Skip to content

Business Operations Lead

  • Hybrid
    • Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Job description

Are you excited by the challenge of working in a dynamic scale-up? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, innovative environment where your work directly impacts the future of medical research and drug development? If so, Optics11 Life is the place for you!  

  
WHO ARE WE?  

Optics11 Life is not just another company; we are a thriving scale-up redefining the boundaries of life sciences. Headquartered in Amsterdam (the Netherlands), we develop and manufacture groundbreaking measurement instruments that empower researchers to make life-saving breakthroughs. Our technology is transforming drug development, medical treatments, and cutting-edge research worldwide.  

What sets us apart is our scale-up environment, an exciting blend of growth, innovation, and agility.  
  
What you can expect:  

  • Opportunities to shape the future  
    In our fast-evolving market, your skills will be instrumental in driving our growth strategy and expanding globally.  

  • Empowerment and ownership  
    A flat hierarchy and collaborative culture mean your ideas will not just be heard; they will shape our company’s future.  

  • Accelerated career growth  
    The steep learning curve in our scale-up environment provides endless opportunities for professional and personal development.  

  • International exposure  
    Join a diverse, talented team working with customers across the globe, all united by the goal of advancing life sciences.  

 

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR

The Business Operations Lead acts as the right hand to the Management Team and is the engine behind cross‑functional execution. You generate the insights that help determine priorities, you ensure decisions turn into action, and teams stay aligned as the company scales.

This is a high‑impact role for someone who thrives in fast‑moving environments, enjoys solving complex organizational challenges, and can switch seamlessly between strategic thinking and hands‑on execution.

Key Activities

  • Data-driven business insights: Generate clear reports, dashboards, and analyses that show how the company is performing across teams and processes. Turn scattered information into simple, actionable overviews that help the MT understand progress, spot opportunities, and steer the company with confidence

  • Operational Alignment & Execution: Translate MT decisions into clear actions, owners, and timelines. Ensure cross‑functional alignment across the different teams and the company’s processes. Monitor progress on company priorities and provide suggestions for improvement

  • Project Leadership: Lead and coordinate the company’s key multidisciplinary projects. Manage timelines, dependencies, and communication across teams

  • Decision‑Making Structure: Design and strengthen internal decision‑making processes and governance. Establish a clear meeting structure and follow‑up mechanisms. Improve clarity around ownership and accountability

  • Process Improvement: Identify bottlenecks across teams and streamline workflows. Improve cross‑functional collaboration and reduce friction. Support the transition from start‑up to scale‑up operations

  • Organizational Readiness: Build scalable processes, structures, and operating rhythms for 2027 and beyond. Support hiring, onboarding, and leadership development where needed

What We Offer

  • An opportunity to make a significant positive impact on the culture and the growth of Optics11 Life

  • Freedom and responsibility in structuring and leading your own work

  • Flat hierarchy, short decision lines, big impact, and development opportunities

  • Hybrid working

  • Benefits like a pension plan, L&D budget, free lunch on Wednesdays, commuting, and working from home allowance

  • A motivated, dynamic, and enthusiastic team

  • Social drinks and plenty of fun events during the year

If you are a motivated self-starter who shares our passion for the life sciences and wants to join a dynamic team, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity!

Job requirements

Skills & Competencies

  • Master's degree-level education 

  • 5–10 years of experience in operations, consulting, banking, project management, or scale‑up leadership

  • Strong skills in structure, planning, and communication, you know how to win people over

  • Ability to stay calm and effective in high‑growth, high‑change settings

  • Strong communication skills and the ability to influence without authority

  • Comfortable switching between strategic and hands‑on work

  • Curious, self-starter, comfortable figuring things out from scratch and improving them along the way.

  • Brings energy, clarity, and ownership

  • Fluency in English and Dutch is a plus

or