Head Of Operations Jobs in California
Head Of Operations jobs in California are in strong demand, with openings concentrated in technology, logistics, healthcare, and entertainment across seniority levels from operations coordinator to senior vice president of operations. The largest hiring metros are Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Kaiser Permanente, and Northrop Grumman maintain significant operational footprints. The most sought-after specializations include supply chain management, business process optimization, and multi-site facility operations. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 60+ Head Of Operations jobs
Who We Are
Nuro is a self-driving technology company on a mission to make autonomy accessible to all. Founded in 2016, Nuro is building the world’s most scalable driver, combining cutting-edge AI with automotive-grade hardware. Nuro licenses its core technology, the Nuro Driver™, to support a wide range of applications, from robotaxis and commercial fleets to personally owned vehicles. With technology proven over years of self-driving deployments, Nuro gives the automakers and mobility platforms a clear path to AVs at commercial scale, empowering a safer, richer, and more connected future.
About the Role
As the Head of Operations, you will lead a team responsible for supporting the development and global rollout of Nuro’s autonomous driving technology. This scope includes managing hundreds of team members across six operational functions: operations strategy, commercial launch/geographic expansion, in-vehicle operations, remote assistance, closed course testing, and operations safety. The operations org plays a critical role in both R&D efforts and commercial deployment, and you will lead it.
Today we operate in three cities. Over the coming months and years, that footprint will expand significantly, across multiple geographies, time zones, vehicle platforms, partners, and operational environments. You will help build the plan that gets us there and the team that executes it, with a mix of full-time employees and contractors who each bring different requirements, different site conditions, and different challenges.
The core deliverables:
- Execute real-world, mission-critical R&D activities in service of developing and deploying Nuro’s autonomy systems, at scale, safely, and at low cost
- Collaborate with internal Nuro stakeholders and external partners to prepare for and launch commercial driverless operations
- Launch operations in new markets in the US and abroad
That means building analytically disciplined teams, safety-first operating norms, and scalable onboarding and training programs across a geographically distributed population, all while staying tightly connected to the technical and commercial roadmap Nuro’s operations are built to serve.
About the Work
- Set strategic direction and own outcomes across all operations, including capacity, cost, quality, and safety
- Define KPIs for each function and hold the team accountable against them
- Work with technical leadership to define the mileage and data collection program across R&D, mapping, and production vehicle fleets, balancing data quality, operational efficiency, and cost
- Build and scale the operations organization across multiple operating domains, geographies, vehicle platforms, and regulatory environments
- Develop the systems, processes, and training programs that allow a distributed, mixed FTE/contractor workforce to operate consistently and safely
- Travel regularly to operational sites to understand local conditions, identify opportunities, and stay connected to the realities your team faces daily
- Partner closely with Engineering, Hardware, Commercial Partnerships, Policy, and People to align operational priorities with Nuro's broader technical and commercial roadmap
- Set the cultural tone for the operations organization, modeling the safety-first, analytically rigorous standards you expect from the team
About You
- 10+ years in operations or management consulting, with at least five of those in direct leadership roles, managing managers and scaling large, geographically distributed teams.
- Proven track record building and scaling field operations in complex, high-volume environments, whether fleet, logistics, supply chain, or general management
- Experience running 24/7 shift operations across multiple sites, time zones, and workforce types, including blended FTE and contractor populations
- Deeply analytical, you make decisions based on data, pull insight from operational metrics, and communicate tradeoffs clearly to technical audiences
- Hands-on and site-present, you understand that good operations leadership requires direct observation, not just dashboards
- Strong track record building training, onboarding, and quality programs that produce consistent performance at scale
- Comfortable with ambiguity and able to build structure in fast-moving, resource-constrained environments
- Prior P&L ownership with demonstrated accountability for cost, efficiency, and growth outcomes
Bonus Points
- Experience in safety-critical industries: automotive, aviation, space, energy, or regulated manufacturing
- Experience with vehicle fleet operations at scale, whether AV test programs, commercial trucking, ride-hail, or last-mile delivery
- Familiarity with AV test operations, specifically, including safety driver programs, tele-operation, or remote monitoring infrastructure
- Enough technical fluency in software development to have a substantive conversation with engineers about data quality, coverage, and how operational miles translate to software performance
- Experience designing or managing programs where operational output, miles driven, routes covered, and conditions captured, directly fed a technical or data roadmap
At Nuro, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. For this position, the reasonably expected base pay range is between $176,400 and $264,600 for the level at which this job has been scoped. Your base pay will depend on several factors, including your experience, qualifications, education, location, and skills. In the event that you are considered for a different level, a higher or lower pay range would apply. This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus, equity, and a competitive benefits package.
