AI-Forward Events & Communications Lead

Astera Institute; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Astera Institute in Emeryville, CA seeks an Events and Communications lead to shape its external presence and internal culture, overseeing programming, convenings, and communications. Reporting to the COO of the Foundation Division, you’ll drive the strategic agenda and help make Astera a hub for important conversations in science and technology.

The role combines end‑to‑end event design with a strong communications remit: managing the website, blog, and social channels; coordinating external

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to design and execute high-quality convenings end-to-end, including the unglamorous logistics that determine whether they work
• Capable writer, able to draft as needed in a voice applicable to Astera, and to give substantive editorial direction on everything else
• Comfortable directing comms work and managing external contracts end-to-end across modalities (writing, design, web, video, social)
• Experience building the systems, playbooks, vendor relationships, and budgets that let programming scale without losing quality
• Track record of working closely with technical or research-driven people in a way that earned their trust

Responsibilities

• Design and run events end-to-end, from symposia to Friday socials: venue, vendors, logistics, guest experience
• Build the operational infrastructure that lets programming scale: playbooks, vendor relationships, budgets, and tooling
• Partner with Division leadership in developing the events and moments that accelerate our programming
• Build the social fabric that turns a collection of researchers into a community, including the unstructured moments where good conversations happen
• Partner with leadership to shape Astera’s external comms strategy (audiences, channels, content, etc) and own execution against it
• Steward Astera’s voice across the website, written materials, and external touchpoints, in close collaboration with leadership
• Manage website, blog, and socials, including writing, editing, and coordinating updates as Astera’s work evolves
• Run the calendar of external-facing moments and the production pipeline behind it
• Build and manage a roster of external contractors and consultants (writers, designers, PR, etc.) — knowing when to bring in specialists, scoping the work, and getting great output on Astera’s timeline and budget
• Flex to the “unknown unknowns” of a young, growing organization — event logistics, hub operations, cross-functional support during peak periods, and special projects across the Operations stack.

Skills

Event design & management

Strategic communications

Vendor management

Editorial direction

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Astera Institute in Emeryville, CA seeks an Events and Communications lead to shape its external presence and internal culture, overseeing programming, convenings, and communications. Reporting to the COO of the Foundation Division, you’ll drive the strategic agenda and help make Astera a hub for important conversations in science and technology.

The role combines end‑to‑end event design with a strong communications remit: managing the website, blog, and social channels; coordinating external