Executive Business Partner, Project A-life

About X:

X is Alphabet’s moonshot factory with a mission of inventing and launching “moonshot” technologies that could someday make the world a radically better place. We are a diverse group of inventors and entrepreneurs who build and launch technologies that aim to improve the lives of millions, even billions, of people. Our goal: 10x impact on the world’s most intractable problems, not just 10% improvement. We approach projects that have the aspiration and riskiness of research with the speed and ambition of a startup. As an innovation engine, X focuses on repeatedly turning breakthrough-technology ideas into the foundations for large, sustainable businesses.

About the team:

Biological cells are the most sophisticated manufacturing platform on Earth. Many of the world's materials could be made more sustainably through fermentation and renewable feedstocks. However biology is so complex that today, engineering cells to make materials is closer to trial-and-error rather than predictive design. Too many bio-made materials die in the "Valley of Death” gap between a successful experiment in a lab and large-scale commercial fermentation.

At A-Life, we’re building the AI toolkit to bridge that gap. We specialize in the "cells that make things," creating the software that allows scientists to engineer biology for real-world performance at scale. We’re building for a bio-economy at scale that’s good for people and the planet.

About the role:

As the Executive Business Partner, you are at the heart of your team's operations, anticipating the needs of executives and team members. You resolve operational and administrative issues proactively, ensuring the team stays focused on strategic projects. 

Moving quickly within a changing environment, you are flexible and proactive in ambiguous situations. You leverage your knowledge of tools and processes to strategically support team projects. Beyond organization and analytical skills, you possess strong judgment and communication, essential for interacting with diverse stakeholders.

You take on challenging and meaningful tasks, approaching problems from new angles and constantly asking “what if?” We work together to make the impossible possible, and you are vital to achieving our goals and fostering our culture.

How you will make 10x impact:

• Empower Leadership: Manage the administrative landscape (calendars, travel, facilities, equipment) to free executives for strategic priorities. Your attention to detail, combined with a grasp of the big picture, ensures the executive team is always prepared, as well as productive internal problem-solving sessions.
• Strategic Partnership: You act as a confidante and partner to our leadership staff by ensuring their time is spent on the most leveraged activities. You coordinate meetings and clear conflicts for our senior leadership team, and ensure critical meetings aren’t missed or delayed and are prioritized accordingly.
• Drive Operational Excellence: Serve as a central force within the team, optimizing processes, streamlining workflows, and fostering seamless cross-functional collaboration to fuel rapid growth and scalability. Innovate and elevate by challenging the status quo, building efficiency into existing operations, and shaping new strategies to stay ahead.
• Operations & Facilities: Managing relationships with landlords and vendors, ordering office supplies, keeping the kitchen stocked, coordinating repairs, and ensuring the physical (or virtual) workspace is safe, clean, and organized.
• Administrative Support: Handle core administration, including mail distribution, visitor greeting, and central phone line management, while optimizing company calendars and shared meeting spaces. 
• Culture & HR Support: Champion internal communications, organize engaging All Hands meetings and offsites, plan memorable events. Partner with HR on onboarding, managing new hire desk setups, tech provisioning, and security badges.

What you should have:

• BA/BS degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of direct executive support experience, including managing program duties and office management
• Strong project management, planning, and prioritization skills, with the ability to multitask and adapt.
• Ability to work with government agencies, country-level organizations, and C-suite executives
• Experience in a high-growth startup, fast-paced org, or similar environment.

It would be great if you also had these:

• Proven expertise in supporting executives, including intricate calendar management and consistently maintaining a professional demeanor.
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with diverse individuals and job functions.
• A balanced approach to problem-solving, applying past expertise while also seeking new answers and learning new tools.
• Experience in establishing new processes, streamlining ineffective programs, and rallying teams around new ways of working.
• Commitment to continuous learning, actively seeking feedback, and fostering a culture of innovation.
• Proven expertise in transforming a blank space into a fully functional and organized headquarters to support daily operations.
• Passion for entrepreneurial teams, resourceful problem-solving, bringing joy to the workplace, and contributing to a better world.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $118,000 - $176,000 + bonus + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, or benefits.