Facilities & Workplace Operations Lead

About Ingredion: Join Ingredion, where innovation impacts lives worldwide! Without even realizing it, you’ve experienced our work in your favorite chocolate, your pet’s food, the paper you write on, and your everyday snacks. As a global powerhouse across more than 60 industries, we harness the potential of natural ingredients to transform lives. Whether you’re just starting your career or bringing years of experience, there's a place for you here to make a real difference. Be part of our team that values a wide range of perspectives and is committed to shaping a better world with every product we create. Location: Westchester, IL Workplace type: 100% Onsite Ingredion is seeking an Lead, Facilities & Workplace Operations to coordinate and execute workplace operations, facilities services, safety programs, and employee experience initiatives at our Global Headquarters. This role regularly interacts with senior leaders, executive assistants, board members, visitors, and external partners. Success in this position requires professionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage sensitive situations and information with a high degree of confidentiality. Reporting to the Facilities Manager, this role serves as a key resource responsible for the day-to-day execution and continuous improvement of workplace services, facility operations, access control administration, safety program implementation, event support, and vendor coordination. This position plays an important role in creating a safe, efficient, and engaging workplace environment while ensuring operational excellence across the headquarters campus. What you will do: Facilities Operations & Workplace Services · Coordinate day-to-day facilities operations and workplace services to ensure a safe, functional, and positive employee experience. · Manage and prioritize maintenance requests, workspace setup activities, office moves, furniture installations, and workplace service needs. · Conduct regular facility inspections and proactively identify opportunities to improve workplace functionality, appearance, and operational effectiveness. · Maintain facility-related records, preventive maintenance documentation, inspections, and operational reporting. · Recommend and implement process improvements that enhance workplace efficiency, service delivery, and employee satisfaction. Safety Leadership & Compliance · Serve as the headquarters lead for execution of site safety programs and initiatives, ensuring alignment with corporate policies and regulatory requirements. · Coordinate safety training, employee onboarding safety orientations, emergency preparedness exercises, Safety Month activities, and employee engagement programs. · Conduct routine safety audits, inspections, and observations to identify potential hazards and support corrective actions. · Maintain emergency equipment including AEDs, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and related safety resources. · Support incident response, investigations, documentation, and reporting activities while partnering with appropriate stakeholders on corrective actions. · Compile and communicate safety metrics, trends, and program updates to leadership as needed. · Partner with security personnel, building management, and internal stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of workplace security protocols. Vendor & Stakeholder Management · Coordinate vendor activities, monitor service delivery, and help ensure work is completed in accordance with established standards and expectations. · Partner with building management, contractors, service providers, security teams, Human Resources, Information Technology, and other internal stakeholders to support workplace initiatives and operational objectives. · Assist in identifying opportunities to improve vendor performance, service quality, operational efficiency, and employee experience. Workplace Experience & Event Support · Coordinate workplace experience programs, employee engagement activities, and headquarters events including town halls, meetings, celebrations, and special events. · Support event logistics, room configurations, furniture setup, audiovisual coordination, and workplace hospitality needs. · Help maintain a welcoming and professional workplace environment that promotes employee engagement and organizational culture. · Support executive meetings, leadership events, and high-visibility workplace activities with a strong focus on professionalism, discretion, responsiveness, and exceptional customer service. What you will bring: · 3-7 years of experience in facilities management, workplace operations, corporate services, safety, security administration, or a related field. · Experience coordinating multiple workplace programs and initiatives with minimal supervision. · Knowledge of facilities operations, safety practices, access control systems, and vendor management processes. · Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and customer service skills. · Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of accuracy and responsiveness. · Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. · Experience with workplace management, maintenance management, access control, visitor management, or related systems is preferred. · Experience supporting senior leaders, executive-facing environments, corporate headquarters operations, or high-profile workplace events is preferred. Physical Requirements: · Ability to lift, move, and set up furniture, supplies, equipment, and materials required to support workplace operations and corporate events. · Ability to perform facility inspections and routinely move throughout office, meeting, event, and support spaces. · Ability to support workstation installations, furniture assembly, event set-up, and office reconfiguration activities as