Finance and Operations Lead

About the company: 

X is Alphabet’s moonshot factory. We are a diverse group of inventors and entrepreneurs who build and launch technologies that aim to improve the lives of millions, even billions, of people. Our goal: 10x impact on the world’s most intractable problems, not just 10% improvement. We approach projects that have the aspiration and riskiness of research with the speed and ambition of a startup.

About the Team:

A-Life is X's moonshot to unlock the manufacturing power of biology. We are an early-stage, interdisciplinary team focused on tackling some of the world's toughest problems by harnessing the power of biological systems. Our mission is to accelerate the path to a sustainable and abundant future by making bio-manufacturing accessible and scalable. We operate with the agility and impact of a startup, driven by the world-class technology and resources of Alphabet's X, The Moonshot Factory. We are looking for people who are passionate about building the infrastructure for a bio-based economy to join us at this critical, high-growth stage. Learn more about Project A-Life here.

About the Role:

This high-impact role will closely partner with the Project Lead and founding team as the primary dedicated resource for financial, operational, and strategic planning. You will act as a key cross-functional steward, defining and executing the essential infrastructure needed for A-Life's transition into a large-scale, sustainable business. This is a hands-on Program manager role that requires you to get into the details and implement solutions that will help enable the organization to scale during its critical growth phase.

Key Responsibilities / How you will make 10x impact:

• Financial Planning and Analysis, and Business Strategy:
  • Partner with the Project Lead to develop and manage the project's long-term business model, financial forecasts, and resource allocation across research and development; and Operations.
  • Own the operating budget, conduct variance analysis, and prepare financial reports for leadership to guide strategic, data-driven decisions.
  • Research and analyze market trends, competitive landscape, and potential investment theses to inform core business strategy.
• Operational Excellence and General and Administrative Infrastructure:
  • Design, implement, and optimize core business processes (e.g., procurement, vendor management, internal reporting) with an eye for operational excellence and efficiency.
  • Development of General and Administrative functions, including identifying external or part-time resources for People Operations, Internal Communications, and Legal/IP processes.
  • Drive the full gamut of project management for key operational initiatives, from creating a high-level roadmap to executing on line-by-line detail.
• Scaling and Growth Transition:
  • Serve as the lead operational and financial planner for future organizational milestones, creating the foundational structure needed for sustainable high-growth and independent operation.
  • Prepare the necessary internal documentation, financial, and organizational systems to support significant team growth and operational maturity.
  • Proactively identify, research, and deliver key operational and experimental projects to enable core project milestones.

What you should have:

• 7-10+ years of work experience demonstrating deep operational and financial rigor, either through:
• Experience in Financial Planning and Analysis Strategy, or Operations in a high-growth environment OR Functional leadership experience (e.g., Head of Finance/Ops) at an early-stage startup (Seed or Series A).
• Demonstrated experience in financial modeling and managing operating budgets.
• Proven project management skills with a bias for action and strong execution, managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Ability to operate independently and creatively resource in a startup-like environment.
• Exceptional strategy, analytical, and communication skills; ability to gather and analyze large quantities of information and turn them into insightful business recommendations.

It'd be great if you also had these:

• Strong preference will be given to candidates that have experience or deep interest in Biology.
• Demonstrated experience operating in an early-stage startup environment 
• A strong "builder's mentality" and the ability to work under significant ambiguity.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and manage stakeholder relationships at all levels.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $153,000 - $210,000 + bonuses + benefits. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.