Head of Strategy & Operations

Deliberate Solutions • New York / Boston, NY

23h • $140,000 - $180,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Deliberate AI is a company that does several things at once: we run federally funded clinical research programs across multiple continents, build production AI systems for mental health assessment, manage pharmaceutical partnerships, and support a fast -growing hybrid team — all with the operational infrastructure of an early -stage startup. The gap between what we're doing and how organized we are about it is where this role lives. You'll be the person who turns strategy into execution and makes sure the operational machinery keeps pace with the science and engineering. That means financial planning and cash management, coordinating cross -team execution against research milestones and product deadlines, managing legal and HR operations, and supporting business development with healthcare systems and pharmaceutical partners. You'll work directly with the CEO and touch every part of the company — not as a coordinator, but as the operational leader who owns the outcome when something needs to get planned, tracked, staffed, or closed. This is a permanent leadership role. As the company scales to 20+ people over the next 18 months, you'll build the operational foundation that makes that growth sustainable — and grow with it.

Requirements

• Have 3–5 years of experience at a top -tier management consulting firm (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, or equivalent) with exposure to healthcare, life sciences, or technology sectors
• Have a track record of leading cross -functional projects from strategy through execution — not just analysis, but implementation
• Are strong in financial modeling and FP&A — comfortable building budgets, forecasts, and scenario analyses from scratch
• Have experience with or strong interest in business development — identifying opportunities, shaping partnerships, and supporting deal execution
• Bring excellent written and verbal communication skills — you can draft a board memo, a contract summary, and a team update in the same afternoon
• Are comfortable with ambiguity and context -switching — you thrive when the job description changes week to week because the company is moving fast
• Hold a relevant PhD or an MBA from a top -tier business school (or equivalent depth of business training)

Nice To Haves

• Have direct experience in healthcare, life sciences, or clinical research — either through consulting engagements or an operational role
• Have worked at a startup or high -growth company in an operations or chief of staff capacity
• Have experience managing government -funded R&D programs including milestone tracking, subcontractor management, and compliance reporting
• Have exposure to legal operations — vendor contracts, employment agreements, IP, or regulatory compliance
• Have experience with pharma or medical device clinical trials from a commercial, operations, or strategy perspective

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Planning: Conduct market research and competitive intelligence to inform strategic decisions. Translate strategy into action plans with clear owners and timelines. Track execution across research and product teams and work with the CEO to resolve blockers
• Financial Management: Own FP&A — budgets, financial forecasts, cash burn monitoring, and financial reporting to the CEO and board. Manage accounting operations (billing, invoicing, collections) and oversee outsourced financial resources
• Business Development: Support pivotal BD activities across research and product teams. Identify and develop new opportunities with healthcare systems, clinical research organizations, and pharmaceutical customers
• Legal & Compliance Operations: Work with external counsel to ensure contracts are in place across employees, contractors, suppliers, and customers. Ensure the business meets all regulatory requirements and maintains appropriate insurance
• People Operations: Implement recruitment, compensation, development, and retention processes. Ensure the team functions effectively as we scale.
• Grant & Contract Operations: Support coordination of ARPA -H, NIH, and other federal grant milestones — tracking deliverables, managing subcontractor relationships, and ensuring compliant reporting

Benefits

• Early -stage equity with meaningful ownership — you're joining at a stage where individual grants are substantial
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Flexible PTO policy
• Exposure to every function of a fast -growing health -tech company — this is an accelerated path to operational leadership

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree