Senior Operations & Strategy Specialist

Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biotechnology with light. Our mission is to make next-generation therapies broadly available to patients. Our first-of-its-kind Photomolecular Platform uses light to precisely guide how cells produce complex biologics, enabling higher titers, improved quality, and faster development timelines. By helping partners overcome today’s manufacturing bottlenecks, we’re accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines. Prolific is supported by leading investors, including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mayfield, and SOSV.

Help us create a brighter tomorrow with biology. We're looking for mission-driven, talented, and kind people to join our team. 

Prolific Machines is seeking a highly analytical and driven Senior Operations & Strategy Specialist to support in scaling our business. In this role, you will work directly with leadership to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and day-to-day execution. You will be responsible for designing and implementing scalable operational processes, developing and modeling business cases and supporting executive and board communications.

You will play a critical role in investor relations and transactions working closely with the executive team to craft compelling narratives, manage investor communications, and develop high-impact materials for our board of directors and prospective investors. 

This role will require someone comfortable working with significant ambiguity, providing structure to complex tasks and being able to develop and execute on work plans that lead to actionable recommendations. Some days you will be in the weeds on highly analytical tasks, while others you will be leading change management on some of our highest priority initiatives. 

This role will be primarily based on-site in Emeryville, CA with the option to work remotely approximately up to two days per week.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Board Relations
• Fundraising Execution: Partner with the executive team to drive capital raises, taking ownership of data room management, orchestrating due diligence workflows, and shaping the core financial narrative for prospective investors.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate relationships with current and prospective investors by crafting compelling, data-backed updates and managing an ongoing, proactive communication strategy.
• Executive & Board Deliverables: Spearhead the development of board decks, pitch materials, and strategic reports that synthesize complex operational data into a clear, cohesive narrative for the Board of Directors.
 
Strategy & Financial Modeling
• Business Case Development: Build comprehensive business cases for new strategic initiatives, product launches, or market expansions, including risk assessments and resource requirements.
• Financial Modeling: Create and manage complex financial models to forecast growth, assess ROI, evaluate scenarios, and support strategic decision-making.
• Strategic Planning: Partner with leadership to define long-term strategic objectives and translate them into actionable, phased execution plans.
 
Operational Metrics & Analytics
• Performance Tracking: Assist in defining tracking and managing OKRs and key project goals. Identify key operational reporting needs and implement processes to track these.
• Dashboard Creation: Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting mechanisms to provide real-time visibility for both internal leadership and external stakeholders.
• Change Management: Lead the roll-out, implementation, and companywide communication of new operational processes, tools, and systems across cross-functional teams.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in strategy consulting, investment banking, business operations, corporate strategy, financial planning & analysis (FP&A), venture capital, or a related field. Biotech or life sciences experience is preferred.
• Fundraising or Transaction Exposure: Prior experience supporting startup financing rounds (e.g., Seed, Series A, B) or investor due diligence processes. As well as experience interacting with venture capital or institutional investors is highly preferred.
• Financial Acumen: Advanced proficiency in financial modeling, scenario planning, and data analysis. 
• Presentation & Design: Expertise in crafting compelling, executive-level presentations with a strong eye for visual storytelling and data presentation.
• Execution Mindset: Proven track record of taking projects from the idea phase through to successful implementation and measurable impact.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial and operational data clearly to board members, investors, and internal stakeholders.
• Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams to build alignment and drive results through influence and partnership.
• Adaptability: High comfort level with ambiguity and the ability to pivot quickly in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits: Generous equity package in an early stage company, retirement plan with company contribution, flexible PTO with healthy time off minimums, company-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, career coaching, mental health support, free team lunches everyday, great snacks, and companywide social events!

Diversity: Prolific Machines values diverse perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where all employees can bring their authentic selves to work and have equal opportunities to succeed. Prolific Machines is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.