E11 Bio - Operations Lead

Responsibilities

• Project Management
• Guide project planning processes across programs to ensure clarity of priorities, timelines, and interdependencies.
• Track project status across initiatives, proactively flagging risk and improving cross-project communication.
• Reduce organizational risk by daylighting project blockers, coordinating managerial response, and ensuring disciplined follow-through.
 
• Operational & Process Leadership
• Directly manage the operations team, including the Scientific Operations Manager, Lab Manager, and Office Coordinator.
• Introduce and institutionalize best practices in operational management.
• Evolve internal processes to be scalable, robust, and resilient as the organization grows.
• Forecast resource needs 1–2 quarters in advance, including capital purchases and operational capacity.
• Strengthen planning cadence and execution discipline across teams.
 
• Financial Oversight & Contracts
• Support financial forecasting and expenditure discipline across programs.
• Oversee contracts related to partnerships, facilities, vendors, and contractors in coordination with legal and accounting partners.
 
• People Leadership & Mentorship
• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and development to members of the operations team.
• Offer developmentally relevant feedback and mentorship to managers and senior contributors across the organization.
• Introduce best practices in personnel management, performance feedback, and accountability.
• Strengthen a culture of professionalism, mutual respect, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Required:
• 8+ years of experience in operational roles within technical or scientific organizations + a track record of successful operational leadership.
• Experience directly mentoring and managing individual contributors.
• Strong financial literacy, including budget review, forecasting, and vendor contract oversight.
• Experience building or scaling operational systems in a growing organization.
• Proven ability to execute strategy through operational excellence.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Experience advising leadership on personnel management.
• Strong judgment, risk assessment, and organizational design skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build alignment across senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work onsite in a highly collaborative, mission-driven environment.
• Strong references from managers, peers, and direct reports.
 
• Nice to have (not required):
• Experienced with meeting management and group dynamics: Driving the agenda, keeping the meeting on track, surfacing action items and tracking them to completion.
• Specific experience related to Neurotechnology, biotechnology, or a related scientific field.
• Experience in a research-focused nonprofit or startup environment.
• Familiarity with capital equipment planning and laboratory infrastructure scaling.

What success looks like

• By three months, you will have:
• Built trust with scientific and operational leadership.
• Developed fluency in E11’s project roadmap, financial structure, and project portfolio.
• Clarified project tracking and reporting expectations across programs.
• Identified areas of operational risk and begun implementing improvements.
 
• By one year, you will have:
• Significantly strengthened cross-program alignment and reduced ambiguity in planning and execution.
• Implemented scalable operational and financial systems that support organizational growth.
• Built a cohesive, high-functioning operations team with clear roles and strong accountability.
• Positioned E11 for continued expansion through disciplined forecasting and process maturity.

Who will love this job

• You enjoy building structure around ambitious science.
• You are energized by aligning technical vision with operational execution.
• You like mentoring others and elevating organizational standards.
• You are comfortable navigating financial and logistical detail.
• You are motivated by high-impact, mission-driven neuroscience.

We offer

• A senior leadership opportunity at the forefront of scalable connectomics.
• Full-time, exempt role based onsite in Alameda, CA.
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance; parental leave.
• 6% 401K match
• Generous time off + paid holidays.
• Ample healthy food including daily lunches.
• Wellness allowance for fitness and wellness activities.
• Work with impact. Your leadership will shape the operational foundation of a field-defining scientific effort.