Specialty Surfaces Specialist

Summary

In Places, we don't sit back and let things happen; we make things happen, and we do this in service to all Apple employees and customers. Our team is a diverse and nimble group that manages Apple's workplaces and workplace services. We develop and manage Apple's global real estate portfolio, lead all related capital construction projects, provide outstanding facilities and site services, develop and lead sustainability initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of all Apple facilities, including commute and renewable energy programs, and do everything we can to ensure the health and safety of all Apple personnel, facilities, and customers around the world. We are seeking an experienced, collaborative, and highly motivated Specialty Surfaces Specialist to join our team overseeing the care and preservation of unique surfaces across Santa Clara Valley.

Minimum Qualifications

3+ years of experience managing facilities maintenance programs and specialty trade vendors, including scoping, scheduling, and quality control of surface care and finish preservation. Experience in planning, coordinating, and executing multiple client needs. Ability to work a flexible schedule, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends, based on event schedules, project timelines, and business need. Ability to respond to after-hours surface issues as needed. Familiarity with tools such as Integrated Workplace Management Solutions, service request management, MS Office/iWork, and Box. Proficiency with AI tools, and a demonstrated ability to apply them to everyday work.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree preferred. 5+ years of experience managing facilities maintenance programs and specialty trade vendors, including scoping, scheduling, and quality control of surface care and finish preservation. Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with customer groups and all levels of the organization. Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and reporting skills. Strong financial skills in tracking spend, validating proposals, and providing forecasts. Ability to work on assignments of moderate difficulty, requiring judgment in resolving issues and making recommendations. Ability to multi-task and prioritize in a changing, high growth environment. Experience supporting large-scale corporate events in a facilities or site services capacity. Able to work collaboratively and communicate directly with Places partners, including Project Management, Facilities Building Management, Interior Services, Events, Exterior Grounds, and Environmental, Health and Safety, about specialty surface activities that have impacts on our facilities, employees, and customers. Thinks critically and creatively about how to regularly improve process and operations.

Description

The Specialty Surfaces Specialist will be responsible for the efficient and effective management of auditing, maintenance, repair, and preservation of unique surfaces, including but not limited to terrazzo, glass, metal, stone, and various wood types, across multiple facilities within Santa Clara Valley. You will be a key point of contact for specialty vendors, ensuring high-quality service delivery, adherence to budget, invoicing, and compliance with Apple's policies and procedures. This role also supports corporate and on-site events, ensuring specialty surfaces are pristine ahead of each event and restored afterward, which regularly requires work before and after standard business hours.

Responsibilities

Contributes to an inclusive environment through respecting each other’s differences and having the curiosity to learn. Foster and maintain excellent relationships with various stakeholders. Oversee and manage all aspects of specialty surface care, including regular audits, maintenance, repair, and long-term preservation of specialty materials. Provide direct oversight of specialty vendors performing all required maintenance and manage all aspects of implementing and delivering their services. Manage and procure existing and new vendors. Direct vendors to ensure they comply with Apple policies and procedures. Support corporate and on-site events by coordinating cleaning, polishing, and restoration of specialty surfaces both ahead of and following each event, partnering with the Events team on schedules and access. Work a flexible schedule that includes early mornings, evenings, and weekends as needed, particularly for major events and surface work that must occur outside of business hours. Respond to after-hours surface issues as needed, coordinating vendors to address damage, spills, or urgent repairs that affect building appearance or safety. Proactively work with various partners to prioritize projects and scheduling. Advocate customer needs internally to continuously improve the customer experience through product and process. Ensure questions, concerns, and suggestions are addressed in a timely manner. Continuously evaluate and identify innovative ways to streamline processes and operations. Incorporate AI tools into daily work and actively develop and pilot new ways of applying AI to improve reporting, vendor oversight, and operational efficiency. Manage and maintain financial processes including vendor invoicing, fiscal year budgets, and forecasts. Validate and approve proposals and invoices, ensuring accuracy and compliance with contract terms. Maintain an inventory and condition assessment program for building surfaces and finishes, including baseline documentation, condition grading, and trend reporting. Own material care standards and approved products, and verify the quality of restorative work through test areas and inspections before and after the work. Develop multiyear restoration and replacement forecasts, and track warranty compliance to protect manufacturer coverage. Set surface protection and work planning protocols for construction, events, moves, and occupied spaces to keep disruption to a minimum. Partner with Project Management and design teams on material selection, maintainability, attic stock, and handover documentation.