Position Announcement: Director of Operations

SOBRATO FAMILY FOUNDATION; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 164,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement match 10%

PTO + holidays

Tuition assistance

Technology allowance

Job summary

The Sobrato Organization in Mountain View, CA seeks a Director of Operations to partner with the Chief People Officer and oversee enterprise operations, contracting, vendor management, and family services.

This hybrid role balances strategic governance with hands‑on execution across five Groups, risk management, and process improvements essential to sustaining the organization’s mission.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership in complex environments.
• Proven contracting, vendor relations and cross-functional project experience.
• Experience supporting high-net-worth or multigenerational stakeholders with discretion.
• Knowledge of personal insurance and risk management concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise operations, contracts, vendor standards and policies.
• Own rhythm of business, KPI tracking and enterprise reporting.
• Manage cross-functional projects with clear ownership and budgets.
• Oversee family operational services and coordination with internal/external providers.

Skills

Operations leadership

Contract management

Vendor management

Project management

Asana

Discretion

Risk management

Communication

Executive support

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Advanced degree or credentials (PM, risk mgmt) a plus

Tools

Asana

Job description

Position Announcement: Director of Operations

Mountain View, CA

Title: Director of Operations

Enterprise Group: People Operations

Work Schedule: Full-Time

FSLA Status: Exempt

Work Location: Mountain View, CA (Hybrid)

Salary Range: $164k to $205k plus bonus eligibility

JOB SUMMARY

The Sobrato Organization (TSO) is a multigenerational family enterprise working across three sectors: real estate, capital, and philanthropy. TSO’s People Operations function is central to the enterprise’s success, bringing together human resources and talent development, information technology and AI, communications, and workplace experience to drive operational excellence across the organization’s five Groups, with support for family members as part of its mandate.

Reporting to TSO’s Chief People Officer (CPO), who leads enterprise-wide operations, the Director of Operations will be a critical partner to the CPO, helping ensure effective, well-run operations across the entirety of the organization. The Director plays a pivotal role in enhancing the effectiveness of the CPO, serving as a strategic advisor, execution partner, and orchestrator of the enterprise operations that keep the organization running smoothly and consistently: the contracting process, vendor management, project management, enterprise systems and subscriptions, operational policy and process ownership, operational reporting, risk management, and the rhythm of business. In addition, the Director will lead TSO’s family operational services, serving as the point of contact for family members’ service needs, orchestrating internal expertise and trusted external providers, and strengthening risk management across family-facing services, including a coordinated personal liability insurance program.

The Director will be a trusted partner and resource to internal stakeholders across all five Groups, with the acumen and finesse to handle complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously, mixing long-term projects with the urgency of immediate demands. The role requires exceptional judgment, discretion, and communication skills, the ability to build strong relationships at all levels of the organization, including family members and executive leadership across TSO, and the ability to move fluidly between enterprise operations and highly personalized family support.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Job Responsibility 1: Enterprise Operations Leadership

35% of Time

• Serve as People Operations’ operational lead and enterprise coordination partner, ensuring consistent, effective operations across Groups aligned with TSO standards.
• Partner with Groups to map and improve end-to-end processes, drawing on People Operations capabilities.
• Partner with IT and the AI function to identify repetitive work, prioritize automation and AI pilots, lead rollout change management, and measure time saved.
• Manage operational spend, subscriptions, and memberships; optimize utilization, consolidate services, and partner with Finance on budgets and cost performance.
• Coordinate shared operational needs, service providers, and cross-entity initiatives with senior leaders.
• Own enterprise operational policies, procedures, and playbooks, ensuring they remain current, accessible, and consistently applied.
• Develop and maintain a multi-year operational roadmap, prioritizing process, system, and policy improvements.
• Lead operational risk management, compliance, business continuity, and emergency preparedness, aligning practices with TSO policies and regulatory requirements.
• Build organizational capability by training teams on new operational processes, tools, and ways of working to sustain improvements.
• Own contracting from intake through execution and renewal, coordinating legal review and maintaining templates, records, and obligation tracking; establish vendor standards for selection, onboarding, service delivery, and performance.

Job Responsibility 2: Rhythm of Business & Operational Reporting

15% of Time

• Own TSO’s rhythm of business in support of the CPO and in coordination with the Finance team and enterprise workstream leads: process mapping, leadership meeting cadences, decision tracking, and follow-through on action items across the enterprise, using Asana for development and tracking.
• Coordinate annual planning cycles and other enterprise meeting rhythms in coordination with the SLT.
• Define and track enterprise operational KPIs (for example, contracting cycle times, subscription spend and utilization, project throughput, and service levels) and report operational performance and risk to the CPO and leadership on a regular cadence.

Job Responsibility 3: Project Management

20% of Time

• Lead cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives from scoping through delivery, establishing clear owners, timelines, budgets, and accountability.
• Bring project management discipline to the organization, developing the tools, templates, and cadences that keep enterprise priorities visible, coordinated, and on track.
• Track major organizational operational projects in one place for enterprise-wide visibility, serving as the air traffic controller who monitors status, surfaces conflicts and dependencies, and flags risks before they become problems.

