OPEN POSITION: Founder’s Associate / Chief of Staff

Wild Microbes’ mission is to catalyze a new future for biological manufacturing. We are a pre-seed startup, but we have some wild ideas. We are finding and engineering the next generation of microbial hosts that will allow more products to be made productively with biology. Our partners are looking to transition away from petrochemicals and toward a future in which foods, chemicals, and materials are produced as a part of a circular, biologically based supply chain. To help usher in this new world, we are developing microbial hosts that are more capable, more diverse, and more resilient than those that have come before. These microbes will undergird a transition to new fermentation processes and production paradigms. We do all of this by leveraging a deep expertise in strain domestication, high-throughput screening and assay development, and cutting-edge microbial engineering technologies.

This search is for an ambitious, multi-talented individual who wants to see the inside of a fast-moving startup and work closely with the founder. The ideal candidate for this role is a future entrepreneur or executive with a strong work ethic, ready to undertake a diverse range of responsibilities. Working closely with Wild Microbes’ founder, your primary objective will be to contribute to the business's development while streamlining its operational processes. The scope of your responsibilities will be determined by your capabilities, allowing you to engage in a variety of tasks. Working on multiple concurrent projects will demand adaptability across various functions, with no task deemed too large or too small. This role offers the opportunity to gain insight into an innovative company, providing valuable learning experiences and the potential for progression into roles within Product, Strategy, or Operations. You will encounter diverse challenges and assignments across the organization, such as:

- Interfacing with existing customers and communicating technical progress toward milestones

- Scouting for new business prospects and establishing strategic partnerships

- Receiving and installing instrumentation, and interfacing with the building to manage day-to-day operations

- Managing ordering/receiving and paying invoices

- Identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements within day-to-day company operations

- Contributing to fundraising efforts and engaging in financial modeling

- Leading negotiations with critical vendors and suppliers

- Enhancing the office environment and addressing various other tasks as needed

Required Qualifications:

- 2+ years of experience in a fast-paced environment (start-up / strategy consulting / investment banking)

- Able to work full-time in the United States, and work in-person in Cambridge, MA

Bonus Qualifications:

- BA/BS/MS/PhD in a scientific discipline, with preference toward microbiology, molecular biology, bioengineering or another similar field

Why you’re a good fit:

- Curious in nature and inspired to make an impact

- You can break complex problems into smaller ones and enjoy working with data to facilitate your work, using such tools as Notion and Excel

- You enjoy making a good business case and can communicate effectively both live and through tools such as Canva, Adobe, and Microsoft suite

- Clear self-motivation and the ability to work independently

- Highly organized with great attention to detail

- Eager to work with a growing team in a fast-paced startup environment

If you’re excited to get stuck into everything at the world’s first organism-agnostic company, please reach out to careers@wildmicrobes.com with (1) your resume, (2) a paragraph about why you’re excited to join, (3) when you can start. We’re based in Cambridge, MA, at The Engine in Kendall Square.

We love working with a diverse team and strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. For instance, this opportunity would be a good fit for a military veteran looking to get exposure to a central node of business operations.

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Founder’s Associate / Chief of Staff