At Nuro, we celebrate differences and are committed to a diverse workplace that fosters inclusion and psychological safety for all employees. Nuro is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and expressly prohibits any form of workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. #LI-DNP
Who We Are
Nuro is a self-driving technology company on a mission to make autonomy accessible to all. Founded in 2016, Nuro is building the world’s most scalable driver, combining cutting-edge AI with automotive-grade hardware. Nuro licenses its core technology, the Nuro Driver™, to support a wide range of applications, from robotaxis and commercial fleets to personally owned vehicles. With technology proven over years of self-driving deployments, Nuro gives the automakers and mobility platforms a clear path to AVs at commercial scale, empowering a safer, richer, and more connected future.
About the Role
As the Head of Operations, you will lead a team responsible for supporting the development and global rollout of Nuro’s autonomous driving technology. This scope includes managing hundreds of team members across six operational functions: operations strategy, commercial launch/geographic expansion, in-vehicle operations, remote assistance, closed course testing, and operations safety. The operations org plays a critical role in both R&D efforts and commercial deployment, and you will lead it.
Today we operate in three cities. Over the coming months and years, that footprint will expand significantly, across multiple geographies, time zones, vehicle platforms, partners, and operational environments. You will help build the plan that gets us there and the team that executes it, with a mix of full-time employees and contractors who each bring different requirements, different site conditions, and different challenges.
The core deliverables:
- Execute real-world, mission-critical R&D activities in service of developing and deploying Nuro’s autonomy systems, at scale, safely, and at low cost
- Collaborate with internal Nuro stakeholders and external partners to prepare for and launch commercial driverless operations
- Launch operations in new markets in the US and abroad
That means building analytically disciplined teams, safety-first operating norms, and scalable onboarding and training programs across a geographically distributed population, all while staying tightly connected to the technical and commercial roadmap Nuro’s operations are built to serve.
About the Work
- Set strategic direction and own outcomes across all operations, including capacity, cost, quality, and safety
- Define KPIs for each function and hold the team accountable against them
- Work with technical leadership to define the mileage and data collection program across R&D, mapping, and production vehicle fleets, balancing data quality, operational efficiency, and cost
- Build and scale the operations organization across multiple operating domains, geographies, vehicle platforms, and regulatory environments
- Develop the systems, processes, and training programs that allow a distributed, mixed FTE/contractor workforce to operate consistently and safely
- Travel regularly to operational sites to understand local conditions, identify opportunities, and stay connected to the realities your team faces daily
- Partner closely with Engineering, Hardware, Commercial Partnerships, Policy, and People to align operational priorities with Nuro's broader technical and commercial roadmap
- Set the cultural tone for the operations organization, modeling the safety-first, analytically rigorous standards you expect from the team
About You
- 10+ years in operations or management consulting, with at least five of those in direct leadership roles, managing managers and scaling large, geographically distributed teams.
