Chief Operating Officer (COO)

ABC Labs; Stockholms kommun; On-site; SEK 2,000,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Market-based compensation and benefits

30 days annual leave

EU work permit required

Job summary

A biotech firm in Stockholm is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead operational execution of their strategic vision. The COO will manage day-to-day operations across R&D, engineering, and commercial delivery while ensuring compliance and quality during rapid growth. Ideal candidates will have senior operational leadership experience and be skilled in scaling operations internationally. This role includes a market-based compensation package with 30 annual leave days, requiring a valid EU work permit.

Qualifications

• Experience in senior operational roles such as COO, VP Operations, or General Manager.
• Experience scaling operations across multiple geographies.
• Strong stakeholder-management skills across diverse teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end operations across various functions.
• Design systems and processes for growth and compliance.
• Ensure cross-functional collaboration among teams.
• Drive prioritisation, accountability, and consistent execution across teams.
• Design and implement systems, workflows and governance for quality, speed, and reliability.
• Lead cross-company initiatives such as deployments, automation programs, and readiness for new products.

Skills

Senior operational leadership experience

Strong communication skills

Systems thinking

Ability to operate in regulated environments

Delivery mindset

Communication

Stakeholder management

Hands-on leadership

Job description

About the Role

We are looking for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead and scale the operational execution of ABC’s strategy, technology, and scientific capabilities. This is a mission-critical executive role responsible for building, owning, and continuously improving the company’s operating model as we scale across Europe, the U.S., and other global markets.

The COO will ensure that ABC operates with reliability, clarity, and speed—supporting rapid growth in a regulated, data-intensive diagnostics environment while maintaining high standards of quality and compliance.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be based in Stockholm and will report directly to the CEO.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Scaling

• Own end-to-end day-to-day operations across R&D, engineering, product, laboratory operations, design, customer operations, and commercial delivery.

• Design and evolve a scalable operating model that supports rapid growth and international expansion.

Execution, Planning & Delivery

• Translate company strategy into clear operational plans with defined ownership, milestones, and measurable outcomes.

• Drive prioritisation, accountability, and consistent execution across teams.

Systems, Processes & Governance

• Design and implement systems, workflows, and governance structures that support quality, speed, and reliability.

• Establish repeatable and auditable processes suitable for scaling to high volumes and multi-site operations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Ensure strong alignment between scientific, technical, clinical, regulatory, and commercial teams.

• Identify and resolve dependencies and operational risks while fostering a culture of collaboration and trust.

Global Expansion

• Lead the operational setup of new geographies, including the U.S., covering regulatory structures, licensing, logistics, laboratory operations, staffing, compliance, and technology deployment.

Risk, Quality & Compliance

• Partner with quality, legal, and data governance functions to ensure compliance with applicable regulations across laboratory operations, clinical workflows, and data environments.

People, Structure & Culture

• Build, mentor, and scale operational leadership teams.

• Foster a culture of ownership, clarity, and high performance.

Strategic Programs

• Lead cross-company initiatives such as enterprise customer deployments, automation programs, technology rollouts, and operational readiness for new products.

About You

You bring senior operational leadership experience and are comfortable working in complex, regulated, and fast-scaling environments.

We believe you have:

• Experience in senior operational roles (e.g. COO, VP Operations, General Manager, or similar).

• Experience scaling operations across multiple geographies; experience with U.S. operations is an advantage.

• Ability to operate at the intersection of technology, science, operations, and regulation.

• Strong systems thinking and the ability to design structure while maintaining organisational agility.

• A delivery-focused mindset and comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.

• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills across diverse, multidisciplinary teams.

• A hands-on leadership approach with the ability to move between strategic and operational levels.

The practical stuff

• Location: Stockholm

• Reporting to: CEO

• Compensation: Market-based compensation and benefits

• Vacation: 30 days annual leave

• Work authorization: A valid EU work permit is required. Applicants who are not EU citizens must be able to provide current and valid work-permit documentation.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic under EU or local law.

Data Protection Notice

By applying for this role, you consent to the processing of your personal data in accordance with applicable data-protection laws (including GDPR) and our recruitment privacy policy.