We are seeking a
Director of Operations and Special Projects to serve as a key operational partner to the leadership of our Product Technologies group.
In this role, you will translate strategic priorities into executable plans, establish effective operating routines, and lead cross-functional initiatives that advance our technology and product roadmaps. You will work closely with technical leaders and partners across Program Management, Finance, Supply Chain, Facilities, and other functions to align priorities, resources, and execution.
The successful candidate combines strong operational judgment with experience working in complex technical organizations. You can bring structure to ambiguous problems, identify issues before they affect delivery, and drive action across teams. You will help Product Technologies leadership make informed decisions while enabling scientists and engineers to focus on delivering technology.
Key Responsibilities:Operational Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness- Approximately 70%
- Own the operating cadence for Product Technologies, including leadership meetings, monthly operating reviews, quarterly priority reviews, and follow-through on decisions and actions.
- Work with group leadership to translate strategic objectives into clear priorities, milestones, accountable owners, and measurable outcomes.
- Maintain visibility into progress across the group's key initiatives, identifying execution risks, bottlenecks, dependencies, and resource gaps. Coordinate resolution and escalate decisions when needed.
- Develop and maintain practical KPIs and OKRs that track delivery, resource utilization, and organizational effectiveness. Use these measures to recommend corrective actions.
- Prepare concise, decision-oriented materials for leadership reviews, staff meetings, town halls, and executive updates, clearly communicating progress, risks, tradeoffs, and decisions required.
- Coordinate annual operating plans and long-range resource plans with technical leaders and Finance, integrating staffing, equipment, laboratory space, and external spending requirements.
- Partner with Finance and program owners to monitor budgets, forecasts, and variances, and provide leadership with a clear view of spending and resource commitments.
- Coordinate with Supply Chain, Facilities, HR, and other functions to ensure organizational needs are reflected in their plans and execution.
- Improve processes, reporting, and information flow to reduce administrative burden and strengthen accountability across the group.
Special Projects and Strategic Execution- Approximately 30%
- Lead selected strategic initiatives from definition through implementation, establishing scope, deliverables, schedules, resource requirements, and success measures.
- Partner with Product Technologies leadership and technical owners to transition strategic priorities into coordinated execution plans.
- Drive cross-functional work across technical and business teams, clarifying ownership, resolving dependencies, and maintaining progress against commitments.
- Establish disciplined project reviews, communicate risks and tradeoffs, and lead recovery plans when execution departs from expectations.
- Support technical and scientific proposals and statements of work by coordinating scope, schedules, resource estimates, costing inputs, and internal reviews with technical leads, Finance, and Contracts.
- Coordinate the transition of approved proposals and new initiatives into execution, ensuring that commitments are reflected in program plans, budgets, and ownership.
- Lead targeted improvements in productivity, development processes, and operational efficiency, working with technical and functional owners to measure and sustain results.
- Ensure completed initiatives have clear operational owners, documented processes, and an effective handoff into ongoing activities.
- Occasional travel, up to 25%, and flexibility to collaborate across global time zones.
YOU MUST HAVE:- Bachelor's degree minimum
- Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in technical operations, business operations, program management, or related leadership roles within a high-technology organization.
- Due to Contractual requirements, must be a U.S. Person defined as, U.S. citizen permanent resident or green card holder, workers granted asylum or refugee status
WE VALUE:- Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, business, operations, or a related field.
- Prior experience in operations leadership, a chief-of-staff role, or a comparable role supporting a technical organization.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating priorities, resources, and operating reviews across multiple technical teams or programs in partnership with senior leadership.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives, including setting scope, managing dependencies, resolving risks, and delivering measurable outcomes.
- Experience with organizational planning, resource allocation, budgets, and performance reporting.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize technical and operational information for executive audiences.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and influence stakeholders across organizational boundaries.
- Experience in quantum computing, advanced hardware, semiconductors, photonics, or other research-intensive technology organizations.
- Experience working with scientists and engineers and understanding the uncertainty and dependencies inherent in technology development.
- Familiarity with annual operating plans, long-range planning, R&D forecasting, and investment tradeoffs.
- Experience developing technical proposals, statements of work, and plans for externally funded programs.
- Strong analytical skills and experience building useful dashboards and decision-support materials.
- A record of simplifying processes and improving execution without adding unnecessary administrative overhead.
- Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential technical, personnel, and business information.
- Ability to build effective relationships from individual contributors through executive leadership.
- A proactive approach to identifying problems, recommending solutions, and following through to completion.
- Experience using automation and AI tools to improve productivity and reporting.
- An advanced degree in a technical field, business, or management.
$179,000 - $241,000 a year
This position is Bonus and Equity EligibleThe base pay range for this role is
$179,000 - $241,000 annually. Actual compensation within this range may vary based on the candidate's skills, educational background, professional experience, and unique qualifications for the role.
What's in it for you?We believe our people are our greatest strength and offer a comprehensive rewards package that supports your professional growth, well-being, and long-term success.
- Competitive compensation and the opportunity to work on groundbreaking technology
- Flexible work arrangements that support work-life balance
- Employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match and student loan repayment benefit
- Equity opportunities
- Generous paid time off, sick leave, and 12 paid holidays annually
- Paid parental leave
- Employee discount programs
