Jobs in Essen, Deutschland

At Apheris we are building the future of how AI is applied in pharmaceutical R&D.

Our federated computing technology enables global pharma companies to collaborate securely on large AI models that accelerate drug discovery without ever sharing their proprietary data. By powering multi‑partner data networks across small molecules, antibodies and protein folding, Apheris is redefining how science and AI intersect.

We currently host two flagship networks: the AI Structural Biology (AISB) Network focused on protein co‑folding and binding affinity prediction; and the ADMET Network focused on small‑molecule property addition. We have just launched ApherisFold, an enterprise co‑folding application that enables pharma teams to deploy cutting‑edge models such as OpenFold 3 and Boltz‑2 directly within their own environments.

We are hiring a Chief of Staff to the CEO to operate at the center of Apheris. This is a hands‑on, high‑trust role with direct exposure to the CEO and full visibility into the company's most important decisions.

You will partner closely with the CEO and leadership team on onboard and investor matters, fundraising, company‑wide priorities and critical cross‑functional initiatives. You will own preparation and follow‑through on leadership decisions, drive execution across teams and ensure that strategic priorities translate into concrete outcomes. This role requires strong judgment, structure and the ability to move seamlessly between strategy and execution.

This role is designed for someone who wants to sit at the nerve center of an ambitious AI company and materially shape how it scales from Series A to Series B and beyond.

• Enable the company leadership
• Act as a force multiplier for the CEO by structuring priorities, preparing decisions and ensuring rigorous follow‑through
• Own preparation, execution and follow‑up of key leadership board and external meetings
• Keep cross‑functional initiatives moving, ensuring clarity, timeliness and delivery quality
• Optimize the CEO's engagement with key stakeholders including investors, board members and senior partners
• Investor relations and fundraising preparation:
  • Prepare investor and board materials in collaboration with company leadership
  • Maintain consistent data‑driven investor communications and reporting
  • Consolidate company metrics, coordinate data‑room updates and track fundraising deliverables
  • Selectively work with the finance team on reporting, forecasting and operational planning to ensure sound decision‑making
• Strategic and analytical projects:
  • Own and drive strategic initiatives, special projects and analytical deep dives that support company priorities
  • Conduct targeted market or competitive analyses where relevant to inform strategic discussions
  • Collaborate across Product, Science and Commercial teams to ensure progress on high‑impact workstreams
• Drive operational initiatives:
  • Evolve the company's operating cadence including planning cycles, OKRs and performance management
  • Build and maintain lightweight documentation dashboards and communications that create transparency and scalability across teams
  • Improve execution speed and organizational effectiveness through AI‑enabled systems and automation
• Operate as an execution partner and force multiplier ensuring the right things happen quickly and to a high standard

• Masters or advanced degree in business, economics, engineering, life sciences or a related analytical field, graduating in the top 10% from a top‑tier university or business school
• 2–4 years of work experience in high‑performance fast‑paced environments such as strategy consulting (e.g., MBB), venture capital or high‑growth startups/scales
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, able to structure complexity and extract insights quickly
• Exceptional execution drive, organization and attention to detail
• Strong proficiency in core tools including expert‑level PowerPoint and Excel skills, ability to build high‑quality materials fast and comfort using modern AI and productivity tools
• High ownership mindset; you take responsibility for outcomes, not just tasks
• Comfort working in a remote‑first environment across distributed teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication; English C2 level; German optional
• Curiosity and willingness to learn about AI‑driven drug discovery, the broader life sciences ecosystem and Apheris customers

• Deep involvement in fundraising for startups ideally at Series A or later stages
• Prior exposure to life sciences domains
• Experience in setting up agentic workflows or improving organizational efficiency through AI and automation tools

• Industry‑competitive compensation including early‑stage virtual share options
• Remote‑first working environment, flexible from home or co‑working space
• Great suite of benefits including wellbeing budget, mental health benefits, work‑from‑home budget, co‑working stipend and learning & development budget
• Generous holiday allowance
• Office days at our Berlin HQ or a different European location (3x a year)
• A fun, diverse team of mission‑driven individuals with experience across leading organisations (MBB, Palantir, NVIDIA, top pharma) and a drive to see AI and ML used for good
• High exposure to core strategic and technical topics, significant ownership from day one and plenty of room to grow personally and professionally while shaping your own role

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Experience: years