Head of Logistics

Job description

About Plasmidsaurus Plasmidsaurus is on a mission to accelerate new cures and promote a healthier planet by unlocking a new level of productivity for scientists. Our sequencing services are used daily by thousands of innovators, including Nobel laureates, Fortune 100 pharma, and over 70,000 scientists. We began by revolutionizing plasmid sequencing, making it exponentially cheaper and faster, with innovative sequencing technologies and a global network of laboratories that turn samples into answers in hours, not weeks. Now we are expanding that same disruptive model across all of genomics. With the launch of our new RNA-seq service, we are taking a bold step toward our vision to sequence everything, providing scientists everywhere with faster, simpler, and more affordable access to the data that powers discovery. Every team member at Plasmidsaurus plays a crucial role in driving the future of biotech research. Together, we are building the world’s most efficient sequencing engine that operates overnight, scales globally, and helps scientists make breakthroughs faster than ever before. ABOUT THE ROLE Plasmidsaurus scientists move fast, logistics can't be the reason they wait. The Head of Logistics builds and leads our global logistics function from the ground up: the systems, partnerships, and team behind thousands of international shipments each week, across regions, time zones, and regulatory environments. You'll turn a scrappy, high-growth operation into one that's fast, compliant, and proactive. Shipments moving seamlessly across first-mile routes and global borders, risks caught before they happen, turnaround times that keep getting better. This is a 0-to-1 builder's seat: real scope, real ownership, from day one. In this role, you will: - Develop and lead the global logistics function, supporting thousands of international shipments each week and coordinating across regions, time zones, and regulatory environments. - Design logistics systems that minimize delays, reduce costs, and enhance reliability for moving biological materials and that scale alongside global launches and company growth. - Ensure business continuity, developing contingency plans for day-to-day and emergency scenarios, building redundancy and sustainability into our logistics playbooks. - Develop and enforce global compliance and regulatory processes, including import/export, customs management, and relevant material handling standards. - Establish tools and dashboards to monitor shipment status, turnaround times, and key performance metrics, using data and metrics to proactively identify risks and opportunities. - Collaborate with sales and marketing, operations, product, customer success, and finance to forecast demand, support new services and market launches, and anticipate logistical challenges. - Evaluate and optimize courier and carrier relationships, driving improvements around cost, service and reliability in both first-mile planning and international shipping. - Build and manage a high-performing logistics team, cultivating a culture of accountability and collaboration in support of our customers. You should bring: - 10+ years in logistics or supply chain, including proven success managing international logistics/shipping and first-mile transport providers - Track record building and scaling a logistics function, ideally at a high-growth startup moving through rapid scale - 0-to-1 builder experience. You've built and led a logistics function before, not just run one someone else built - Strong grip on customs, import/export regulations, and compliance frameworks (e.g., IATA, DOT, or similar) - Demonstrated success building scalable, data-driven logistics systems that improve speed, efficiency, and reliability - Proficiency in data analysis and logistics reporting tools, with a track record of shipping software that measurably improves performance - Team leadership experience. Hhiring, coaching, and developing people through growth and change - Experience partnering cross-functionally to launch products and deliver strong customer experiences - A proactive, strategic mindset: you anticipate challenges and design systems to prevent them - Comfort with complex or regulated shipping (cold chain, hazmat, or similar) a plus, not a requirement - Biotech or Life Sciences experience is a plus, not a requirement Ways of Working Build: Builds the function from scratch, no playbook required — a curious, creative thinker who designs systems that prevent problems before they start. Own: Leads and mentors with real ownership; a player-coach who's hands-on while growing the team. Move: Operates with urgency, without letting speed compromise quality. Participate: Collaborates across functions and brings others into the conversation early. Inspire: Genuinely energized by the chance to build and define this function from the ground up. Location: Remote-friendly. Preferred hubs: San Francisco, San Diego, or Los Angeles, CA; Eugene, OR; Seattle, WA; Louisville, KY; Boston, MA. We encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn't perfectly align with the job description as we seek out diverse and creative perspectives. Team members who love to learn and collaborate in an inclusive environment will thrive with us. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. If you need additional accommodations to feel comfortable during your interview process, please let us know at careers@plasmidsaurus.com. careers@plasmidsaurus.com