At Genomines, our mission is to pioneer a new era of sustainable metal production by farming plants that hyperaccumulate metal.
Through synthetic biology and cutting-edge technology, we harness the power of nature to create plants that can farm for metals while decontaminating soils and creating cleaner lands for agriculture. Our ultimate goal is to become the world's first carbon-negative nickel producer, using sustainable, cost-competitive methods to extract the valuable resources our society needs for the energy transition.
ROLE OVERVIEW
The Executive Assistant is an individual-contributor role responsible for providing dedicated administrative and operational support to Genomines' CEO and leadership team, while also anchoring the company's office operations and team culture in France.
As Genomines scales its operations across France, South Africa, and other geographies, this role sits at the center of how the French office runs day to day and how the company builds a cohesive culture across a growing, distributed team.
The Executive Assistant will:
Manage the CEO's calendar, travel, and day-to-day priorities, and support the CEO's external communications.
Own administrative and office operations for the Les Ulis office, including vendor and facilities management.
Support core HR processes and help maintain the policies that keep Genomines running smoothly.
Help build team culture and drive cross-functional initiatives as Genomines grows across multiple countries.
This is a hands-on, individual-contributor role at the center of Genomines' day-to-day operations, not a managerial position.
The ideal candidate brings experience supporting senior leaders in a fast-moving environment and thrives working close to the action of a growing organization, though no specific industry background is required.
Key Responsibilities
EXECUTIVE SUPPORT TO THE CEO
Own and manage the CEO's daily calendar, meeting logistics, and domestic and international travel arrangements.
Triage and prioritize inbound requests to the CEO's office, ensuring the most time-sensitive items surface first.
Track action items from meetings and decisions through to closure, following up with stakeholders and maintaining clear documentation.
Extend administrative support to other Genomines leaders, including the VP HR & People and Head of Finance, on an ad hoc basis.
Handle sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of discretion, acting as a trusted execution partner whose reliability keeps the CEO focused on strategic priorities.
ADMINISTRATIVE & OFFICE OPERATIONS
Own core administrative processes for the Les Ulis office, ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly.
Manage relationships with HR benefits vendors (meal vouchers, medical coverage, travel insurance), handling renewals, claims, and everyday queries.
Manage relationships with consultants and vendors on administrative and operational matters.
Book and coordinate international travel for Genomines travelers, primarily members of the leadership team.
Oversee office facilities - supplies, equipment, and general upkeep - so the workplace remains reliable and well-run for everyone.
HR OPERATIONS & POLICIES SUPPORT
Maintain internal HR policies in line with Genomines' governance standards, with careful version control across the employee handbook and related materials.
Support the structuring and execution of core HR processes, including onboarding, offboarding, contract administration, and employee records management.
Administer the company's HRIS, ensuring accurate data entry and system integrity.
Act as the internal point of contact for HRIS-related questions and improvements, keeping documentation clear and consistent so HR processes remain dependable as the company grows.
TEAM CULTURE & ACTIVITIES
Plan and run team culture initiatives for the France office, including a recurring monthly informal team gathering.
Establish and run a monthly cross-team forum where one team shares its work with the rest of the company, building visibility across the organization.
Build forums for good-practice sharing and connection between the France team and colleagues in other countries.
Organize additional activities - offsites, celebrations, cross-border connection sessions - as needed, helping keep a growing, multi-country organization connected rather than siloed.
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL & COMPANY-BUILDING SUPPORT
Provide ad hoc support on cross-functional initiatives driven by the CEO.
Contribute to internal structuring and process design for new or evolving operational projects.
Proactively identify inefficiencies, risks, or missing processes as Genomines scales.
Propose pragmatic solutions that keep the company's operations running smoothly as it grows.
CEO EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT (LINKEDIN)
Support the CEO's external presence on LinkedIn on an ad hoc basis, drafting and formatting posts based on the CEO's talking points and voice.
Schedule posts and monitor comments and engagement on published content.
Manage the messages the CEO receives on the platform, ensuring timely and appropriate handling.
Help keep the CEO's external voice consistent and responsive, supporting Genomines' visibility with investors, talent, and the broader industry.
Skills and experiences
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
No specific degree required - this is an experience-based hire; relevant professional experience matters more than academic credentials.
5+ years of relevant experience supporting senior leaders or executives.
Clear understanding of the confidentiality and influence that comes with that kind of proximity.
Demonstrated experience managing vendor relationships.
No specific industry background required; candidates who understand and enjoy the dynamics of a fast-growing startup will find this environment particularly rewarding.
TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL COMPETENCIES
Professional working fluency in both French and English.
Strong agility picking up and adapting to new systems and tools.
Comfort using AI tools in day-to-day work is a plus.
SOFT SKILLS
Takes full ownership of tasks and commitments, following through to completion without needing reminders.
Brings humility and self-awareness, calibrating quickly to Genomines' actual stage and needs rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all approach.
Communicates clearly and confidently, both in writing and in person, adjusting tone and detail for the audience.
Builds genuine trust and rapport across functions, levels, and geographies.
Works effectively across French, South African, and other international professional contexts.
Adjusts quickly when priorities, tools, or circumstances change, staying effective amid ambiguity.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of relevant experience supporting senior leaders or executives
- Professional working fluency in French and English
- Experience managing vendor relationships
- Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
- Strong ability to learn and adapt to new systems and tools
- Ownership, follow-through, and ability to work independently
- Clear and confident written and verbal communication
- Ability to work effectively across international professional contexts
- Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and ambiguity
- Comfort using AI tools in day-to-day work
- Specific academic degree
What We Do
Genomines develops plant-based metal extraction, using genetically enhanced hyperaccumulator plants to absorb and concentrate nickel from low-grade, underutilized soils. After harvest, the biomass is processed to recover battery-grade metals through a lower-emissions alternative to conventional mining. Its platform aims to turn otherwise unproductive land into productive metal farms while supporting clean-energy supply chains, with potential to expand beyond nickel to other critical materials.
