Executive Assistant

Septerna; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading biotechnology company as an Executive Assistant, providing high-level support to executives. You will manage dynamic schedules, coordinate important meetings, and contribute to internal communications in a fast-paced environment focused on groundbreaking drug discovery. Bring your experience in biotech or pharma to help shape the future of medicine.

Benefits

Benefits

Stock options

Annual target bonus

Qualifications

• Over 15 years of administrative experience, preferably in biotech or pharma.
• Ability to manage dynamic calendars and high-stakes meetings.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office suite.

Responsibilities

• Manage calendars for CEO, COO, and CFO with precision.
• Coordinate board meetings and investor engagement activities.
• Provide administrative support for legal and IP matters.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Discretion

Flexibility

Initiative

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

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Septerna is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, CA on a mission to develop life-changing medicines for patients with the vision to become the industry-leading G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-focused drug discovery company. The company’s Native Complex Platform recapitulates GPCRs with their native structure, function, and dynamics outside of the cellular context. This approach enables novel access to modern structural and screening technologies used in industrial-scale drug discovery for the entire class of GPCRs. Septerna has an emerging pipeline of GPCR-targeted small molecule programs with potential for growth to target many GPCRs that have been undruggable and unexploited to date.

We are excited to expand our multidisciplinary team of individuals focused on creating revolutionary medicines to address the unmet needs of patients. At Septerna we strive to embrace diversity of thought, expertise, and background through collaboration. To join our ambitious team, be prepared to bring your real self to work every day; grow and learn from a talented team of drug hunters, scientists, and business professionals; and contribute your passion, creativity, and energy to accomplish our mission. We share a fearless pursuit of ground-breaking innovations and cultivate an environment where our employees succeed by learning from each other and working as a team.

We are committed to the development of meaningful therapeutics for patients with indications of high unmet need. This is a tremendous opportunity to work with talented individuals on the frontlines of therapeutic discovery and development. You will directly help move therapies through preclinical research, positioning them for success in the clinic. The successful candidate will add their passion, unique talents, and expertise to a dynamic team motivated to discover new disease-modifying therapeutics for patients in a fast-paced environment.

For more information see: www.septerna.com.

THE ROLE

Septerna is seeking a seasoned, proactive Executive Assistant to provide high-level support to our CEO, COO, and CFO. This role is integral to the success of our leadership team and company operations, offering a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of executive management, investor relations, and company culture. The ideal candidate will bring over 15 years of administrative experience—preferably within biotech, pharma, or investment sectors—and possess exceptional organizational, communication, and discretional skills.

You will manage dynamic calendars, coordinate high-stakes meetings and travel, support board and investor engagement, and play a central role in internal communications and cultural events. This role also includes administrative support for legal and IP matters, and collaboration across teams to ensure seamless execution of company-wide activities. If you're a strategic thinker with a service mindset, thrive in fast-paced environments, and enjoy making an impact behind the scenes, this is the role for you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Proactively and efficiently manage and prioritize dynamic calendars for CEO, COO, and CFO with precision and discretion.
• Proactively manage executives’ team engagement activities, such as their and their respective teams' group meetings, including leadership team meetings, board of directors’ meetings, advisory meetings, team offsites, as well as teams’ participation at external financial and medical conferences and presentations on behalf of Septerna.
• Serve as a front-line point of contact to liaise with key stakeholders, including Board of Directors, current and potential investors, and other members of the investment, business, and patient community.
• Proactively assist with the company’s investor and public relations activities.
• Spearheads internal communications by managing and updating internal message boards, partnering with our vendor on social media content, and proactively coordinating new employee announcements.
• Provide administrative support to the Head of Legal and Intellectual Property, including coordinating signatures and notarizations for IP documents, maintaining the internal IP filing system, and assisting with general legal administrative tasks.
• Help keep executives well-prepared and informed about upcoming commitments by proactively mentioning key activities for the day or week. Ensure executives have all the necessary information in advance (e.g., printed copies of resumes before interviews, etc.).
• Proactively organize and coordinate all domestic and international travel arrangements. Prepare travel itineraries and other information needed to make the executive’s experience run smoothly. Be available to address any issues or needs that may come up related to their travel. Timely prepare expense reports post-travel.
• Draft clear, professional emails and memos with meticulous attention to detail, especially with key external stakeholders, board members, scientific advisors, etc.
• Participate in the company social committee to help coordinate important cultural company events, including monthly happy hours and other events throughout the year, such as holiday parties, volunteer events, etc.
• Collaborate with People & Culture, Facilities, and the Technology teams to ensure company All-Hands meetings are effectively set up and run smoothly behind the scenes.
• Serve as back-up Executive Assistant as needed.
• Support other administrative projects as necessary

REQUIREMENTS

• Experience supporting CEO and other C-level positions required.
• A minimum of 15 years of administrative or operational experience, ideally in a startup or growing company environment.
• Advanced Microsoft Office suite skills and familiarity with other technologies for automating or organizing workflows.
• Ability to manage various administrative responsibilities with a keen eye for detail.
• Demonstrates professional and effective communication both internally and with external stakeholders.
• Maintains strict confidentiality and applies professional discretion at all times.
• Flexibility and ability to learn and adapt to a fast-paced and evolving work environment.
• Ability to take on new responsibilities, including supporting executives with key strategic initiatives.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Initiative-taking mindset and approach to anticipate executive needs and help prepare them for success.
• Experience in biotech, pharma, or investment capital companies is required.

