Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape People & Operations in a fast-growing DeepTech start-up.
- Company: Join a pioneering start-up with groundbreaking technology and global impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, equity options, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team tackling significant global challenges with innovative solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in scaling teams internationally, especially in tech-focused environments.
- Other info: Ideal for self-starters who thrive in dynamic, ambiguous settings.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 210000 £ per year.
Title: VP People & Operations
Salary: Up to £150,000 + Equity
Location: London, hybrid with and travel to US
Speak To: Olivia Finn
Who are they?
- A pioneering DeepTech start-up working on cutting edge technology with a massive global impact
- Rapid growth planned with imminent Series A funding expected and plans to scale from 15 to 80 people in 12 months.
- Led by seasoned entrepreneurs, driving a dual-hub Anglo-American organisation.
The Role:
- Define and implement processes and ways of working across London and Bay Area offices.
- Build leadership capability within highly technical science and research teams.
- Drive operational rigor through design and implementation of KPIs and operational discipline across the company.
- Build a hiring machine to attract world-class engineering talent in both UK and US markets.
- Help operationalise the company’s core values, and drive a collaborative and high-performance culture focused on results.
- Lay product ops groundwork and support the success of a new product leadership function.
Key Challenges:
- Build from zero: No formal People & Operations in place; this is ground zero, requiring immediate, hands-on delivery.
- Dual-location complexity: Navigating and unifying operations across distinct London and Bay Area hubs.
- Upskill technical leaders: Coaching highly technical leaders new to high-growth startup leadership.
- High-difficulty tariff: Spinning many plates simultaneously across teams and locations, demanding a high appetite for complexity.
- Navigate ambiguity: Thrive in a super-fast-paced environment requiring constant adaptability and ownership.
What Are We Looking For?
- Proven experience building and operating teams internationally, especially in the Bay Area/West Coast.
- Agile, diplomatic, and results-driven, implementing light-touch, high-impact processes.
- Highly strategic, emotionally robust, and capable of driving operational rigor in complex DeepTech spaces.
- Experience scaling companies, ideally Seed / Series A stage to beyond 200 people
- Previous No.1 in an operations or people function directly reporting to co-founders
- Confident operating across multiple domains beyond pure software (e.g. hardware, datacentres, AI, robotics)
- Able to speak the language of product and coherently interact with and support the function’s success.
- Excellent influencer able to navigate and align very different types of personalities.
Why this role?
- Massive Impact: Address a global challenge of geopolitical importance and significant climate/nature impact, fundamentally reimagining AI compute.
- Groundbreaking Technology: Work on commercialising technology thought about for 30-40 years by computer science’s greatest minds.
- Fast-track to Scale: Join a company at Seed/Series A stage, aiming to build a trillion-dollar company with significant equity upside.
- Experienced Leadership: Work with an executive team with extensive startup experience (this is the CEO’s 7th startup – 5x raised and 2x exited).
- Autonomy & Ownership: Huge autonomy to build and own the People & Operations function from day one.
- Compelling Mission: A Google DeepMind-esque sense of mission, playing a material role in assembling the team that delivers it and potentially wins the Nobel Prize!
Is this role for you?
This role is for a builder ready to wear multiple hats, and self-direct. Not for those seeking pre-defined structure or top-down decision-making. Requires a high appetite for complexity and comfort navigating ambiguity. If this sounds like you, then please get in touch!
Salary: Up to£150,000 + Equity
Location: London
Team: Operations, People, Talent
VP People & Operations employer: The Search
Contact Detail:
The Search Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land VP People & Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the DeepTech and startup space, especially those who have experience in scaling companies. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues or mentors who can provide insights into the role and company culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges of operating across dual locations, particularly between London and the Bay Area. Understanding the cultural and operational differences will help you demonstrate your capability to unify teams during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in building high-performance cultures and how you've successfully implemented KPIs in previous roles. Be ready to share specific examples that highlight your strategic thinking and results-driven approach.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your adaptability and comfort with ambiguity by sharing stories from your past experiences where you thrived in fast-paced environments. This will resonate well with the company's need for someone who can navigate complexity and drive operational rigor.
We think you need these skills to ace VP People & Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in building and operating teams, especially in international settings. Emphasise any previous roles where you have successfully scaled companies or implemented operational processes.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the role and the company's mission. Discuss how your skills align with their needs, particularly in navigating dual-location complexities and driving operational rigor in high-growth environments.
Showcase Leadership Experience: Provide specific examples of how you've built leadership capabilities within technical teams. Highlight your experience in coaching leaders and implementing effective hiring strategies to attract top talent.
Demonstrate Adaptability: Illustrate your ability to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments. Share instances where you've successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously and adapted to changing circumstances.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Search
✨Understand the Company Culture
Before your interview, take some time to research the company's culture and values. This role is all about building a collaborative and high-performance environment, so be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to that culture.
✨Showcase Your Experience with Dual-Location Operations
Given the dual-hub nature of the company, highlight any previous experience you have in managing operations across different locations. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated challenges in similar situations.
✨Demonstrate Your Strategic Thinking
This role requires a highly strategic mindset. Prepare to discuss how you've implemented processes and driven operational rigor in past roles, especially in complex environments. Use metrics and KPIs to illustrate your impact.
✨Prepare for Ambiguity
The job description emphasises the need to thrive in a fast-paced and ambiguous environment. Think of examples from your career where you've successfully adapted to change or uncertainty, and be ready to share these stories during your interview.