferred