---
title: 'Executive Assistant, Office of the CEO at Upwork'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-office-of-the-ceo-upwork-palo-alto-ayenaxg4764b'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-13'
---

# Executive Assistant, Office of the CEO at Upwork

- **Company:** Upwork
- **Location:** Palo Alto, CA
- **Compensation:** $117k–$166k
- **Posted:** 2026-10-09
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-13
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/upwork/jobs/8020464003

## Job description

Upwork Inc.’s (Nasdaq: UPWK) family of companies connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent across every contingent work type including freelance, fractional, and payrolled. This portfolio includes the Upwork Marketplace, which connects businesses with on-demand access to highly skilled talent across the globe, and Lifted, which provides a purpose-built solution for enterprise organizations to source, contract, manage, and pay talent across the full spectrum of contingent work. From Fortune 100 enterprises to entrepreneurs, businesses rely on Upwork Inc. to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation. With access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, the Upwork family of companies enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and transform their workforces for the age of AI and beyond.

Since its founding, Upwork Inc. has facilitated more than $30 billion in total transactions and services as it fulfills its purpose to create opportunity in every era of work. Learn more about the Upwork Marketplace at[Upwork.com](http://upwork.com/) and follow us on[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/upwork),[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/upwork),[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/upwork/),[TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@upwork), and[X](https://twitter.com/upwork); and learn more about Lifted at[Go-Lifted](http://go-lifted.com) and follow on[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/go-lifted/).

We are seeking a proactive, highly organized Executive Assistant to support the Office of the CEO. In this in-person role based in Palo Alto, you will work closely with the Executive Assistant to the CEO, Chief of Staff to the CEO, and CEO to ensure seamless day-to-day operations, thoughtful coordination, and exceptional execution.

This is an opportunity to work at the center of Upwork's leadership team, where your ability to anticipate needs, navigate shifting priorities, and solve problems independently will make a meaningful impact. You will serve as a trusted partner, managing complex logistics, supporting executive workflows, and creating an exceptional experience for internal and external stakeholders.

Success in this role requires ultimate discretion, sound judgment, attention to detail, and a collaborative mindset. You will have the autonomy to own key operational responsibilities, identify opportunities to improve processes, and help the Office of the CEO operate effectively.

## Responsibilities

- Provide in-office support to the Office of the CEO (CEO, Chief of Staff and EA to CEO) through extensive calendar management, including multi-channeled work streams.
- Partner with the CoS and EA. You will work in concert to manage CEO and CoS calendars and implement the executive team's operating model.
- Own day-to-day in-office operations for the Office of the CEO, including meeting preparation, daily lunches, catering, refreshments, support executive visits and guests, and other hospitality needs to create a welcoming, well-organized environment.
- Coordinate executive travel and logistics in partnership with the EA to the CEO. This includes domestic and international itineraries, aviation, ground transportation, accommodations, and real-time adjustments, ensuring a seamless experience.
- Plan and execute executive meetings, leadership offsites, and special events, managing scheduling, venues, vendors, materials, and logistics while ensuring a high-quality experience for participants, in partnership with the EA to the CEO.
- Support the CoS and EA to the CEO in tracking timelines, coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, and following up to keep time-sensitive work on track.
- Source and manage venues and vendors, partnering with cross-functional teams to facilitate contract renewals and onboard new vendors.
- Manage administrative and operational workflows, including expense reporting, invoice processing, calendar analysis, and contract tracking, with extreme attention to detail.
- Collaborate across teams to improve execution and efficiency, proactively identifying operational gaps, streamlining processes, and leveraging approved AI and productivity tools to improve coordination and administrative workflows.
- Be a visible leader and culture carrier within the admin team at Upwork. You will help build and maintain a great culture in a distributed, diverse environment by connecting with admin partners across locations, sharing best practices, and modeling the collaboration and care we want to see.
- Build trusted relationships and safeguard confidential information, partnering with executive stakeholders, administrative partners, and both internal and external contacts, while exercising discretion, sound judgment, and responsiveness to time-sensitive needs. You will have access to sensitive information and must handle delicate situations with thoughtfulness and maturity.

