FIRST HIRE

Manning Personnel Group, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

Manning Personnel Group, Inc. is partnering with a biotech client in the Cambridge area to fill a First Hire role that will shape the operational backbone of a fast-growing company.

You will own day-to-day workplace operations, facilities, vendor relationships, technology coordination, and employee operations, working closely with senior leadership in a highly autonomous, high-impact environment. This is a strategic leadership role that blends hands-on execution with scalable process design,

Qualifications

• 7+ years in business/workplace operations or a related function.
• Experience supporting biotech or rapidly growing organizations.
• Strong vendor, facilities, and vendor contract management experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day business and workplace operations and infrastructure.
• Partner with senior leadership to set operational priorities.
• Develop and improve processes, systems, and workflows.
• Lead facilities, space planning, and workplace experience.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and performance.
• Coordinate employee onboarding, IT coordination, and operations for new hires.
• Support budgeting, purchasing, and expense management.
• Keep documentation and controls across operations.

Skills

Operations leadership

Facilities management

Vendor management

Executive partnering

Process improvement

Autonomous work style

Job description

We are hiring for a First Hire role for our biotech client in the Cambridge area. This is a high-impact opportunity to serve as a key operational leader within an early-stage organization, with responsibility for building and overseeing the infrastructure that supports the company’s day-to-day operations and continued growth. Working closely with senior leadership, this role will take ownership of workplace operations, facilities, vendor relationships, technology coordination, employee operations, and broader administrative infrastructure. The ideal candidate is highly proactive, polished, resourceful, and comfortable operating with significant autonomy in a fast-moving environment.

Responsibilities

• Own and oversee day-to-day business and workplace operations, ensuring the organization has the infrastructure and resources needed to operate effectively.
• Partner closely with senior leadership to identify operational priorities and anticipate the needs of a growing organization.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve operational processes, policies, systems, and workflows.
• Lead facilities and workplace operations, including space planning, building management, office services, maintenance, security, and overall workplace experience.
• Manage relationships with key external vendors and service providers, including contract coordination, service levels, renewals, and ongoing performance.
• Oversee technology operations in partnership with external IT providers, including employee equipment, systems access, software, subscriptions, and technology-related business needs.
• Partner with leadership and external providers on employee onboarding, offboarding, benefits administration, and other people-related operational processes.
• Coordinate operational requirements for new hires, consultants, visitors, and external partners.
• Manage company meetings, leadership meetings, team events, off-sites, and other organizational initiatives.
• Support budgeting, expense management, purchasing, and vendor-related financial processes within the operations function.
• Evaluate operational needs and recommend new systems, vendors, tools, and processes when appropriate.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and controls across operational functions.
• Serve as a trusted resource to employees and leadership, independently resolving operational issues and escalating matters when appropriate.
• Lead special projects and company-wide operational initiatives as business needs evolve.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in business operations, workplace operations, administration, or a related function.
• Experience supporting an early-stage or rapidly growing biotechnology, life sciences, healthcare, or similar organization strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience owning multiple operational functions and establishing processes in a growing organization.
• Strong experience managing facilities, vendors, external service providers, and workplace operations.
• Experience partnering directly with senior executives and company leadership.
• Familiarity with employee operations, onboarding, technology coordination, purchasing, budgeting, and vendor contracts.
• Proven ability to develop scalable processes and bring structure to evolving or ambiguous environments.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong business judgment with the ability to independently prioritize and make decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of discretion when handling confidential business and employee information.
• Comfortable moving between strategic planning and hands‑on execution.
• Collaborative and service-oriented approach with a willingness to take ownership wherever needed.

Compensation

$160k MAX

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.