Chief Operating Officer

Partnology • Full-time • San Francisco Bay Area, US • 2d ago

A nonprofit research organization is launching a moonshot project integrating neuroscience, AI, and bioengineering is looking for a founding Chief Operations Officer to build and scale their one-of-a-kind program. The COO will jump into this fast, frontier-tech research company and help scale it from ~20 to 100+ interdisciplinary scientists and engineers.

What You’ll Lead

Build and operationalize the new research facility, labs, and vivarium
Stand up compliant research operations, safety systems, and regulatory infrastructure
Drive hiring and onboarding of 50–100 world-class scientists, engineers, and technical staff
Oversee project management, cross-disciplinary coordination, and organizational workflows
Lead day-to-day operations (procurement, facilities, finance, HR integration, vendor mgmt.)
Manage external collaborations, communications, digital presence, and community engagement
Build a fast, mission-driven culture blending scientific rigor with startup agility

What We’re Looking For

Experience building or scaling a startup or advanced R&D organization
6+ years of operational leadership in AI, neuroscience, biotech, or complex research environments
Strong program management, lab buildout, and operational systems experience
Bonus: experience with vivarium or animal research compliance
Hands-on builder with excellent communication and execution skills
Mission-driven, fast-moving, and excited by neuroscience, AI, and hard scientific problems

Why This Role Is Extraordinary

You’ll help build a groundbreaking scientific enterprise from the ground up—partnering with some of the most creative and exceptional minds in neuroscience and engineering to pursue the deepest question in science: understanding consciousness.