What it takes to catch our eye

- Executive support experience: Proven experience as an Executive Assistant, with demonstrated success providing executive-level support, including complex calendar management, travel coordination, meeting logistics, and managing multiple priorities with minimal day-to-day direction.
- Proactive ownership and sound judgment: Ability to anticipate needs, independently troubleshoot and resolve operational challenges, maintain exceptional attention to detail, and follow up in a timely way. You handle sensitive or confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
- Composure in a fast-paced environment: Demonstrated ability to balance workload under short deadlines, pivot to changing priorities, and respond calmly and proactively under pressure.
- Collaborative communication and culture-building: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build an atmosphere of trust and collaboration with everyone you work with, internally and externally, and to be comfortable interacting at all levels of the organization. You bring the warmth and credibility to be a positive presence for your admin peers.
- Technology proficiency and continuous improvement: Experience with Google Workspace (Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Sheets), Slack, and productivity tools, along with curiosity and practical experience using AI to improve workflows, draft communications, or organize information. Ability to evaluate AI-generated outputs for accuracy and protect confidential information.
- In-person presence and availability: Ability to work on-site in Palo Alto to provide hands-on executive support. Willingness to be available outside standard business hours is essential, given packed schedules and inevitable movement in calendars.

Come change how the world works.

Our culture is built on trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence, all in service of our core mission: to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. We embrace authenticity and inclusion, encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work. Personal and professional growth is a priority here, supported through development programs, mentorship, and our Upwork Belonging Communities.

We’re proud to offer benefits that go beyond the basics, including comprehensive medical coverage for you and your family, unlimited PTO, a 401(k) plan with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Visit our [Life at Upwork](https://www.upwork.com/careers/life-at-upwork) page to learn more about our values, working principles, and the overall employee experience.

Ready to help shape the future of work? Check out our [Careers](https://careers.upwork.com/) page and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/upwork), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/upwork), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/upwork/), [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@upwork), and [X](https://twitter.com/upwork) to learn more about life at Upwork.

Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on 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, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Please note that a criminal background check may be required once a conditional job offer is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances. The Company is committed to conducting an individualized assessment and giving all individuals a fair opportunity to provide relevant information or context before making any final employment decision.

We use BrightHire, an AI-enabled tool, to record interviews and summarize interview transcripts. The tool allows the interviewer to focus on the discussion and does not score or evaluate candidates or make recommendations. The interview transcripts are reviewed, and decisions are only made by humans. Candidates who prefer not to have their interview recorded through BrightHire can opt out when the interview is scheduled. The annual base salary range for this position  is displayed below. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.

Annual Base Compensation $116,750—$166,250 USD

To learn more about how Upwork processes and protects your personal information as part of the application process, please review our [Global Job Applicant Privacy Notice](http://upwork.com/careers/job-applicant-privacy-notice)

## About Upwork

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Upwork is the world’s human and AI-powered work marketplace, connecting businesses with highly skilled, AI-enabled independent talent across the globe.
- **Entity Type**: Public (ticker: UPWK)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2015 (as Upwork, following the merger of oDesk, founded 2003, and Elance, founded 1999)
- **Founders**: Not listed individually; the company was formed via the merger of oDesk (co-founded by Gary Swart, Odysseas Tsatalos, Stratis Karamanlakis) and Elance (founded by Fabio Rosati)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Online freelance marketplace / Talent platform
- **Target customers**: B2B (from entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 enterprises) and B2C (independent professionals)
- **Mission or purpose**: “To create opportunity in every era of work.” [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/about)

