Head of Operations & Quality in Derby

About AURApeutics: Born from breakthrough research at the University of Oxford, we are AURApeutics - a biotech startup on a mission to tackle one of the planet's biggest healthcare threats: antimicrobial resistance. We’re taking the fight to chronic bacterial biofilms that laugh at standard antibiotics. Our secret weapon is the AURA platform: ultrasound-activated nanoparticles that physically disrupt and eradicate these stubborn infections.

Over the next year, we are taking the giant leap from lab-based R&D to clinical readiness. To pull this off, we’re keeping our virtual team lean, incredibly efficient, and fiercely mission-driven. We love rigorous science, and we're obsessed with solving the impossible.

The Role: You’ve conquered the complexities of Big Pharma or scaled biotech operations, but maybe you're tired of the endless committee meetings, slow-moving bureaucracy, and feeling like a cog in a massive machine. You're looking for your magnum opus, a chance to build something entirely yours.

As our very first dedicated Quality & Operations hire, you will be the ultimate owner of our CDMO manufacturing, outsourced supply chain, and operational mechanics. Working side-by-side with our Scientific Lead, your mission is to bridge the gap between our cutting-edge lab magic and world-class manufacturing standards.

Because we’re an early-stage startup, you'll need a unique superpower: the ability to switch seamlessly between being a high-level strategic architect building our quality infrastructure from the ground up, and a hands-on executor making things happen in a fast-paced environment. We need a builder who knows how to do more with less, scaling our operations safely and compliantly without the bureaucratic red tape.

What You'll Actually Do:

• Take total control over the auditing and day-to-day operational oversight of our CDMO partners and all other outsourced manufacturing vendors.
• Design, roll-out, and maintain a "right-sized," bulletproof Quality Management System (QMS) that helps meet the agile reality of a small-scale biotech startup.
• Partner closely with our Scientific Lead to review and validate all CMC protocols, turning scientific objectives into scalable, compliant manufacturing realities.
• Proactively spot and squash technical and operational risks during the critical transition from R&D into scale-up manufacturing.

You're The One If:

• You have 10+ years in QA or Ops experience in Pharma/Biotech.
• You not only know Big Pharma inside and out, but have also proven you can thrive in the speed and agility of an early-stage startup or lean team.
• You have a rock-solid track record of navigating CDMO tech transfers and building external vendor relationships.
• You bring a deep understanding of infectious diseases or drug-device combination products to the table.
• You hold an advanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD) in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, or a related technical field.

Why Join Us?

• We offer a generous equity package. You aren't just an employee, you are a foundational owner.
• You get a blank canvas. No inheriting broken, legacy systems. You get the ultimate authority to design, implement, and lead the Q&O function your way.
• Swap the endless approval loops for radical autonomy and immediate decision making.
• A fully remote setup working with a tight-knit, highly-efficient UK-based team.
• You aren't just editing spreadsheets to appease shareholders, you are bringing a paradigm-shifting life-saving therapy to the clinic that will save lives against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Ready to build your legacy and tackle the impossible? Apply now by sending an email to and https://aurapeutics.com/director_of_operations