The Role
Lead and mentor a small operations team to support scientific programs. Drive project planning, risk management, and cross-program coordination. Build scalable operational and financial systems, oversee contracts and vendor relationships, forecast resources, and strengthen execution discipline. Provide people leadership, coaching, and operational best practices in an onsite Alameda, CA research environment.
Summary Generated by Built In
E11 Bio is a nonprofit organization tackling a neuroscience moonshot: developing a radical technology platform for scalable mammalian brain mapping. E11 is a Focused Research Organization supported by Convergent Research. Our work will have an impact for neuroscience, the next generation of AI, but most importantly for the millions of people who suffer from neurological disorders. We are a collaborative, interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers working at the frontier of connectomics. Read our technology roadmap.
E11 Bio is seeking an experienced Operations Lead to manage and mentor a small ops team and provide operational leadership across the organization’s systems.
This is a full-time, exempt leadership role responsible for ensuring scientific activities are supported by operational execution, managing the operations team, and building scalable systems that support E11’s continued growth. You will partner closely with scientific leadership to guide planning, manage risk, and ensure that ambitious technical goals are matched by operational rigor.
This is an onsite role based in Alameda, CA.
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.
E11 Bio, LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that proudly pursues and hires a diverse workforce. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or prohibited by Company policy. We strive for a healthy and safe workplace and strictly prohibit harassment of any kind.
Skills Required
- 8+ years of experience in operational roles within technical or scientific organizations
- Track record of successful operational leadership
- Experience directly mentoring and managing individual contributors
- Strong financial literacy including budget review and forecasting
- 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 and ability to build alignment across senior stakeholders
- Ability to work onsite in Alameda, CA
- Strong references from managers, peers, and direct reports
- Meeting management and group dynamics experience
- Specific experience related to neurotechnology, biotechnology, or related scientific fields
- Experience in a research-focused nonprofit or startup environment
- Familiarity with capital equipment planning and laboratory infrastructure scaling
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