Job Responsibility 4: Family Operational Services

25% of Time

• Serve as the point of contact for family members’ operational service needs, intaking and owning requests from start to finish, and keeping family members well served on the TSO platform.
• Coordinate the delivery of family operational services through TSO’s internal teams (benefits and employment services, IT support, security, personal assistance support, and legal coordination), and source, vet, and manage external providers when needs fall outside in-house capabilities, including personal support staffing such as drivers.
• Manage family security, coordinating physical, residential, and travel security measures, and partner with the IT team on cybersecurity as needed.
• Design and administer the coordinated personal liability insurance program for family members and strengthen risk management across family-facing services.
• Provide coordination and calendaring for key family meetings and logistical support for family events and retreats, partnering with the family engagement and governance leads, who own the strategic family engagement plan.

Other Responsibilities as Assigned

5% of Time

QUALIFICATIONS

Education / Training

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; advanced degree or relevant professional credentials (project management, contract management, risk management) a plus.

Experience/Technical Skills

• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in a family enterprise, family office, private or executive office, professional services firm, or similarly complex organization.
• Demonstrated success managing contracting processes, vendor relationships, and cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities; proficiency with project management tools such as Asana.
• Experience supporting high-net-worth or multigenerational families, executives, boards, or owners, with demonstrated discretion on highly sensitive and confidential matters.
• Working knowledge of personal insurance and risk management concepts, or the aptitude to build it quickly.
• Exceptional emotional intelligence, judgment, and discretion; strong project management, organizational, and communication skills.
• Strategic, service-oriented mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity and evolve functions over time.

ORGANIZATION

Reports to:Chief People Officer

Direct Reports

• NA

Alignment to Our Mission, Culture, and Values

We hire individuals who share our vision of building a better future through business and philanthropic leadership, impacting the lives of countless fellow residents of our region in a way that could be replicated in other major metropolitan regions around the country and affecting the lives of millions.

Our Mission and Values

The Sobrato Organization’s mission is to build a more equitable and sustainable world through business and philanthropic leadership. We work to inspire current and future generations to steward family resources in service of others around the world. We have established a deep legacy in Silicon Valley that includes a commitment to community, and our values honor and promote this legacy:

Mutual Accountability: We earn trust by taking ownership of our work and honoring our commitments to each other, our partners and our communities.

Collaboration: We believe in the value of collaboration and partnership in achieving effective solutions. We treat people with respect and value the diverse experiences and perspectives of our partners, colleagues and investees.

Engagement: We recognize that lasting impact requires building deep relationships with our stakeholders and getting proximate to our communities and the work. We act with humility, respect and compassion.

Excellence: We focus on results, maintain a strong work ethic, and persist through challenges. We innovate, take risks, and embrace creativity and continuous learning.

Integrity: We endeavor to deal transparently, honestly and fairly. We strive to do what is right, especially when it is hard.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits for employees and dependents, effective on the date of hire
• Short- and long-term disability and life insurance
• Fertility program benefits
• Comprehensive mental health benefits for employees and dependents
• Retirement savings account with matching contributions of up to 10%
• Twenty PTO days in the first year of service, in addition to paid year-end closure days between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Eleven paid holidays
• Tuition assistance and professional development initiatives for growth
• Technology allowance
• Employee matching gifts program
• Generous parental leave
• Flexible and inclusive work environment
• Enjoy a professional yet comfortable work environment with our business casual dress code
• Catered lunches, healthy snacks and beverages
• Acknowledgement for exceptional work as well as important moments in the lives of those we work with

Compensation Transparency

At TSO, base pay is part of a broader compensation package and is set within a range, allowing for growth as you advance in your role. The pay range for this role is between $164,000 and $205,000 with discretionary bonus eligibility.

Salary offers are determined based on various factors, including experience, education, licensure and/or certifications, internal equity, and specific business and organizational needs.

About Us

Founded by John A. Sobrato in 1979 and led by CEO Tony Mestres, The Sobrato Organization remains a family-owned firm known for integrity and dedication, with no outside investors or joint venture partners. Since 1953, the Sobrato Family has played a pivotal role in shaping Silicon Valley through its real estate development. Its office and R&D projects comprise 7.5 million square feet, most of which are Class A, mid-rise office buildings. TSO also owns 30 apartment communities totaling 6,700 units along the West Coast. Through Sobrato Philanthropies, the firm has donated more than $379 million in cash and real estate to the Silicon Valley community. We have established a deep legacy in Silicon Valley that includes a commitment to community and our values honor and promote this legacy.

The Sobrato Organization is committed to its mission of building strong and vibrant communities where we live and do business. To achieve this, we embrace becoming a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization that empowers our people. Our team remains at the core of what we do. We strive to consistently lead from a space of learning and strengthening our capacity for change. We understand our responsibility to cultivate a culture of belonging, appreciation, and respect. We believe that TSO must be a place where staff feel at ease in expressing themselves honestly and openly. Advancing these important initiatives is mission-critical to our ability to maximize our impact in the world.

The Sobrato Organization is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to building a team that represents a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives, and skills and to creating an environment of inclusion and belonging for all employees regardless of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. The Sobrato Organization is expanding, and we are passionate about growing our staff with people who have diverse voices with different lived experiences.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. The Sobrato Organization is unable to provide employment visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future.