Head of UK Lab Operations

Job description

Adaptyv is building an automated lab that lets AI agents run biology experiments. We're entering the era of agentic science where AI models can now design novel proteins, propose hypotheses, and iterate on experimental results. But they can't run the experiments themselves - that's still a manual, months-long process. We're building the infrastructure that gives AI agents access to the physical world. We are one of the fastest growing biotech companies, trusted by leading biopharmas, frontier AI labs, and the techbio companies pushing the field forward. This is a rare chance to help advance some of the most important work happening in biotech today. Our automated lab is powered by a deep software + hardware stack: lab instruments worth millions of USD reverse-engineered into API-controllable hardware, dozens of devices orchestrated through complex workflows, full observability on everything that happens in the lab, processing pipelines for messy physical-world data, and AI systems that troubleshoot production results and accelerate assay development. We’re growing rapidly and are hiring for talented people to scale and support the massive demand for AI-driven wet lab experimentation. ABOUT THE ROLE Adaptyv is opening a London lab in 2026. You will be the first lab operations hire on the ground and will help take the site from an empty shell to a fully operational, high-throughput protein engineering lab. The lab will run production work for partners such as Anthropic and Boltz alongside a wide range of R&D projects, and give UK biotech companies access to protein production and characterisation at scale. You will own the operational build-out of the lab: fit-out, instrument installation, infrastructure, supply chain, maintenance, safety, compliance, and the lab operations team. The Lausanne team has already built and runs this setup today, so you will have proven systems and playbooks to work from. Your job is to adapt them to London and make the new site work at the same standard. Once the lab is live, you will run day-to-day lab operations and continuously improve its reliability, capacity, and throughput. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Lead the lab fit-out. Own the operational side of taking the space from shell to working laboratory, including benching, ventilation, power, cold storage, extraction, safety systems, contractors, timelines, and readiness. - Install and commission the instrument fleet. Coordinate delivery, installation, qualification, and handover of equipment including array-SPR, BLI, and liquid handlers, working closely with vendors and our automation team in Lausanne. - Build the lab operating infrastructure. Put in place inventory and procurement, shipping and cold chain, maintenance schedules, service contracts, chemical handling, waste management, and the other systems required to keep a high-throughput lab running reliably. - Own lab safety and compliance. Establish the processes, documentation, risk assessments, notifications, and permits required to operate the London site safely and compliantly. - Build the lab operations team. Hire and manage the people responsible for keeping the facility, equipment, logistics, and day-to-day laboratory operations running smoothly. - Run the lab. Once production starts, own the operational performance of the site: uptime, throughput, inventory, maintenance, safety, and continuous improvement. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - You have built or expanded a laboratory before. You have led a fit-out, site move, major equipment installation, or new laboratory launch. Experience running an established lab is valuable, but we are specifically looking for someone who has helped build one. - You have deep hands-on lab operations experience. Ideally in a high-throughput, automation-heavy biotech, life-science, or similarly technical environment. - You have a strong life-sciences background. A degree and/or significant professional experience in biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, or a related field is highly preferred. You understand the scientific workflows the lab supports and why details such as contamination control, cold chain, calibration, and equipment reliability matter. - You understand laboratory safety and compliance. You have owned the safety, permitting, and compliance side of a working lab before, and you can get a new UK site compliant from day one — or learn the local requirements fast. - You are strong with vendors and contractors. You are comfortable managing instrument manufacturers, service engineers, contractors, suppliers, and logistics providers, and keeping complex installation and operational work on track. - You are highly operational. You build systems, spot problems early, keep track of details, and make sure the lab continues to function as complexity and throughput increase. - You are comfortable working at startup pace. Priorities move quickly, the team is small, and there will not always be a predefined process for every problem. - You use AI as part of how you work. We use tools like Claude Code and our own software throughout Adaptyv, including in lab operations. We expect you to be comfortable using AI to move faster and improve how work gets done. - You are in London. This is an on-site role. You are already based there or ready to move. DETAILS - Location: London, UK — on-site - Type: Full-time - Start: As soon as possible - Target lab opening: 2026 Application deadline We are reviewing applicants on a rolling basis.