Lab Operations Manager @ Astera Institute

About Astera:

Astera is a private foundation on a mission to steer science and technology toward an abundant future for all. We believe the coming years will bring an era of unprecedented scientific and technological advancement as exponential progress in AI converges with central advances in other fields to dramatically accelerate innovation. This inflection point provides an unparalleled opportunity to fundamentally rethink the institutions, systems, and tools that drive scientific progress. We are searching for visionary leaders who are compelled by the challenge of driving transformative change in the way science is funded, conducted, and communicated. You can read more about our mission, vision, and programming here.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and mission-aligned Open Science Policy Operations Manager to support and extend Astera's open science strategy across internal programs and external partnerships. In this in-person role, you will work closely with the Head of Open Science to operationalize open science initiatives, serve as a first point of contact for community members and tool builders, and ensure that ideas, opportunities, and relationships are evaluated, tracked, and advanced effectively.

This role is primarily internal with the possibility for some external opportunities and is ideal for a strong operator with experience in project management and the open science ecosystems. You should be comfortable adopting and operationalizing the current open science policy and vision throughout Astera. You should also be someone who thrives in ambiguity, can represent leadership thoughtfully, and enjoys translating vision into execution. You will act as connective tissue across teams, initiatives, and stakeholders-helping ensure Astera's open science work is rigorous, responsive, and impactful.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Operations & Execution

• Support the Head of Open Science in day-to-day operations, including tracking initiatives, managing priorities, preparing materials, and following through on action items across multiple workstreams.

• Develop and implement an internal process to train Astera employees on and ensure adherence to the established open science policy.

• Develop and maintain lightweight systems (e.g., intake tracking, decision logs, meeting notes, CRM-style records) to ensure open science activities and relationships are well-organized and transparent.

• Identify operational gaps or bottlenecks in open science programs and proactively propose improvements to workflows, documentation, or coordination.

• Serve as the first point of contact for internal inquiries about the open science policy and its implementation, and understand when questions need to be elevated to Astera leadership for consideration.

External Intake & Sourcing

• Serve as a primary point of contact for individuals and teams pitching open science tools, platforms, or initiatives to Astera.

• Conduct initial screening conversations to understand proposals, assess alignment with Astera's goals, and synthesize key insights for leadership review.

• Track inbound opportunities over time, ensuring timely follow-up and clear communication with external partners.

Community & Partnership Liaison

• Act as a liaison between Astera and members of the open science community, including researchers, tool developers, funders, and collaborators.

• Build trusted relationships with external stakeholders through thoughtful communication, responsiveness, and follow-through.

• Represent Astera's open science values and priorities clearly and consistently in external interactions.

Representation & Delegated Authority

• When appropriate, attend meetings, workshops, and events on behalf of the Head of Open Science, capturing context, decisions, and next steps.

• Communicate outcomes and recommendations back to leadership clearly and accurately, exercising good judgment about when to escalate questions or decisions.

Hiring & Team Support

• Support hiring for open science-related roles, including sourcing candidates, conducting initial interviews, coordinating interview logistics, and synthesizing feedback.

• Take responsibility for training and onboarding new team members, fellows, or collaborators into Astera's open science practices, norms, and expectations.

Communication & Documentation

• Draft summaries, briefing documents, and internal notes related to open science initiatives, partnerships, and decisions.

• Help maintain clear, up-to-date documentation about open science programs, priorities, and processes to support internal alignment and external clarity.

Qualifications:
Required:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.

• 3-6 years of experience in roles involving project management, program coordination, or operations.

• Experience in research support, community management, or similar work within open science, academia, nonprofits, or technology-adjacent environments.

• Demonstrated familiarity with open science concepts and ecosystems (e.g., open access, open data, open tools, preprints, research infrastructure).

• Strong operational skills, including stakeholder management and the ability to manage complex workflows.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging both technical and non-technical audiences.

• High judgment and discretion when representing the organization or leadership externally.

• Self-directed, high-agency approach to work, with comfort operating in evolving or ambiguous environments.

Preferred:

• Experience interfacing with researchers, tool builders, or funders in open science or research infrastructure contexts.

• Prior experience operationalizing institutional policies through training, documents, or other materials.

• Prior experience conducting interviews, evaluating proposals, or supporting hiring processes.

• Comfort synthesizing complex information into clear summaries and recommendations.

• Experience working closely with senior leadership or serving in a coordinating or "right-hand" role.

• Strong interest in the future of scientific institutions, incentives, and knowledge production.

Location

This role is in-person at our office in Emeryville, CA.

Astera Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.