Operations Associate​/Specialist

• Starting compensation: $80,000 to $95,000 (Specialist) or $95,000 to $110,000 (Associate), depending on experience
• Work location:
  
  In-person in Cambridge, MA

Secure Bio is a pioneering biosecurity research nonprofit, dedicated to protecting society from catastrophic biological risks. We collaborate with leading experts across academia, industry, and government to develop novel technologies and forward-thinking policy proposals to delay, detect, and defend against the most dangerous biological agents, both natural and engineered. Our key programs include the Detection for early warning of catastrophic biothreats and our AI and Biotechnology Risks effort.

Both programs are expanding rapidly, and we are growing the organization as a result.

In this position, you will play a vital connective role across the organization: the person who ensures our office space runs and grows flawlessly, that our people feel supported, and our culture is vibrant and welcoming. You’ll partner closely with our small operations team, enable our scientific and program teams to do their best work, and shape the experience of working at Secure Bio from day one.

If you are someone who takes pride in making complex systems feel effortless, loves building environments where people thrive, and finds deep satisfaction in behind-the-scenes excellence, this role is designed for you. This role involves some unglamorous but essential and valued work, so it’s important that you’re willing to roll up your sleeves to make Secure Bio a productive and joyful place to work.

We’re hiring for this role at two levels:
Specialist and Associate. The appropriate level will depend on your experience. Both roles involve the responsibilities listed below, while the Associate role includes greater ownership of larger projects and a higher degree of autonomy.

Across both levels, we’re seeking someone flexible and enthusiastic about providing essential operational support wherever it’s needed.

• Office Operations & Facilities Keep our offices running smoothly and look for ways to make them run better, from managing vendor relationships to setting up work spaces to keeping the kitchen and pantry stocked.
• Special Projects & Continuous Improvement Own projects that improve how the office works as we grow, like revamping how new hires onboard to the equipment and tools they need or reworking how a shared space functions. Day to day, you’ll bring the same critical eye to smaller wins: streamlining a recurring workflow, improving a vendor arrangement, or introducing a tool that saves the team time.
• People & Culture Help create a warm, organized, and welcoming workplace for staff, visitors, and external partners. Coordinate onboarding logistics for new hires, support team events and recurring office gatherings, and look for ways to make the in-office experience smoother, more connected, and more energizing.
• Administrative & Executive Support Support our team and leadership (managing calendars, triaging tasks, drafting communications, and handling travel logistics). You will also handle day-to-day administrative work, including routing mail, managing software subscriptions, and serving as the primary point of contact for visitors.
• IT, Systems, and Documentation Coordinate lightweight IT and systems administration in partnership with vendors or internal owners. This may include administering SaaS accounts, maintaining tech inventory, supporting office AV, documenting recurring workflows, and flagging risk areas before they become problems.
• Purchasing & Spend Handle purchasing for business needs via Amazon and other vendors, ensuring appropriate tracking and accountability. Look for opportunities to reduce costs or consolidate vendors.

At the Associate level

The Associate role covers everything above, with greater emphasis on project ownership, independent problem-solving, and building systems that scale. If you join at this level, you’d also:

• Help drive major operational projects from start to finish, like supporting the wet lab buildout or assessing our space needs as headcount grows. This includes organizing and supporting large team events, like…