---
title: 'Open Science Policy and Operations Manager at Astera Institute'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/open-science-policy-and-operations-manager-astera-institute-emeryville-e9favr4btbyy'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Open Science Policy and Operations Manager at Astera Institute

- **Company:** Astera Institute
- **Location:** Emeryville, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-09-04
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astera/08fbbf21-96ec-47fa-9fec-5509e2fdb3a8

## Job description

## 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 https://astera.org/vision/.

## 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 https://astera.org/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.

## About Astera Institute

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Astera Institute is a nonprofit organization that funds and conducts high-impact scientific research and engineering projects focused on neuroscience, artificial general intelligence (AGI), and open science to accelerate positive futures for humanity.
- **Entity Type**: Private nonprofit (501(c)(3) private foundation)
- **Headquarters**: Berkeley, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2020
- **Founders**: Jed McCaleb (also co-founder of Stellar Development Foundation and founder of Vast)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Research services, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, life sciences, grantmaking
- **Target customers**: Not applicable (nonprofit; serves the research community and the public through open science and foundational advances)
- **Mission / purpose**: Empower visionary, high-leverage science and technology projects with the capacity to create transformative progress for human civilization. Focus on areas like AGI, science, and climate that lack natural homes in the existing innovation ecosystem.

## Products & Services
Astera operates three main divisions (not commercial products):
- **Neuro & AGI**: Directed neuroscience and AI research effort to understand biological intelligence and engineer safe, successful general intelligence systems. [astera.org](https://astera.org/)
- **Radial**: Life sciences research division that funds and runs high-impact fundamental scientific challenges, testing new models for how science is conducted. [astera.org](https://astera.org/)
- **Foundation**: Centralized operational, financial support, and ecosystem-building for Neuro-AI, Science, and Strategic Investments. Also leads Residency and Fellowship programs. [astera.org](https://astera.org/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not applicable (nonprofit)
- **Key Metrics**: 
  - **Total assets** (2023): $2,003,858,714 [causeiq.com](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/astera-institute,845162617/)
  - **Total expenses** (2023): $27,504,754 [causeiq.com](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/astera-institute,845162617/)
  - **Investment income and dividends** (2023): $58,598,494 [causeiq.com](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/astera-institute,845162617/)
  - **Headcount**: 55 employees (+63.4% YoY) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astera-institute)
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Funded primarily by founder Jed McCaleb (grants contributed $131M in 2022). Key leaders include Prachee Avasthi (Head of Open Science), Doris Tsao (Chief Scientist – Neuro), Seemay Chou (CEO – Radial), and Dileep George (Co-Founder, Neuro & AGI). [astera.org](https://astera.org/team/)
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - 63.4% employee growth year-over-year (55 people) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astera-institute)
  - 23 active job postings (up 1050% YoY) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astera-institute)
  - LinkedIn followers grew 128.9% yearly [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astera-institute)
  - Presence in Netherlands and United Kingdom [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astera-institute)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique model**: Nonprofit foundation that internally incubates and directly funds high-risk, high-leverage research across neuroscience, AI, and life sciences — without the pressure of commercial returns.
- **Top-tier leadership**: Led by accomplished scientists (e.g., Doris Tsao, Dileep George) and experienced operators from organizations like Stellar, Google, and Arcadia Science. [astera.org](https://astera.org/team/)
- **Open science focus**: Strong commitment to open access research and new models for scientific collaboration, attracting talent who value transparency and impact.
- **Substantial capital base**: Over $2B in assets provides long-term runway for ambitious, multi-year projects.

## Strategic Focus
- Deepen understanding of biological intelligence through large-scale neural circuit analysis and causal manipulation (Neuro & AGI). [astera.org](https://astera.org/)
- Continue incubation of radical science projects via Radial, particularly in aging, biotech, and platforms. [causeiq.com](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/astera-institute,845162617/)
- Expand the Residency and Fellowship programs to attract diverse scientific and engineering talent. [astera.org](https://astera.org/)
- Scale operations and hiring: current job postings span roles from vivarium operations manager to research scientists in energy-based models and distributed simulation systems. [jobs.ashbyhq.com](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astera)

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven work**: Directly contribute to foundational research that could reshape humanity’s future with AGI and novel science.
- **Benefits**: Full-time W2 employees receive top-tier medical/dental/vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plans, long-term disability plan, health/dependent-care FSAs, and commuter pre-tax accounts. [astera.org](https://astera.org/careers/)
- **Culture**: Described as an equal opportunity employer committed to equity and inclusion, encouraging diverse applicants. Emphasis on open science, experimentation, and high-leverage impact. [astera.org](https://astera.org/careers/)
- **Work setup**: Headquarters in Berkeley, CA; also has staff in the Netherlands and UK. Specific remote/hybrid policy not disclosed but multiple job postings suggest flexible arrangements.
- **Team composition**: Highly technical and research-oriented (21 researchers, 10 technical staff, 6 medical). Staff previously from Google, Stanford, UCSF, Arcadia Science, Relay Therapeutics. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astera-institute)
- **Rapid growth**: 63% YoY headcount increase and 1050% growth in job postings signal an expanding organization with ample career opportunities.

## Sources
1. [astera.org](https://astera.org/) – Homepage and division descriptions
2. [astera.org](https://astera.org/team/) – Leadership team details
3. [astera.org](https://astera.org/careers/) – Benefits and culture
4. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astera-institute) – Company page with headcount, growth, job postings, and talent sources
5. [causeiq.com](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/astera-institute,845162617/) – Financials (990-PF: revenues, expenses, assets, program areas)
6. [jobs.ashbyhq.com](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astera) – Active open positions list

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