Head of Operations, US

Parallel Bio•San Francisco, CA

20d•Onsite

About The Position

At Parallel Bio, we are leveraging the human immune system to unlock safer, more effective drugs. We believe immunotherapies are the future of medicine, but their discovery is hindered by outdated models that fail to capture the complexity of the human immune system. Our platform overcomes these challenges by combining best-in-class human immune organoids with massive scale and advanced computational methods, including AI and machine learning. This allows us to generate unprecedented, population-scale insights into human health and disease. We can rapidly discover new drugs that we know will work in patients from the start and understand how they will perform across an entire population—something not possible with today's technology. This knowledge will allow us to engineer therapies that will work for as many people as possible, ensuring a safe and effective cure for everyone. We are a fast-paced, venture-backed company at a pivotal moment of growth. Join us on our journey as we create new tools to push the boundaries of what is possible. We're looking for a Head of Operations, US to be the operational backbone of Parallel Bio as we scale. This is a high-impact, high-autonomy role for someone who loves building—building systems, building processes, building the infrastructure that lets a company punch above its weight. You'll own the critical systems and programs that keep us running: people operations, compliance, finance coordination, vendor relationships, and the countless workflows that quietly make or break a growing company. You'll have the freedom to redesign what isn't working, automate what shouldn't be manual, and create the operational foundation for our next phase of growth. This role requires someone who rolls up their sleeves and figures things out—but also understands that in operations, precision matters. Getting it right the first time is how you build trust and avoid compounding problems downstream. If you're energized by variety, thrive in fast-moving environments, and take pride in making everything around you work better—this role was made for you.

Requirements

On-site Presence: This role requires being in our San Francisco office five days a week.
4+ years of Operations Experience: You've done this at a startup or high-growth company. You've seen early-stage chaos and you know how to create order without creating bureaucracy. You've built processes from scratch and owned systems end-to-end.
Bootstrapper Mentality: You're eager to learn, willing to figure things out from first principles, and not afraid to get your hands dirty. No task is beneath you. You'll read the documentation, watch the tutorials, call the support line—whatever it takes to get it done.
Precision and Rigor: While you move fast, you understand that accuracy is non-negotiable. You double-check your work, validate data before acting on it, and take pride in getting things right. You know that small errors in operations compound quickly, and you build habits that prevent them.
Systems & Integrations Expertise: You know how to configure, optimize, and maintain business systems. You can audit integrations, build workflows, manage permissions, and ensure data flows reliably between platforms. You've run people programs—benefits, leave, compliance—and you're comfortable working directly with state agencies and external partners.
Technical Fluency: You're proficient in spreadsheets and ideally have some exposure to scripting (Python, SQL, or similar) for data wrangling and automation. You build tools that save time.
SaaS Mastery: You don't just use platforms—you master them. You configure custom fields, build automations, troubleshoot issues, and ensure integrations actually work.
Clear Communication: You write well and communicate proactively. You keep people informed, ask questions early, and surface problems before they escalate.
Ownership Mentality: You don't need to be managed. You take pride in making things work and you care about the mission, not just the task list.
Adaptability: You juggle competing priorities, pivot quickly, and find ambiguity energizing rather than paralyzing.
Collaborative Instincts: You jump in wherever needed. You build trust across teams and make the people around you more effective.

Responsibilities

Operational Strategy & Process Excellence
Identify operational bottlenecks and design scalable solutions that grow with the company
Build and maintain the systems, workflows, and playbooks that let us move fast without breaking things
Develop operational metrics and reporting to drive visibility and accountability across functions
Automate repetitive work and eliminate manual handoffs wherever possible
Document processes to create institutional knowledge that scales beyond any one person
Cross-Functional Program Leadership
Partner with leadership to translate company priorities into operational execution
Drive initiatives that span multiple functions coordinating across Science, Finance, People, and external partners
Serve as the connective tissue between teams, ensuring alignment and clear communication on shared priorities
Lead special projects as needs emerge; be the person who makes things happen when ownership is unclear
Systems & Infrastructure
Own our business systems end-to-end: audit, optimize, and maintain integrations, configurations, and workflows across platforms
Ensure automated data feeds are properly configured (applicant tracking, compensation, benefits, payroll) eliminate reconciliation and manual intervention
Evaluate new tools, manage renewals, consolidate redundant systems, and build a technology stack that supports scale
Audit integrations regularly to ensure data integrity and catch issues before they become problems
Vendor & Partner Management
Own strategic relationships with service providers—negotiate contracts, track deliverables, hold partners accountable
Manage broker and carrier relationships for benefits programs; lead renewals and optimize coverage
Source and evaluate new vendors as needs evolve; build partnerships that create leverage
Finance Operations
Support recurring finance activities including expense tracking, PO issuance, and invoice processing
Manage vendor onboarding/offboarding and payment workflows; ensure system configurations support accurate tracking and reporting
Partner with Finance on budget management and procurement
Support internal controls and ensure proper segregation of duties
People Programs
Run benefits and leave programs end-to-end, including coordination with state authorities on claims and documentation
Ensure enrollment data flows accurately to providers; be the person employees trust for clarity on policies and status
Create a seamless onboarding experience: equipment, system access, benefits enrollment, training coordination
Own the details that make people feel like they belong—the things that turn a workplace into a team
Compliance & Risk
Own multi-state employer compliance: state registrations, annual filings, regulatory updates
Maintain labor law poster compliance and manage government portal credentials (SAM.gov, state EDD accounts, tax portals)
Route contracts for review, coordinate NDA workflows, and support trademark and IP matters
Stay ahead of deadlines and ensure nothing slips through the cracks