About Canonical

Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux, stands at the forefront of open source innovation, powering enterprise initiatives in public cloud, data science, AI, engineering, and IoT. Trusted by the world's leading public cloud providers, silicon manufacturers, and industry pioneers, Canonical delivers Ubuntu as a robust, secure platform for breakthrough technologies. As a founder-led, profitable, and rapidly growing organization, Canonical embraces a pioneering global distributed collaboration model with over 1200 colleagues across more than 80 countries. Very few roles require office presence, embodying our remote-first culture that prioritizes flexibility, diversity, and high performance.

Role Overview

The Business Services Team Manager at Canonical is an executive-level position overseeing critical operations including travel, logistics, events, scheduling, expense policies, and administration. This fast-paced role manages tens of millions in operational costs, demanding exceptional coordination, planning, decision-making, budgeting, procurement, reporting, and team leadership. Based worldwide from home (except in office locations like London, Taipei, or Beijing), you will lead a team that supports every department at Canonical, ensuring smooth execution of large-scale events for hundreds from 80+ countries, held four times annually. These events are vital investments in culture, teamwork, strategy, and execution, involving complex visas, travel logistics, safety, and unexpected challenges.

Your team also acts as an impartial gatekeeper for expense approvals, promoting fairness, consistency, and accountability across all levels, from junior staff to senior executives. Additionally, the team delivers standardized Executive Assistant (EA) services across departments—scheduling meetings, coordinating reports, handling approvals, supplier relations, and small projects—without personal assistant dynamics.

Key Responsibilities

As Business Services Team Manager, you will drive operational excellence with direct impact on Canonical's global teams:

• Lead travel approvals, procurement, logistics, and operations for company-wide needs.
• Manage rigorous expense reviews to enforce policies with integrity and transparency.
• Plan and execute four annual company events, from venue selection and visas to on-site operations and safety.
• Oversee company offices providing executive briefing and operational support.
• Champion global duty of care, health, and safety programs with comprehensive policies.

Success requires personal participation in all events to build relationships with leaders, ensure flawless execution, and navigate high-stakes decisions in a complex, multicultural tech environment.

Qualifications & Requirements

Canonical seeks leaders with proven excellence:

• Exceptional academic track record from high school and university.
• Undergraduate degree in a technical or business subject.
• Demonstrated drive, consistently exceeding expectations.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Impeccable judgement in financial, policy, and interpersonal matters.
• Thrives in global, multicultural settings with excellent interpersonal skills, curiosity, and flexibility.
• High responsibility, accountability, thoughtfulness, and self-awareness.
• Result-oriented with personal commitment to deadlines.
• Available to travel up to four times yearly for events up to two weeks.

Additional strengths include experience in travel industry, project management, event operations, or corporate administration.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical offers a premium compensation package tailored to location, experience, and performance:

• Competitive base salary with performance-driven annual bonus.
• Annual compensation reviews to reward top performers.
• Fully remote, home-based worldwide (with rare office exceptions).
• Comprehensive benefits reflecting our values, balanced for local needs.
• Immersive participation in global events fostering culture and networks.
• Work on cutting-edge open source projects impacting millions via Ubuntu.

Career Growth

At Canonical, career progression is merit-based in our flat, high-performance culture. As Business Services Team Manager, you will gain visibility across executive leadership, honing skills in global operations, high-stakes event management, and policy enforcement. Opportunities abound to lead larger initiatives, influence company strategy through events, and grow into broader leadership roles. Our remote-first model and annual reviews ensure continuous development, with access to world-class peers in open source and tech.

Why Join Canonical

Join a profitable, growing leader in open source where Ubuntu powers the future of cloud, AI, and IoT. Experience unparalleled remote work freedom across 80+ countries, contribute to culture-shaping events, and manage operations at enterprise scale. With founder leadership, innovation focus, and commitment to fairness, Canonical offers purpose-driven work in a collaborative, high-impact environment. Shape the backbone of a global tech pioneer.

Role FAQs

Q: Is this role fully remote? Yes, home-based worldwide, except in select office cities like London, Taipei, Beijing.

Q: How much travel is required? Up to four trips yearly for 1-2 week company events; team participation is mandatory.

Q: What salary can I expect? Competitive, estimated $95,000-$140,000 USD base plus bonus, based on experience and location.

Q: Do I need event management experience? Preferred but not required; strong leadership and judgement are essential.

Q: How does Canonical support work-life balance? Remote flexibility, performance focus, and benefits tailored to local needs.