Operations Generalist
London
Operations Team /
Full-time /
On-site
ABOUT APOLLO RESEARCH:
The capabilities of current AI systems are evolving at a rapid pace. While these advancements offer tremendous opportunities, they also present significant risks, such as the potential for deliberate misuse or the deployment of sophisticated yet misaligned models. At Apollo Research, our primary concern lies with deceptive alignment, a phenomenon where a model appears to be aligned but is, in fact, misaligned and capable of evading human oversight. You can learn more about our work on our blog and research page.At Apollo, we foster a culture centered on truth-seeking, goal orientation, constructive feedback, and a supportive, friendly environment. For more details about working at Apollo, you can find additional information here.
THE ROLE:
This role is a new addition to Apollo’s Operations team and will work closely with the COO on a daily and weekly basis. You will serve as a generalist, working across various areas of operations, including HR, finance & bookkeeping, procurement, facilities, and IT systems. In this position, you will play a key role in building the operational systems and processes that enable Apollo to scale our headcount and operate efficiently. A key characteristic of this role is supporting our technical and governance teams via back-end operations to ensure the smooth functioning of their work.
ABOUT THE CANDIDATE:
The ideal candidate has at least three years of experience in operations, with a proven ability to initiate and scale systems and processes, as well as independently manage projects. In addition to being able to work across many areas (‘generalist’), domain experience in one or more of the following areas will be especially valuable: human resources, accounting / finance, legal, IT, systems and process design, compliance, or facilities management. The long-term goal for this hire will be to transition from an Ops Generalist into a specialist role, such as HR Recruiter or Finance Manager.
YOU MAY BE A GOOD FIT IF YOU ARE:
- A problem solver who anticipates challenges and provides solutions.
- A versatile generalist capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.
- Able to apply past experience to new and unfamiliar work domains.
- Experience working in a fast-paced, start-up environment is preferred.
- Someone who will help write the ‘Ops playbook’ rather than be handed an existing ’Ops playbook’ to execute on.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- HR: Support recruitment efforts, manage candidate pipeline, assist with onboarding new employees, and coordinate company-wide retreats.
- Accounting/Finance: Match receipts, reconcile general ledger entries, and support budgeting.
- Ops Systems: Help design and implement a new CRM system. Help manage existing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
- Database Management: Maintain and update internal databases.
- Compliance: Collaborate with the COO on standard operating procedures (SOPs), employee handbook, and other compliance-related tasks.
- Facilities: Oversee basic office management, equipment, maintenance and repairs.
- Procurement: Procure office equipment and supplies. Support team travel bookings as needed.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE / SKILLS:
- University degree
- 3+ years of experience in Operations or a role with transferable skills.
- Domain expertise in at least 1 area of Operations (HR, finance, legal, compliance, etc.)
- Autonomous and proactive: able to manage projects independently and take initiative.
- Strong attention to detail and reliability.
- Systems-oriented mindset: passionate about optimising processes and eliminating inefficiencies, with the ability to step back and view the bigger picture.
- Interest in AI safety and contributing to mitigating the risks associated with advanced AI.
STRONG CANDIDATES MAY ALSO HAVE:
- 5+ years of experience in operations
- Experience working at a deeply technical company or research org, management consulting firm, or think tank.
- Project management expertise: skilled in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, including goal-tracking, system-building, ensuring projects stay on track.
- Experience working across multiple countries and cultures.
LOGISTICS:
- Start Date: Early Q1 2025
- Time Allocation: Full-time.
- Location: The office is in London, and the building is shared with the London Initiative for Safe AI (LISA) offices. This is an in-person role.
- Work Visas: We may be able to sponsor UK visas for people who currently don’t have UK work permission.
BENEFITS:
- Salary: a competitive UK-based salary, range of £45,000- £55,000.
- Private medical insurance.
- Flexible work hours and schedule.
- Unlimited vacation.
- Unlimited sick leave.
- Lunch, dinner, and snacks are provided for all employees on workdays.
- Paid work trips, including staff retreats, business trips, and relevant conferences.
- A yearly £800 professional development budget.
We want to emphasise that people who feel they don’t fulfill all of these characteristics but think they would be a good fit for the position nonetheless are strongly encouraged to apply. We believe that excellent candidates can come from a variety of backgrounds and are excited to give you opportunities to shine.
Equality Statement: Apollo Research is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to providing equal opportunities to all, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
How to apply: Please complete the application form with your CV. The provision of a cover letter is optional but not necessary. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so early application is strongly encouraged.
Application deadline: Applications are now being considered on a rolling basis.