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in South San Francisco, CA is $140,000 - $155,000. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation, job-related skills, experience, work location and relevant education or training. Septerna's compensation package also includes benefits, stock options, and annual target bonus for full-time positions.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Note to Employment Agencies: Please do not forward any agency resumes. The company will not be responsible for any fees related to resumes that are unsolicited.

Septerna is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, CA on a mission to develop life-changing medicines for patients with the vision to become the industry-leading G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-focused drug discovery company. The company’s Native Complex Platform recapitulates GPCRs with their native structure, function, and dynamics outside of the cellular context. This approach enables novel access to modern structural and screening technologies used in industrial-scale drug discovery for the entire class of GPCRs. Septerna has an emerging pipeline of GPCR-targeted small molecule programs with potential for growth to target many GPCRs that have been undruggable and unexploited to date.

We are excited to expand our multidisciplinary team of individuals focused on creating revolutionary medicines to address the unmet needs of patients. At Septerna we strive to embrace diversity of thought, expertise, and background through collaboration. To join our ambitious team, be prepared to bring your real self to work every day; grow and learn from a talented team of drug hunters, scientists, and business professionals; and contribute your passion, creativity, and energy to accomplish our mission. We share a fearless pursuit of ground-breaking innovations and cultivate an environment where our employees succeed by learning from each other and working as a team.

We are committed to the development of meaningful therapeutics for patients with indications of high unmet need. This is a tremendous opportunity to work with talented individuals on the frontlines of therapeutic discovery and development. You will directly help move therapies through preclinical research, positioning them for success in the clinic. The successful candidate will add their passion, unique talents, and expertise to a dynamic team motivated to discover new disease-modifying therapeutics for patients in a fast-paced environment.

For more information see: www.septerna.com.

THE ROLE

Septerna is seeking a seasoned, proactive Executive Assistant to provide high-level support to our CEO, COO, and CFO. This role is integral to the success of our leadership team and company operations, offering a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of executive management, investor relations, and company culture. The ideal candidate will bring over 15 years of administrative experience—preferably within biotech, pharma, or investment sectors—and possess exceptional organizational, communication, and discretional skills.

You will manage dynamic calendars, coordinate high-stakes meetings and travel, support board and investor engagement, and play a central role in internal communications and cultural events. This role also includes administrative support for legal and IP matters, and collaboration across teams to ensure seamless execution of company-wide activities. If you're a strategic thinker with a service mindset, thrive in fast-paced environments, and enjoy making an impact behind the scenes, this is the role for you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Proactively and efficiently manage and prioritize dynamic calendars for CEO, COO, and CFO with precision and discretion.


• Proactively manage executives’ team engagement activities, such as their and their respective teams' group meetings, including leadership team meetings, board of directors’ meetings, advisory meetings, team offsites, as well as teams’ participation at external financial and medical conferences and presentations on behalf of Septerna.


• Serve as a front-line point of contact to liaise with key stakeholders, including Board of Directors, current and potential investors, and other members of the investment, business, and patient community.


• Proactively assist with the company’s investor and public relations activities.


• Spearheads internal communications by managing and updating internal message boards, partnering with our vendor on social media content, and proactively coordinating new employee announcements.


• Provide administrative support to the Head of Legal and Intellectual Property, including coordinating signatures and notarizations for IP documents, maintaining the internal IP filing system, and assisting with general legal administrative tasks.


• Help keep executives well-prepared and informed about upcoming commitments by proactively mentioning key activities for the day or week. Ensure executives have all the necessary information in advance (e.g., printed copies of resumes before interviews, etc.).


• Proactively organize and coordinate all domestic and international travel arrangements. Prepare travel itineraries and other information needed to make the executive’s experience run smoothly. Be available to address any issues or needs that may come up related to their travel. Timely prepare expense reports post-travel.


• Draft clear, professional emails and memos with meticulous attention to detail, especially with key external stakeholders, board members, scientific advisors, etc.


• Participate in the company social committee to help coordinate important cultural company events, including monthly happy hours and other events throughout the year, such as holiday parties, volunteer events, etc.


• Collaborate with People & Culture, Facilities, and the Technology teams to ensure company All-Hands meetings are effectively set up and run smoothly behind the scenes.


• Serve as back-up Executive Assistant as needed.


• Support other administrative projects as necessary

REQUIREMENTS

• Experience supporting CEO and other C-level positions required.


• A minimum of 15 years of administrative or operational experience, ideally in a startup or growing company environment.


• Advanced Microsoft Office suite skills and familiarity with other technologies for automating or organizing workflows.


• Ability to manage various administrative responsibilities with a keen eye for detail.


• Demonstrates professional and effective communication both internally and with external stakeholders.


• Maintains strict confidentiality and applies professional discretion at all times.


• Flexibility and ability to learn and adapt to a fast-paced and evolving work environment.


• Ability to take on new responsibilities, including supporting executives with key strategic initiatives.


• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.


• Initiative-taking mindset and approach to anticipate executive needs and help prepare them for success.


• Experience in biotech, pharma, or investment capital companies is required.

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in South San Francisco, CA is $140,000 - $155,000. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation, job-related skills, experience, work location and relevant education or training. Septerna's compensation package also includes benefits, stock options, and annual target bonus for full-time positions.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Note to Employment Agencies: Please do not forward any agency resumes. The company will not be responsible for any fees related to resumes that are unsolicited.

Note to Employment Agencies: Please do not forward any agency resumes. The company will not be responsible for any fees related to resumes that are unsolicited. We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status. Septerna participates in the E-Verify program. California Consumer Privacy Act Privacy Notice For Job Applicants. If you are a California resident, click here for our CCPA Notice.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Administrative

• Industries

  Biotechnology Research and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

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