Open Science Policy and Operations Manager

About Astera: Astera is a private foundation on a mission to steer science and technology toward a better future. 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 accelerate innovation. This inflection point provides an unparalleled opportunity to fundamentally rethink the institutions, systems, and tools that drive progress. We have committed a $3.5B endowment to that work and fit the form of our support to the function it serves: grants, investments, and in-house research programs. We accept meaningful risk in the research we back and expect some of it to fail because transformative ideas are rarely the ones already proven. Our projects, and the foundation itself, operate like high-velocity startups, with a high performance bar and competitive compensation to match. We are searching for leaders who are compelled by the challenge of driving high-impact change in the way science is funded, conducted, and communicated. You can read more about our mission, vision, and programming at 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 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 prioriti