Job Description

About the role

We're seeking an exceptional operational leader to oversee all site services for Constellation's research center. This includes real estate expansion, facilities management, and a world-class in-house catering operation. Depending on your skill set, it could also include overseeing physical security and/or IT infrastructure.

In this role, you'll own planning, budgets, hiring, and performance for your teams. These functions share a common purpose: enabling world-class AI safety research through excellence in our physical environment.

As Director of Site Operations, you'll define priorities and allocate resources across your portfolio. You'll have high autonomy to shape how these teams work together, with direct accountability for alignment with broader organizational goals. Your work will directly influence Constellation's ability to scale programs, host exceptional people, and create an environment where complex work can flourish.

You'll lead a team of ~15 (likely growing to 25+ over the next 1–2 years), with 2–4 direct reports. Given our size and growth trajectory, this is a true player-coach role. You'll coach domain leads and shape organizational systems while also making judgment calls and doing hands-on work to address day-to-day issues as they arise.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Direction, Planning & Resource Allocation

• Set the strategic vision and roadmap for your teams. Define priorities, monitor budgets, and manage performance.
• Identify future needs (staff, physical space, and budget) and allocate resources across competing priorities.
• Maintain and improve operational excellence as we rapidly scale.
• Build business cases for major investments.
• Partner with executive leadership to ensure infrastructure and workplace services align with organizational priorities.

Team Development & Leadership

• Lead and develop 2–4 direct reports who own distinct operational domains.
• Own hiring and training so teams are staffed to meet current and future needs.
• Build strong working relationships with other teams and leaders across the organization.
• Serve as the voice of site operations in leadership discussions.
• Translate organizational strategy into concrete operational priorities, and communicate them clearly.
• Coach individual contributors as they move into people management roles as their teams expand.
• Support the Executive Chef in leading and developing the catering team.
• Build a collaborative culture that integrates all operational functions into a coherent system.

Performance & Impact

• Create performance frameworks, success metrics, and KPIs for each function and role, with reporting that gives clear visibility into operating performance.
• Own measurable outcomes for site operations.
• Set and maintain standards for a high-trust, high-traffic environment.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and best practices for the teams you manage.
• Hold teams accountable for execution while providing guidance and removing blockers.

Skills & experience

Required Skills

• 10–15 years of experience in facilities, site operations, or workplace services, with demonstrated growth in scope and impact.
• 3–5 years leading teams, including coaching individual contributors into people management roles.
• Experience leading multiple operational domains in fast-paced environments.
• Strategic planning and budget ownership: setting site-wide priorities, managing significant budgets ($1M+), and delivering measurable results.
• Recent experience with both management and hands-on operations work.
• Deep expertise in at least one of these domains: facilities, hospitality, catering operations, workplace services, or a related function.
• Sound judgment: makes good decisions with incomplete information in ambiguous, high-stakes situations.
• Genuine understanding of Constellation's mission and why it matters.

Preferred Skills

• Demonstrated experience hiring staff and rapidly scaling a team.
• Familiarity with compliance frameworks and regulations for physical workplaces.
• Experience overseeing physical security teams and infrastructure.
• Deep care for enabling an environment where ambitious, high-impact work can happen.
• Systems orientation: naturally sees connections and opportunities for integration across domains.

Practical Requirements

• Based in Berkeley, CA, with the ability to work on-site five days a week (this is an in-person leadership role).
• Occasional evening or weekend work for urgent facility or security issues.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment where priorities can shift rapidly.