Lab Launch Lead, Europe

Job description

MISSION Neko is redefining what prevention means, from treating illness when it arrives, to sustaining health before it's ever at risk. Our mission: make data-driven, preventative care accessible to more people, before symptoms appear. In a single, non-invasive visit under an hour, proprietary technology and direct clinical care combine to deliver personalised, actionable insights. It's a team that thinks in 10x, not 10%. Every role here plays a part in building a world where prevention is the norm, and where your work genuinely helps people live longer, healthier lives. Job Title: Lab Launch Manager, Europe Location: London, UK Employment Type: Full-time ROLE PURPOSE This role commissions new Neko labs end-to-end, from technical build and equipment installation through regulatory compliance, then hands a fully operational lab to the local clinic team for ongoing management. The Lab Launch Manager operates with high autonomy in ambiguity (Chase 10X, not 10%) and working closely with the regional clinic leadership, similar in scope and pace to how Giulio scaled lab openings. No direct reports initially; as the launch cadence grows, this role is expected to build a team underneath it. WHAT YOU'LL DELIVER IN THE FIRST 6-12 MONTHS • Commission the first wave of labs in the UK and at least one of Germany, France, Italy, or Spain, on time and regulatory-compliant (Impact, not activity) • Stand up a repeatable lab commissioning playbook covering technical build, equipment installation, and regulatory sign-off • Build and manage relationships with key cross-functional stakeholders, including Sam Rodgers, without formal authority over them (Tech-enabled, human-centred) • Hand off each commissioned lab cleanly to the local clinic team with documented operating procedures MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • Demonstrated experience commissioning physical sites, labs, or clinical facilities end-to-end • Working knowledge of regulatory compliance requirements for diagnostic or clinical lab environments • Strong operational project management, able to run multiple concurrent site launches • Proven stakeholder management without direct authority, including managing competing priorities • Willingness to travel extensively and work flexibly across time zones and geographies • AI fluency: uses AI tools to manage logistics, documentation, and compliance tracking with sound judgment PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS • Direct experience with Abbott or equivalent diagnostic lab equipment installation • Background in fast-scaling healthcare, diagnostics, or life sciences operations • Experience building a function from one launch to a repeatable, team-supported process