Operations Manager
Remote UK (Greater London preferred)
Convergent Research – Convergent Research /
Full Time /
Remote
Convergent Research is a nonprofit science studio best known for pioneering the Focused Research Organization (FRO). We build institutional infrastructure that removes bottlenecks to breakthrough research—and we do it fast. Our job is to help visionary scientists and technologists launch moonshot projects that wouldn’t happen in academia or industry.
What do those projects need? Infrastructure. Legal entities. Bank accounts. Vendor onboarding. The right insurance. A way to get paid and pay others. That’s where you come in.
About the Role
We’re looking for a full-time UK Operations Manager to lead and manage the day-to-day backend operations for Convergent Research UK and all UK-based FROs. You’ll be the main point of contact for fully launched UK FROs, ensuring that their operational needs are met so they can focus on their scientific missions. This is a hands-on, builder role: you’ll own and continuously improve the systems and processes that underpin our UK operations, spanning finance, budgeting, HR, legal, and procurement support.
You’ll work closely with our US-based team, as well as local UK partners, vendors, and FRO leadership. You’ll be responsible for designing and optimizing operational workflows as well as the day-to-day execution that keeps everything running smoothly. As our UK operations grow, you’ll help scale our systems, onboard new FROs, and ensure operational excellence across the board.
You Will (Duties)
- Serve as the primary operational point of contact for all UK-based FROs, providing day-to-day support and guidance.
- Support all backend operations for Convergent UK, including finance, budgeting, HR, legal, and procurement support, while coordinating closely with the US-based domain experts and ensuring smooth alignment between teams.
- Build, document, and continuously improve operational policies, SOPs, and templates tailored for UK operations.
- Set up and maintain UK legal entities, bank accounts, payroll, insurance, and benefits administration for Convergent UK and FROs.
- Administer and optimize operational tools and platforms (e.g., Quickbooks, Ramp/Apron, Deel, Ironclad), manage user access, and troubleshoot issues.
- Support onboarding and training of FRO staff on UK operational systems and processes.
- Review and route vendor onboarding and procurement requests, handling exceptions as needed.
- Collaborate with Legal and Finance to ensure proper cost classifications, contract approvals, and documentation.
- Create and maintain a centralized archive of contracts, receipts, justifications, and compliance documentation.
- Work with our Compliance Manager to ensure compliance with UK employment law, tax, and regulatory requirements.
- Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, clarity, and scalability.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with FRO leaders, scientists, and staff across the UK.
- Provide operational reporting and updates to Convergent leadership as needed.
- Support onboarding for new FROs as they launch in the UK
In 6 Months You Will Have (6-Month Goals)
- Taken full ownership of UK operational systems, including finance, HR, legal, and procurement support.
- Developed and implemented scalable processes for onboarding new FROs and supporting their operational needs.
- Built strong, trust-based relationships with FRO leaders and become their go-to resource for UK operational questions.
- Identified and executed key process improvements to streamline day-to-day operations.
- Ensured ongoing compliance with all relevant UK laws and regulations.
You Are (Skills)
- An ops architect – You’ve built (or seriously revamped) operational workflows before, ideally in a UK context. You think in integrated systems, not one-off fixes—and you're always looking for smart ways to scale, whether through new software, automation, or AI tools.
- Capable of flying solo – We’ll give you context and support, but you’re expected to take initiative, spot issues, and handle the follow-through.
- UK-savvy – You know your way around UK company formation, payroll, banking, insurance, and vendor onboarding. Bonus points if you’ve wrangled UK compliance, VAT, or charity regulations.
- Tool-friendly – You pick up new systems quickly and understand how they connect to build a smooth, end-to-end workflow. Familiarity with tools like Quickbooks, Ramp, Apron or similar is a plus.
- Organized –Like a librarian with a label maker, but scrappy enough to roll with startup chaos.
- Good at saying no without being a jerk – You can explain policy with clarity and empathy, and people trust you because you listen.
- Comfortable operating across borders—international experience is a big plus, especially if you’ve navigated global vendors, compliance quirks, or timezone chaos without losing your cool.
- A team sport enthusiast – You collaborate across finance, HR, legal, ops, and IT without turf wars or crossed wires.
- Capable of flying solo – We’ll give you context and support, but you’re expected to take initiative, spot issues, and handle the follow-through.
- Comfortable flexing down to help with transactional work while we scale. It’s not glamorous, but it’s important.
You’ll Do Well Here If You Also…
- Have scaled operations at a growing org—or at least know what “scaling” feels like when it hits you.
- Are allergic to bureaucracy but believe in guardrails.
- Can translate “science gobbledygook + panic + a receipt from a Slovenian bio-supply company” into a properly documented process.
We Offer (Amazing Benefits)
- A rare chance to build institutional architecture for frontier science and work with some of the smartest and most talented experts from different fields.
- Competitive salary, commensurate with experience and UK market rates.
- Flexible, remote-first work environment.
- Comprehensive benefits package, including pension, health, and wellness support.
- The opportunity to help shape the future of science infrastructure in the UK.
Convergent Research aims to help fill a structural gap in today's R&D system. We enable fundamental research that requires unusual levels of scale and coordination yet is not rapidly monetizable by industry. We’re bringing together top talent from academia, industry, and startups to build a new model for innovative R&D.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We believe in hiring individuals based on their unique talents—not on race, color, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law or our company policies. Our goal is to foster a healthy, safe, and respectful environment where all employees are valued and treated with dignity. Harassment of any kind is not tolerated here.
