About the job
Want to help change how the world is fed?
Uncommon began its journey as Higher Steaks and recently underwent a transformative rebranding. Our new brand and identity truly reflects our mission, values, and the positive global influence we aspire to achieve. We transform the global food system by making delicious and nutritious food – from animal cells and plants. We are pioneering the development of cultivated meat to solve some of the world’s growing challenges in health, sustainability and animal welfare.
We're a purpose, science and engineering-driven company dedicated to creating breakthrough technologies that will push the boundaries of what’s possible – delivering innovations that benefit people, the planet and animals.
Our brilliant team are experts in their respective fields, drawn from around the world. We’re passionate, curious, innovative and at the forefront of the ground-breaking work being done in this exciting and rapidly growing sector. Uncommon is a well-funded biotech company; we’ve experienced spectacular growth over the last few years and continue to accelerate every month.
We are growing rapidly again this year so this is a great time to join us and solve one of the most important challenges we face today!
About the role:
As our Head of Operations, you’ll lead the operational ‘engine’ that propels our business to unprecedented heights. You’ll have the skill to unlock our true potential, enabling us to outperform and innovate at every turn — optimising our organisation so we’returning us into a high-performance machine that's far more than the sum of its parts.
Your mission? To ensure our operations strategy, team, processes, and infrastructure are perfectly aligned with our bold vision and ambitious milestones. You’ll create an environment where we are laser-focused, highly efficient, connected, and supported, empowering us to make quick, smart decisions that are underpinned by real-time data insights.
Leading a dynamic team of operational experts, you’ll be at the helm of the essential functions that power the entire company. These include supply chain, finance, project management, lab & facilities management and you’ll ensure they work smoothly together and seamlessly with all our other teams. As a key player on the leadership team, you’ll be the bridge that strengthens collaboration across departments, while providing hands-on operational support to the CEO.
This is more than just a job—it’s an opportunity to be a part of something truly impactful. At Uncommon, we’re not simply creating amazing products we’re pioneering a movement to change how the world meets its protein needs, one sustainable plate at a time - and unlocking the power of nature to become the greatest enablers of a healthier planet. If you’re excited about making a difference while working with industry visionaries, we want to hear from you!
What you will be doing:
Revolutionise Operations: Lead the charge in transforming Uncommon’s strategies across Project Management, Lab Management, Finance, Supply Chain, Facilities, Data and Health & Safety — amplifying business impact and empowering teams to achieve their goals.
Drive Innovation: Supercharge efficiency by pushing boundaries and fostering collaboration with senior leadership to streamline operations and eliminate bottlenecks.
Master the Data: Lead data-driven initiatives that streamline data flow across departments, enhancing operational transparency and strategic decision-making.
Lead a High-Performance Team: Build and nurture an unstoppable team, identifying skill gaps and creating training programs that elevate productivity and execution.
Enable Financial Growth: Guide the financial strategy, ensuring cost control, budget optimization, and unlocking pathways for operational growth through innovative financial planning.
Optimise Facilities & Supply Chain: Run a tight ship when it comes to facilities, safety, and supply chain efficiency. Innovate processes to reduce costs, ensure compliance, and drive sustainability throughout the entire chain.
Champion Safety: Develop and implement top-tier safety programme to ensure a safe and thriving work environment for all.
What we think you need:
Industry Know-How: Proven experience leading operations in biotech, advanced materials, food tech, or other complex, fast-paced sectors.
Innovative Problem-Solving: You thrive on finding creative solutions to operational challenges and scaling them within high-growth environments.
Data-Driven Leadership: Turning data into actionable insights, you guide teams with KPIs, metrics, and data systems that inform and elevate performance.
Leadership Superpowers: You inspire and motivate multi-disciplinary teams to innovate, collaborate, and achieve beyond expectations.
Financial Savvy: Deep understanding of financial management, budgeting, and cost control, paired with the strategic insight to unlock new growth.
Operational Mastery: Expert in project management, throughput efficiency, and building operational strategies that move the needle.
Strategic Mindset: Excellent problem-solving skills with a sharp focus on strategic outcomes that impact the entire company.
Passion for the Mission: A high-energy, motivated leader with a deep commitment to sustainability and revolutionising the food industry.
We’d love it if you also have:
Experience in financial planning and fundraising support
A knack for optimising complex supply chains
Familiarity with health and safety regulations and best practices
Strong proficiency in data management tools and analytics platforms
Reward
Alongside a competitive base salary, all our people get these benefits:
Share options
28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
Enhanced parental leave pay
Cycle-to-work scheme and wellbeing allowance
Flexible hours
"Make your work life easier" annual stipend
Regular team dinners and social activities
Snacks, fruits, tea, coffee and more!
Uncommon recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, disability, age, and other protected status as required by applicable law. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the functions, responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position, and Uncommon Limited retains the discretion to modify.
