Operations Associate

Apoha is creating a fundamentally new class of scientific data. Our platform captures how molecules and materials physically behave — not just their sequence or structure, but what they actually do in the real world. This matters because the physical sciences have a massive blind spot. AI can analyse genomes, predict protein structures, and parse images — but it cannot yet understand how a material feels, flows, dissolves, or reacts under real conditions. Apoha closes that gap. We're already working with global leaders across pharma, food & beverage, and beyond. We're Series A with funding from top VCs, with a 75% PhD team spanning London and the Bay Area.

This role sits at the operational core of Apoha’s business. As the company scales from 23 people towards Series B, the volume and complexity of day-to-day execution and operation is increasing rapidly. This role exists to own the operational core, bring structure, reliability, and execution to that layer — ensuring the business runs smoothly every day. This is an execution role. You will own the operational layer of the business, working across functions and gaining full visibility into how the company operates. You report directly to the Chief of Staff and work cross-functionally with Marketing, Finance, HR, Legal, and the leadership team.

What You’ll Do and Own

• Run the office and space — handle day-to-day logistics, keep the workspace stocked and organised, support team working sessions and lunches, and act as the first point of contact for what the team needs.
• Run day-to-day operations — make sure things get done, issues are spotted early, and problems are fixed before they slow the team down.
• Own finance operations in practice — track expenses, coordinate with bookkeeping, and ensure invoices are processed and vendors are paid on time.
• Run people operations in practice — onboarding, offboarding, and internal events, making sure new joiners and the team are set up properly.
• Keep internal information and systems organised and running — maintaining documentation, materials, and shared resources so the team can find and use what they need.
• Run lightweight project management — bringing structure, tracking, and follow-through across cross-functional work.

Building (where you’ll create leverage)

• Improve how the business operates — identifying where operations are slow, manual, or unreliable, and building scalable systems that fix them.
• Own marketing & communications operations day-to-day — ensuring coordination, materials, and logistics for conferences and events run smoothly.

Projects (where you’ll stretch)

• Drive special one-off projects end-to-end — such as SOC2 certification, working with internal and external partners.
• Support product launches operationally — coordinating across teams and managing materials and logistics to get new products and platform releases out into the world.
• Support community-building initiatives — organising events, meetups, and activities that connect Apoha with the broader scientific and startup community.

What You’ll Need

• 2+ years of full-time professional experience in an adjacent, fast-paced role.
• Fluent English with strong communication skills.
• A work permit for the UK.
• Fluency in MS Office.
• AI-native and excited about using new tools & systems.
• High autonomy and ability to operate independently.

Nice to Have

• Startup or scale-up experience.
• Marketing or communications exposure.
• Deep tech, lab or scientific environment exposure.

Who You Are

• You take ownership and know how to prioritise.
• You are comfortable taking problems from definition through to execution, without needing close supervision.
• You are reliable and detail-oriented.
• You follow through, take pride in your work, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
• You are hands-on and proactive.
• You don’t wait for perfect instructions; you move things forward, ask questions and focus on getting things done.
• You are curious about how things work.
• You enjoy understanding the broader context and working alongside technical and scientific teams.
• You communicate clearly and professionally.
• You are comfortable working with different stakeholders and expressing ideas in a structured way.
• You are collaborative and grounded.
• You’re open to feedback, willing to learn, and work well with others in a fast-moving environment.
• You are adaptable.
• You’re comfortable working across a wide range of tasks with no task too small or too big for you.

This role isn’t for you if you prefer to wait for clear instructions or are uncomfortable with ambiguity. Success in this role comes from taking ownership, stepping in where needed, and finding satisfaction in getting things done well.

What Success Looks Like (6 Months)

Within your first 6 months, you will have taken full ownership of Apoha’s day-to-day operations, becoming the go-to person for the team on all operational matters. The business runs smoothly and reliably, with clear processes in place. Nothing falls through the cracks, and the leadership team is able to focus on higher-impact work because execution is consistently handled well. You will have introduced practical improvements that make the company more efficient, and built a strong understanding of how the business operates across functions.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation.
• Private health insurance.
• Regular team socials.
• The rare chance to shape the DNA of a company.
• Access to cutting-edge science, a stellar team, and the chance to change the game.

At Apoha, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups in tech and science.