Lab Operations Manager

Who We Are

At PowerLabs, we are on a mission to unlock untapped human productivity through energy intelligence. As we expand, we are looking for a sharp and curious Operations (Program) Manager who will be the heartbeat of our most critical initiatives. You don't just manage timelines; you build and integrate the systems and programs that allow us to prototype and build products, engage with partners, and scale. This is a role for a strategic operator who thrives in ambiguity and anticipates risks before they become roadblocks. As the Operations Manager, you will be the organizatinal backbone of our team.

Lab Operations is the practical and cultural glue that binds teams in our lab together. In this role, you will lead complex, lab-wide initiatives, while managing multiple projects simultaneously. A persuasive communicator, you will be regularly called on to represent and tour the lab with business partners, stakeholders, and internal leaders. You will also be a steward of our culture and play a key role in ensuring that every PowerLabber understands our unique approach to building.

This position calls for a highly organised, self-motivated team player of the highest integrity who is passionate about technology and innovation and very comfortable with change and ambiguity. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Support the Leadership Team on projects, annual planning, budgeting, company-wide events and presentations. Work to identify high-impact opportunities to optimise lab processes and systems through data analytics/insights and coordinate executive forums, developing collaterals, managing workstreams, and action items.
• Work with cross-functional stakeholders across Sales, Finance, Marketing, and Product to deliver on project priorities, drive alignment, and enable decision-making.
• Trusted to understand and hence represent PowerLabs’s culture to others. Although no single person can take responsibility for company’s culture and values, you are expected to be an excellent role model of PowerLabs culture and inspire others at PowerLabs to practice these values too.
• Operationalization of Lab projects requires clear eyed assessment of existing processes, the ability to build new ones, and unwind old ones. You are willing to disrupt the status quo when you see it as a smart risk, in the name of world-changing outcomes.
• Manage the physical systems in the lab from facilities to vendor management. Be ready to oscillate between physical tasks like moving lab equipment and exec-level decisions like leasing a warehouse. You have the confidence and skills for the big visionary work, as well as the patience and attention to detail for the small details that get you there.

What We’re Looking For

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Management, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Law, or technical fields.
• 3-5+ years experience as a operaexecutive-leveltions/program manager with executive-level support and engagement or equivalent practical experience
• Experience creating and leading high-functioning teams, and creating clear and compelling cultures.
• A "systems-first" mindset that prioritises fixing underlying processes over surface-level symptoms, i.e. demonstrated ability to understand complex technical concepts, systems, and challenges, and skill in distilling technical meetings into clear action plans.
• Strong communication and analytical/data modelling skills with expert proficiency in spreadsheets and analysis models to drive decision-making and project recovery.
• Mastery of modern PM stacks (Jira/Asana) and fluency in AI productivity tools. Position requires 3 years of experience in the following:
• Project planning using Agile or Waterfall methodologies, including developing project charters, roadmaps, and risk registers
• Developing and executing stakeholder communication plans for program goals, progress, and health
• Driving organisational change management or change implementation using rollout plans and impact analysis
• Establishing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for continuous process improvement or business process optimisation
• Program management in one of the following domains: contract negotiations, commercial agreements, content management, accounting, partner or vendor management, or forecasting.
• Excellent discretion, uncompromising integrity, and sensitivity to confidentiality.
• Curiosity and love of learning are essential. Ladder climbers need not apply.
• A sense of humor and the ability to find joy in your work

Preferred qualifications:

• Perhaps you studied International Relations, or Art? Maybe you served in the Military? Maybe you worked in the services industry before e.g. hotel or restaurants management? You might have dreamt of being an Astronaut, a surgical technician or a concert pianist?
• You can design, plan, and execute with meticulous attention to detail, no matter if it's for teams of 1 or 1,000.
• You show up with diplomacy and are natural at managing pressure.
• You’ve excelled in roles that were in service to others, required tact in communication and demeanour, and had high stakes.
• Prior experience in R&D, advanced technology development, or rapid iteration environments where quick feedback loops and experimental methodologies are key.
• Experience defining, tracking, and utilising metrics to drive project quality, evaluate impact, and inform strategic decisions.
• Proven track record in a Program Management, Operations Management or a related role.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high impact and changing environment.
• Ability to work across teams, build relationships, and collaborate with executives.

What’s in It for You?

• Competitive salary

• High impact—your work will directly shape the future of the company in a high impact sector

• Career growth—as we scale, you’ll have opportunities to step up into bigger roles.

• Fast-paced, startup energy—every day is different, and every decision matters.

If this sounds like you, apply now at powerlabstech.com/careers