Events and Communications Lead

About Astera Institute

Astera Institute is an innovative research organization designed to operate unconventionally, breaking free from traditional market and academic limitations. It serves as an experimental platform enabling quicker decision-making, increased risk-taking, and the production of enduring public benefits. Key initiatives include:

• Radial: advancing biotechnology projects and redefining science's conduct, organization, and communication.
• Neuro-AI team: conducting foundational research in Artificial General Intelligence ensuring its benefits to humanity.
• Residency Program: a 12-18 month initiative supporting exceptional scientists by funding their salaries, team needs, and resources to accelerate public-good research.

Astera benefits from a substantial $3 billion endowment aimed at bold investment, coupled with a startup-like, agile team structure, high tolerance for risk and failure, and a willingness to support unconventional projects neglected by others.

Role Overview

We seek a Project Manager to lead Astera's Events and Communications functions, shaping the institute as a hub for cutting-edge scientific and technological dialogue. Reporting to the COO of the Foundation Division, the role entails cultivating both external presence and internal culture by managing events, convenings, and communications initiatives, with a strong emphasis on leveraging AI tools from the outset.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of event planning and execution, including venues, vendors, logistics, and ensuring a standout guest experience.
• Create scalable operational frameworks such as playbooks, vendor networks, budgets, and event tools.
• Collaborate with divisional leaders to design events and moments that propel Astera's programming.
• Foster community-building within the institute to transform a group of researchers into a connected network through both structured and informal interactions.
• Develop and implement an external communications strategy aligned with leadership vision, handling audience targeting, content channels, and execution.
• Oversee Astera’s messaging across its website, publications, and external platforms, continuously updating content and managing social media presence.
• Coordinate a comprehensive schedule for external engagements and manage production pipelines.
• Supervise external consultants such as writers, designers, and PR specialists by defining scope, timelines, and budgets to secure high-quality deliverables.
• Adapt to the dynamic needs of a growing organization by engaging in additional operational duties such as event logistics, hub functions, cross-departmental support, and special projects.

Qualifications and Cultural Fit

• Proven expertise in designing and flawlessly executing diverse events, including managing critical logistical details.
• Strong writing skills adaptable to Astera’s voice and capable of providing meaningful editorial guidance.
• Experience overseeing communications projects across multiple media forms and the discernment to balance in-house work with specialist collaboration.
• Ability to develop systems, maintain vendor relationships, and manage budgets that allow event programming to scale effectively without sacrificing quality.
• Success in building trustful working relationships with technically and research-focused professionals.
• Passion for promoting scientific and technological advancements with transformative potential.
• Excitement about shaping a cutting-edge, early-stage research organization without following a traditional blueprint.
• Comfort in navigating evolving roles within a developing environment, aligning initiatives with leadership priorities, and providing proactive direction.
• Strong advocate for open, direct feedback to enhance organizational culture, and enthusiasm for integrating AI tools to enhance processes.
• Collaborative spirit with flexibility regarding role boundaries.

Location and Compensation

This position requires onsite presence in Emeryville, California.

Salary range offers between $170,000 and $190,000 annually.