Senior Manager, Space Studio

The Community You Will Join

Airbnb’s Space team is defining how the company designs, builds, and operates its physical world—from headquarters and hubs to flexible, technology-enabled environments. The Space Studio drives the step-change work of the organization, shaping what’s next for how Airbnb designs, builds, operates space.

We’re seeking a Senior Manager to lead the development of systems that connect design, data, and delivery—building the frameworks, tools, and creative standards that power SpaceOS, Airbnb’s internal platform for spatial decision-making and performance.

This role sits at the intersection of design, technology, and operations. You’ll guide a small, high-impact team focused on the craft of systems—how we prototype, measure, and scale the design of space across Airbnb’s global portfolio.

The Difference You Will Make

The Space Studio shapes how Airbnb designs, operates, and measures its global portfolio of workspaces, event venues, hospitality, and retail environments. Its mission is to connect imagination to execution—helping to bring Airbnb’s Live and Work Anywhere (LAWA) program to life.

This role leads the data and tooling, standards, and strategy functions that partner with Real Estate, Procurement, Construction, Facilities, and Hospitality to continually evolve a portfolio designed for Airbnb’s creative workforce.

• Lead the development of a long-term design strategy that bridges design, technology, and sustainability to create resilient, purpose-driven spaces worldwide—working collaboratively with the broader Space leadership team.
• Develop and oversee the Space operating model and systems that enable global programs to run efficiently and scale with confidence, consistency, and quality.
• Define the metrics and feedback loops that translate data into insight—guiding priorities, investment decisions, and continuous improvement.
• Set sustainability goals and frameworks to measure, track, and report progress toward them.

A Typical Day

• Lead a multidisciplinary team spanning strategy, systems, sustainability, and data—bridging creative vision with operational excellence.
• Advance SpaceOS as the platform that connects sustainability metrics, performance data, and global standards into one integrated ecosystem.
• Translate long-term design strategy into actionable frameworks and tools that improve speed, quality, and measurable impact across the portfolio.
• Partner with Development, Architecture & Construction, and Workplace to align strategy with day-to-day operations and long-term investment planning.
• Develop measurement methods and dashboards that track utilization, performance, and sustainability outcomes—turning data into insight.
• Collaborate with technology and engineering teams to automate workflows, streamline reporting, and increase decision transparency.
• Establish and maintain operational standards and sustainability benchmarks, ensuring every project meets consistent performance and environmental criteria.
• Create and steward playbooks and documentation that make complex systems intuitive and scalable across regions.
• Effectively lead, coach and mentor a cross-functional team that values precision, experimentation, and continuous improvement.

Your Experience

• 15+ years of experience spanning architecture, design technology, and creative systems development, including several years in senior or cross-functional leadership roles.
• Proven ability to connect creative processes with data, tooling, and scalable design systems that improve both quality and efficiency.
• Experience effectively leading multi-disciplinary teams across design strategy, operations, sustainability, and technology implementation.
• Deep understanding of digital design workflows (e.g., Revit, Rhino, Airtable, Figma, or equivalent) and their application to real-world building and workplace systems.
• Demonstrated success in developing global standards, operating models, or performance systems within complex, design-driven organizations.
• Track record of building sustainability strategies and measurement frameworks that translate ambition into actionable goals.
• Skilled in translating complexity into clear, measurable systems that guide decision-making and long-term planning.
• Known for collaborative leadership, mentoring teams that balance creativity, precision, and experimentation.
• Deep appreciation for design craft, sustainability, and innovation at scale—with the ability to move seamlessly between vision and execution.

Why This Role?

• You’ll define the connective tissue between design strategy, systems, and sustainability—turning vision into measurable outcomes for Airbnb’s global spaces.
• You’ll help prototype the future of how we design, build, and operate, linking creativity with data, technology, and environmental responsibility.
• You’ll lead a systems-driven team that transforms our portfolio into a platform for continuous learning and improvement.
• You’ll shape how Airbnb invests in space—advancing our ambition to be both the most creative and the most sustainable company in the world.

Your Location:

This position is US - Remote Eligible. The role may include occasional work at an Airbnb office or attendance at offsites, as agreed to with your manager. While the position is Remote Eligible, you must live in a state where Airbnb, Inc. has a registered entity. Click here for the up-to-date list of excluded states. This list is continuously evolving, so please check back with us if the state you live in is on the exclusion list  If your position is employed by another Airbnb entity, your recruiter will inform you what states you are eligible to work from.

Our Commitment To Inclusion & Belonging:

Airbnb is committed to working with the broadest talent pool possible. We believe diverse ideas foster innovation and engagement, and allow us to attract creatively-led people, and to develop the best products, services and solutions. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

We strive to also provide a disability inclusive application and interview process. If you are a candidate with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in order to submit an application, please contact us at: [email protected]. Please include your full name, the role you’re applying for and the accommodation necessary to assist you with the recruiting process. 

We ask that you only reach out to us if you are a candidate whose disability prevents you from being able to complete our online application.