ABOUT US

Our mission is to reinvent the way people learn, starting with language. We begin by teaching the next billion people English, Spanish, and French.

English is the global language of business, culture, and communication, and over 1.5 billion people around the world are actively trying to learn right now. Others dream of communicating with the half-billion native Spanish speakers across the globe. The problem is that it's nearly impossible to learn to speak a language without constant access to a speaking partner. Grammar and vocab apps don't really help – you need to actually converse with someone.

Speak is on a journey to fix this. We're creating an AI-powered experience that replicates the flow of a conversation, without needing a human on the other end. The goal is to make it radically more accessible to be able to have conversations in a foreign language and eventually help hundreds of millions of people gain fluency who otherwise wouldn't be able to.

We started on this journey over five years ago and we've still got a long ways to go. We're thoughtfully adding new team members only when we think they can truly play a big role in our mission.

Speak launched first in South Korea where we have quickly grown to become the top grossing education app in the country. We have now delivered this winning product to more than 40 countries globally and are continuing to expand to more markets in the coming months. The company is well funded, and as of December 2024, we've reached a $1B valuation with our Series C round, through key partners like Accel, OpenAI, Founders Fund, Y Combinator, Khosla Ventures, Lachy Groom, Josh Buckley, and more. We’re a team of more than 90 based throughout San Francisco, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, and Ljubljana.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Our company is growing and we’re looking for a founding IT Operations Manager to join Speak. Our HQ is in SF, and we're globally distributed with offices in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. As the first hire in this function, you’ll take on a pivotal role in building and improving our company’s IT infrastructure and day-to-day operations, with a focus on security, efficiency, and scalability. You’ll be the first point of contact for technical support. You’ll architect solutions that ensure everything runs smoothly. You’ll also have the opportunity to drive our IT strategy and roadmap, including tool selection, implementation, and best practices. You’ll collaborate with teams, including People Operations, Engineering, and Finance, to create a seamless tech ecosystem and deliver exceptional operational support.

Speak has a strong in-office culture and our hub-based employees work from the office three days a week. You must be based in San Francisco.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

• Day-to-day IT Operations
• Support all of Speak’s internal IT needs from troubleshooting user issues to optimizing device management.
• Manage our core IT infrastructure (e.g., SSO, Google Workspace, Kandji), ensuring our teams have the tools and environments they need.
• Manage all global on/offboarding processes related to applications and tools.
• Set up and maintain A/V for conference rooms and collaboration spaces in SF HQ, and provide timely, remote support for non-US offices.
• Manage and maintain asset inventory of hardware and software, including procurement.
• Build & Automate Internal Tools
• Develop and implement custom software solutions, scripts, and integrations to automate repetitive tasks and create leverage for the organization.
• Optimize workflow processes across the organization, driving efficiency so our teams can move faster.
• Operate & Evolve Our IT Security Program
• Implement and monitor security controls, identify potential threats, and respond to incidents.
• Manage vendor security assessments and third-party risk management.
• Design and deliver security awareness training, including phishing simulations.
• Champion Data Privacy & Compliance
• Guide the implementation of data privacy policies and compliance frameworks (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR).
• Support incident response planning, disaster recovery, and business continuity initiatives.
• Drive Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with teams across the business to align IT priorities with broader business objectives.
• Translate technical complexities into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS

If you don't think you meet all of the criteria below but still are interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box, and we're looking for someone excited to join the team.

• You have at least 4 years of hands-on experience in IT Operations, including systems administration and security operations.
• You have a deep understanding of SSO, SAML, SCIM and third-party application integration;
• You’re experienced with macOS management;
• You understand MDM practices, solutions, and security protocols;
• You have knowledge of security frameworks (SOC 2) and compliance processes;
• You’re proficient in troubleshooting technical issues and providing remote support;
• You’re a clear communicator, both verbal and written;
• You’re able and willing to work from the SF HQ three days a week.
• You are an expert AI user (ChatGPT, Claude, etc)

Bonus points:

• You have experience working in a start-up environment
• You have experience working in a globally distributed workforce

WHO YOU ARE

• Initiative and Resourcefulness. When you see an issue, you jump in and fix it. When you don’t know where to start, you lean on your intuition and judgment and just start somewhere. You work independently to achieve your goals and pull in other members of the team when necessary. You are resourceful in finding answers and solutions on your own whenever possible because that is how you learn and grow.
• Continuous improvement: You’re always looking for ways to make things run smoother, faster, and with fewer manual steps. If something feels repetitive or inefficient, you don’t just accept it — you look for a way to automate or improve it. You view every recurring ticket or process as a chance to level up how the team operates, and you take pride in building systems that scale.
• Customer Service: You approach every interaction with empathy, reliability, and a deep desire to help. You understand that for many people, tech issues are frustrating and disruptive, and your reliability and clear communication turns those moments into positive experiences. You don’t just fix the problem; you make the person feel supported throughout the process.

WHY WORK AT SPEAK

• Join a fantastic, tight-knit team at the right time: we're growing very quickly, we've most recently raised our Series C from some of the top investors in the valley, and we've achieved product-market fit in our initial markets. You'd join at a magical time when a single person could significantly change the course of the company.
• Do your life's work with people you’ll love working with: we care strongly about our craft and want every person at Speak to feel like they're growing every day. We believe in the idea that working with people you both enjoy and have respect for makes everything better. We hire thoughtfully and only work with people we admire deeply.
• Global in nature: We're live in over 40 countries and launching in a number of new markets soon. We have dedicated offices in San Francisco, Ljubljana, Seoul, and Tokyo, and you’ll have the opportunity to talk to users in each of these regions on a regular basis as well as travel.
• Impact people's lives in a major way: Learning a language is one of the single most life-changing skills one can learn, and right now 99% of people never achieve their goal because the process is broken. We’re helping millions of people achieve their goals and improve their lives.

Speak does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.