Strategy & Operations Lead

Job description

What we do Cambrium is the new chemical company, engineering molecules with absolute precision to enable performance that didn't exist before. We built an AI engine that designs scalable molecules we can manufacture into performance chemicals, enabling our customers to create products that outperform. We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity. We consider all applications equally regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We strongly encourage individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in tech to apply. Please apply even if you don't match the criteria exactly. We believe potential and determination beat experience. Your role As Strategy & Operations Lead, you will sit at the centre of Cambrium's strategic and operational engine, reporting directly to the CEO. This is a high-impact, high-ownership role for someone early in their career who is structured, intellectually curious, and ready to take on significant responsibility. You will work across the most consequential workstreams in the company, from strategic projects and investor relations to board governance and company-wide rhythm-keeping, giving you a front-row seat to how an ambitious deep-tech company is built. This is not a support role. You will take full ownership of critical workstreams, drive them to completion, and raise the bar on how we operate. Your responsibilities will change over time and will always remain somewhat flexible. If you are craving a neatly scoped, predictable list of responsibilities, this is not the role for you. Your responsibilities Strategic projects & investor relations Prepare and iterate on materials for investor and board audiences, including presentations, data rooms, and Q&A preparation, in close collaboration with Mitch, our CEO, and wider Leadership Team Coordinate investor processes end-to-end, managing pipeline, tracking milestones, and ensuring timely, high-quality follow-up Take full ownership of high-priority cross-functional projects as they arise, from strategic research and competitive analysis to special initiatives that span teams Partner with the CEO to develop and stress-test strategic thinking, and translate decisions into clear, actionable plans Board & governance Lead end-to-end preparation of board meetings, structuring agendas, coordinating input from functional leads, producing board packs, and ensuring timely distribution Track and follow up on action items and decisions arising from board and leadership meetings Support ad hoc governance tasks as they arise Internal rhythm & operations Design and run the company's internal operating cadence, including All Hands meetings, leadership team meetings, and goal/BTG reviews Own the preparation of internal meeting materials and ensure decisions made in those forums get followed through Develop and maintain internal processes and documentation that keep a fast-growing team running smoothly, and proactively identify where things are breaking down Support people operations, including coordination around hiring and onboarding during growth phases Your profile 3 to 5 years of experience in an operational role at an early-stage startup, or in other fast-paced environments such as VC, consulting, or investment banking Exceptional structure and clarity of thinking, both written and verbal; you can distill complexity into something crisp and actionable Strong ownership mentality: you don't wait to be told what to do, and you close open loops High attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture Comfortable with ambiguity and able to maintain momentum when the path isn't fully defined Advanced skills in PowerPoint and Excel; comfortable with quantitative analysis and financial modelling basics Fluent in English; German is a plus Genuine interest in deep tech or the future of materials Nice to haves: Industrial biotech, materials science, or performance chemicals background Prior exposure to fundraising processes or investor-facing work What we offer Direct exposure to the CEO and leadership team, with genuine influence over how the company is built Employee stock options Flexible working hours Learning & development programme Gym membership Public transportation contribution for Berlin or Paris Subsidised lunch and impassioned lunch discussions 30 days of vacation + all-company holidays between 25th December and 1st January Regular team events Be part of our journey toward a future of sustainable materials