Operations Manager, Cambridge

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Ignota Labs is a multi-award-winning drug turnaround company tackling one of the industry’s biggest bottlenecks: drug safety. Through cutting-edge explainable AI, we identify and resolve toxicity issues in promising drug candidates, unlocking their potential to become safe, effective therapies.

At Ignota Labs, you’ll work at the forefront of AI-driven drug development, combining real-world scientific impact with business innovation. Our mission is ambitious, and we’re building a team of bold, forward-thinking experts eager to push the boundaries of AI and technology—not just in drug discovery, but in how organisations operate. We leverage automation to eliminate repetitive tasks, enabling specialists to focus on high-value work and achieve 10x productivity.

Ignota Labs are venture capital backed and have recently closed a substantial Seed round with leading Silicon Valley investors.

About the Role

As Operations Manager, you will be the backbone of Ignota Labs’ internal operations, ensuring the smooth functioning of corporate processes, investor relations, external relationship management, and HR. You will play a key role in scaling our processes as we grow, in line with our aspiration to be highly efficient and utilise the latest in AI technology to support that efficiency. You will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI/ML engineers to develop highly efficient operational systems that leverage automation and AI-driven decision-making tools.

This is a high-impact role where efficiency, automation, and smart workflows will be central to how we grow and operate.

You’ll work closely with executive leadership and technical teams to design and implement scalable, AI-enhanced operational processes that keep the business running smoothly and allow our experts to operate at high efficiency. You will report to the CSO.

What Makes This Role Unique

• Scaling an AI-First Biotech Startup: You'll be at the centre of a fast-growing biotech company that integrates AI into every aspect of decision-making and execution. You'll collaborate with engineers to design smart automation tools that enhance all areas of our business.
• Shaping Company Culture & Growth: Beyond operations, you will play a pivotal role in building a high-performing, technology-enabled company culture, ensuring both investors and employees feel productive, engaged and supported.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: You’ll gain firsthand experience in executive operations, investor relations, HR, and corporate strategy, making this a great opportunity for career growth in high-impact biotech leadership.

What You’ll Do

Project Management

• Work alongside the science and business development teams to ensure that all of our exciting drug candidates are progressing as efficiently as possible.
• Manage budgets, timeframes and expectations of all stakeholders on the assets' progress.

AI-Enabled Operations

• Implement efficient, data-driven operational systems that streamline company workflows across the business.
• Manage corporate administration and compliance tasks, ensuring efficient coordination with internal corporate functions (legal and finance), insurance and HR partners.
• Work with the executive team to support recruitment, onboarding, and HR processes.
• Act as the primary HR point of contact, managing HR policies and company logistics.

Manage External Relationships

• Work with the executive team and business development functions to manage a wide range of external relationships, including other biotechs, venture capital and private equity partners, patient advocacy groups, advisors and delivery partners
• Work with the marketing team to ensure we engage with the right people to meet business goals.

Requirements

Who You Are

You are a highly organised and proactive operations practitioner who is excited about the opportunities that the last few years of AI innovation have for operational efficiency. You thrive in a fast-paced startup environment. You are:

• Tech-Forward & Process-Oriented: Excited by the opportunity to design business processes from the ground up using all the tools available in 2025.
• Highly Organised & Detail-Oriented: Capable of managing complex workflows and multiple priorities efficiently.
• Strong Communicator: Able to engage confidently with investors, leadership, and employees - including pushing back at seniors where you feel it is necessary
• Culture-Builder: Passionate about creating a dynamic and engaging work environment in a high-growth biotech company.
• Self-Starter: Comfortable taking initiative, solving problems, and building efficient systems from scratch.

What You’ll Bring

• Experience in operations, investor relations, or HR, ideally in a biotech, AI or tech environment.
• Strong organisational and workflow management skills, with experience implementing automation tools.
• Prior experience in investor relations, executive operations, or HR processes in a high-growth startup.
• Ability to manage cross-functional teams and external partners in a fast-moving environment.
• A passion for efficiency and automation in business operations.

What We Offer

• A competitive salary (circa £60k), performance-based bonus, pension and significant equity in a high-growth startup.
• The opportunity to grow into a leadership role in operations in a fast-growing, cutting edge biotechnology company with a focus on creative ways of doing business.
• Direct exposure to executive decision-making, investor relations, and operational strategy.
• A collaborative, flexible, hybrid working environment with remote options and tools to support seamless communication.
• Vitality health insurance, including mental health, dental, and optical care.
• The chance to bring potentially life-saving drugs back to patients - helping improve the lives of millions.