Head of Research Operations

Mosaic Biosciences•Boulder, CO

15h•Onsite

About The Position

Mosaic is seeking an experienced scientific and operational leader to lead its multidisciplinary Research organization. The Head of Research Operations provides operational oversight to support scientific excellence, effective execution, and timely delivery of high-quality, partner-aligned outcomes in a dynamic CRO environment. The role leads and supports functional leaders across Research, aligning teams, resources, and priorities with partner goals and objectives. Success calls for a proactive, customer-first mindset, strong scientific judgment, a sense of urgency, and an appreciation for the pace and operational demands of a CRO setting. The role oversees research capabilities and multidisciplinary discovery projects, translates partner goals into operational plans, and promotes continuous improvement, innovation, and the adoption of relevant technologies. In collaboration with executive leadership, it contributes to long-term research strategy and evaluates industry trends for potential internal investment and acquisitions. The Head of Research Operations empowers and develops functional leaders and multidisciplinary scientists, establishes goals and performance expectations, and nurtures a collaborative, inclusive, accountable, and partner-focused culture. The position also works closely with Commercial leadership on client discussions and proposals, communicates project and scientific progress to stakeholders, and represents Mosaic at conferences, business meetings, and industry forums. This is an on-site role in Boulder, Colorado, with a stated compensation range of $170,000–$215,000.

Requirements

PhD or equivalent in a relevant life sciences field, such as Biochemistry, Immunology, Molecular Biology, or Cell Biology.
10+ years of experience in biologics discovery, including at least 5 years in operational or scientific leadership roles.
Proven experience managing multifunctional teams in a fast-paced biotech, pharmaceutical, or CRO environment; direct experience supporting external client programs is preferred.
Ability to respond with urgency and clarity to changing partner priorities, scope changes, and new technical challenges.
Deep understanding of discovery workflows, particularly protein and antibody engineering.
Strong communication skills and experience leading technical teams and external-facing relationships.
Ability to thrive in a CRO or service-oriented environment while balancing scientific excellence with time- and cost-sensitive deliverables.
Strong appreciation for client-service dynamics, including proactive communication, expectation management, and responsiveness to changing program needs.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience supporting external client programs in a biotech, pharmaceutical, or CRO environment.

Responsibilities

Provide operational oversight to keep research capabilities cutting-edge, efficient, and aligned with current and future partner needs.
Translate partner goals and program needs into operational plans with defined deliverables, timelines, and resource allocation.
Oversee execution and troubleshooting of multidisciplinary discovery projects while maintaining scientific rigor, efficiency, and cross-team alignment.
Promote continuous improvement and innovation through best practices, new technologies, and awareness of trends in biologics discovery.
Collaborate with executive leadership on long-term research strategies and evaluate emerging industry trends for internal investment and potential acquisitions.
Empower functional leaders to drive accountability, scale execution, and deliver consistently across the Research organization.
Lead, mentor, and inspire a multidisciplinary team of scientists to achieve high performance and strong partner outcomes.
Build an inclusive, collaborative environment that supports problem-solving, alternative viewpoints, and knowledge sharing across disciplines.
Set goals, expectations, and performance metrics, and provide ongoing feedback and coaching.
Cultivate accountability, responsiveness, and excellence in partner service.
Ensure teams remain scientifically current and technically innovative in ways that support customer goals and differentiate Mosaic’s services.
Collaborate with Commercial leadership on strategic client discussions and proposals, aligning technical commitments with partner needs, Mosaic capabilities, and business priorities.
Communicate transparently with internal and external stakeholders about project status, scientific progress, and strategic initiatives.
Work with the Commercial team to understand client needs and align technical teams with business priorities and scientific expectations.
Represent Mosaic at conferences, business meetings, and industry forums to enhance its visibility and reputation.