## Products & Services
- **Upwork Marketplace**: The core platform where clients post jobs and hire freelancers for contract or project-based work. Offers tiered plans including Basic (free), Plus, and Business Plus. [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/)
- **Uma™ (Mindful AI)**: An AI work companion that assists both clients and freelancers throughout the hiring and work process, from matching to project management. [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/about)
- **Enterprise Solutions**: Customized workforce management and talent sourcing for large organizations, supporting agile team building and business transformation.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly available (data not included in search results)
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of more than $750 million and annual client spend exceeding $4 billion (as of recent leadership bio). [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/about)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not detailed in search results
- **Growth Signals**: Active expansion into AI/ML with dedicated roles (Lead AI Engineer, Sr AI Research Scientist, etc.); opening an international hub in Lisbon, Portugal; continued headcount growth (approximately 2,000 team members, ~75% freelancers). [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/about) | [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/careers/jobs/explore)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Network effects**: Large, established two-sided marketplace with over 800,000 clients and freelancers from 180 countries. [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/)
- **AI integration**: Deep investment in AI/ML, including the proprietary Uma™ AI agent, positions Upwork at the forefront of the evolving freelance economy.
- **Brand strength**: Trusted by Fortune 100 companies and named to TIME’s Most Influential Companies and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/about)
- **Flexible workforce model**: The company itself operates with ~75% freelancers, demonstrating its own platform’s effectiveness. [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/about)

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Expanding AI capabilities, enhancing the user experience with mindful AI, and scaling global reach (e.g., Lisbon hub). Leadership emphasizes “leading the industry into the new era of work.” [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/about)
- **Direction for growth**: Continued product innovation around AI, deepening enterprise offerings, and strengthening the freelancer-client matching engine.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture highlights**: Values include “Play to win as a team,” “Build and break fearlessly,” “Commit to excellence,” “Own outcomes,” and “Be customer zero.” Emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and belonging (team from 180 countries). [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/careers/life-at-upwork)
- **Remote/hybrid/office policy**: Remote-first for many roles; offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Chicago, Austin, Toronto, and a new hub in Lisbon. Full-time employee hiring currently limited to specific U.S. states and Lisbon. [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/careers/jobs/explore)
- **Notable perks**: Unlimited PTO, 12-week fully paid parental leave, rich 401(k) with matching, Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), home office reimbursement, wellness reimbursement, cell phone/internet reimbursement, mental health support (Modern Health), pet insurance, and more. [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/careers/life-at-upwork)
- **Engineering/AI culture**: Strong focus on AI/ML with dedicated roles and a CTO heading AI/ML. Opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects (Agentic AI, NLQ, search & recommendation). [upwork.com](https://www.upwork.com/careers/jobs/explore)

## Sources
1. [upwork.com - About Us](https://www.upwork.com/about)
2. [upwork.com - Careers](https://www.upwork.com/careers)
3. [upwork.com - Life at Upwork](https://www.upwork.com/careers/life-at-upwork)
4. [upwork.com - Homepage](https://www.upwork.com/)
5. [upwork.com - Jobs Search](https://www.upwork.com/careers/jobs/explore)

## Other roles at Upwork

- [Lead Platform Operations and Network Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-platform-operations-and-network-engineer-upwork-lisbon-b809tehnbbgj) — Lisbon, Portugal
- [Sr Manager, Legal Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-manager-legal-operations-upwork-toronto-g13jrv85t5xd) — Toronto, Canada
- [Senior People Operations Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-people-operations-specialist-upwork-lisbon-reh6h8jtmyt2) — Lisbon, Portugal
- [Senior People Operations Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-people-operations-specialist-upwork-toronto-q4sx39ahh458) — Toronto, Canada
- [Lead, Lifecycle Marketing - Growth & Acquisition](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-lifecycle-marketing-growth-acquisition-upwork-toronto-gtydsmz2g3t9) — Toronto, Canada
- [Senior Product Manager, Match](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-product-manager-match-upwork-toronto-zngak8w6f45x) — Toronto, Canada
- [Upwork is hiring in Lisbon, Portugal](https://feeny.ai/job/upwork-is-hiring-in-lisbon-portugal-upwork-lisbon-s2aq7604aya2) — Lisbon, Portugal
- [General Upwork Application](https://feeny.ai/job/general-upwork-application-upwork-remote-nhv75fh1bzsa)
- [Executive Assistant, Office of the CEO](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-office-of-the-ceo-waabi-san-francisco-8jyvg1ytxk86) — San Francisco, CA