Biotech Operations Lead

Preventive; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A biotechnology company in San Francisco is seeking a Head of Operations to establish and manage the operational backbone. This role involves handling facilities, lab operations, and vendor management. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in operations within a science-driven startup environment and possesses strong project management and communication skills. This position will play a crucial role in setting up systems that can scale as the company grows.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in operations in a science-driven startup or lab environment.
• Demonstrated ability to be a hands-on IC while also building scalable systems.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day operations across lab, office, and facilities.
• Coordinate lab/office build-outs and equipment installations.
• Support recruiting and onboarding logistics.

Skills

Project management

Communication skills

Organization skills

Vendor management

Facility management

Job description

About Preventive

Preventive is a public benefit corporation developing next‑generation reproductive‑genetics platforms to eliminate severe genetic disease at its origin. Our mission is to determine whether the newest generation of gene editing technologies can be used safely and responsibly to correct devastating genetic conditions for future children. If proven to be safe, we believe preventive gene editing could be one of the most important health technologies of the century.

About the Role

Preventive is hiring a Head of Operations as our first dedicated ops hire. This person will build and run the operational backbone of the company—spanning facilities, lab operations, EHS, office management, vendors, and basic finance/admin—while being very hands‑on in the day‑to‑day.

You’ll work closely with the founders and scientific team to set up and maintain a high‑functioning lab and office, keep the company running smoothly, and gradually build the systems, vendors, and processes that can scale as we grow.

Key Responsibilities

Company & operational infrastructure

• Own day‑to‑day operations across lab, office, and facilities.
• Set up simple systems for procurement, documentation, and core workflows.
• Manage vendors and service providers, including contracts and basic cost control.

Lab, facilities & EHS

• Coordinate lab/office build‑out, equipment installs, and repairs.
• Oversee lab operations: inventories, service schedules, consumables, and cold‑chain logistics.
• Own basic EHS/biosafety practices and coordination with landlords/insurers/inspectors.

Office, people, recruiting & finance support

• Run office operations: supplies, access/badges, mail/shipping, and meeting spaces.
• Support recruiting and onboarding logistics (scheduling, travel, desk/laptop/badge setup).
• Help with culture/rituals (all‑hands, small events) and clear internal communication.
• Support basic finance/admin: invoices, reimbursements, vendor setup, and bookkeeping coordination.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Describe the minimum qualifications required
• 5+ years of experience in operations in a science‑driven startup or lab environment.
• Demonstrated ability to be a hands‑on IC while also building simple, scalable systems and processes.
• Comfort owning facilities, lab, office, and vendor management end‑to‑end.
• Basic familiarity with finance/admin (invoices, vendor setup, reimbursements, working with bookkeepers/accountants).
• Strong project management, follow‑through, and bias toward action; you like to see problems early and close loops.
• Excellent communication and organization skills; comfortable working closely with scientists and leadership in a fast‑moving environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience setting up new lab or office space (build‑outs, moves, new equipment installs).
• Familiarity with lab operations and EHS basics (equipment purchasing/servicing, chemical/biological inventory, safety documentation).
• Experience as an early operations hire at a startup, or in a similarly ambiguous, build‑from‑scratch environment.