- Proven track record building and scaling field operations in complex, high-volume environments, whether fleet, logistics, supply chain, or general management
- Experience running 24/7 shift operations across multiple sites, time zones, and workforce types, including blended FTE and contractor populations
- Deeply analytical, you make decisions based on data, pull insight from operational metrics, and communicate tradeoffs clearly to technical audiences
- Hands-on and site-present, you understand that good operations leadership requires direct observation, not just dashboards
- Strong track record building training, onboarding, and quality programs that produce consistent performance at scale
- Comfortable with ambiguity and able to build structure in fast-moving, resource-constrained environments
- Prior P&L ownership with demonstrated accountability for cost, efficiency, and growth outcomes
Bonus Points
- Experience in safety-critical industries: automotive, aviation, space, energy, or regulated manufacturing
- Experience with vehicle fleet operations at scale, whether AV test programs, commercial trucking, ride-hail, or last-mile delivery
- Familiarity with AV test operations, specifically, including safety driver programs, tele-operation, or remote monitoring infrastructure
- Enough technical fluency in software development to have a substantive conversation with engineers about data quality, coverage, and how operational miles translate to software performance
- Experience designing or managing programs where operational output, miles driven, routes covered, and conditions captured, directly fed a technical or data roadmap
At Nuro, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. For this position, the reasonably expected base pay range is between $176,400 and $264,600 for the level at which this job has been scoped. Your base pay will depend on several factors, including your experience, qualifications, education, location, and skills. In the event that you are considered for a different level, a higher or lower pay range would apply. This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus, equity, and a competitive benefits package.
At Nuro, we celebrate differences and are committed to a diverse workplace that fosters inclusion and psychological safety for all employees. Nuro is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and expressly prohibits any form of workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. #LI-DNP
See All 60 Head Of Operations Jobs in California
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Find Head Of Operations JobsHead Of Operations Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Head Of Operations Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Granica3
- Vercel3
- AmeriHome Mortgage Company2
- Cardless2
- Cohere2
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software31
- Banking & Financial Services10
- Artificial Intelligence3
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals3
- Consulting & Professional Services3
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head of operations jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field required
- Five or more years of progressive operations leadership experience in a California industry preferred
- Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional teams across multiple California locations
- Proficiency with enterprise resource planning systems such as SAP or Oracle
- Strong analytical skills with experience using data to drive operational decisions
- Excellent communication skills and experience working with executive stakeholders
Head Of Operations Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a head of operations in California?
Most head of operations roles in California require a bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field, though many employers prefer an MBA. California does not require a state-issued license for this role in most industries, but candidates typically build their path through progressive management positions in supply chain, project management, or general operations. Earning a PMP or Lean Six Sigma certification strengthens candidacy considerably in California's competitive market.
How much do head of operationses make in California?
Head of operationses in California earn a median of about $124,390 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $60,370 for the lowest 10% to over $293,810 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire head of operationss in California?
Employers hiring head of operationss in California right now include Granica, Vercel, and AmeriHome Mortgage Company, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's mix of technology headquarters, major health systems, and large logistics companies means consistent demand for operations leadership at multiple levels throughout the year.
Which California cities have the most head of operations jobs?
San Francisco, Mountain View, and Los Angeles have the most head of operations openings in California. Los Angeles drives volume through its entertainment, healthcare, and logistics sectors, San Francisco and the broader Bay Area reflect the heavy concentration of technology companies with complex operational structures, and San Diego draws demand from its defense contracting and life sciences industries.
Are there remote head of operations jobs in California?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely analytical roles because head of operations work frequently requires on-site presence to manage facilities, teams, and vendor relationships. About 22% of head of operations openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, with fully remote arrangements most likely in technology companies or roles focused on policy, reporting, and process design rather than direct facility oversight.
How can I get hired as a head of operations in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing an operations coordinator or operations analyst role at a mid-size California company and building upward from there. Large California employers like Kaiser Permanente, Amazon's California fulfillment network, and major tech firms in the Bay Area run associate operations programs and rotational leadership tracks designed for recent graduates. Lateral moves from project management, logistics coordination, or finance roles are common entry points, and earning a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or PMP credential gives candidates a concrete edge in California hiring processes.
Where can I find and apply to head of operations jobs in California?
You can find and apply to head of operations jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring now. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each one.
See All 60 Head Of Operations Jobs in California
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