Finance and Operations Lead, Project A-Life (1 Year Fixed Term)

Finance And Operations Lead, Project A-Life

X is Alphabet's moonshot factory. 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 worlds most intractable problems, not just 10% improvement.

A-Life is X's moonshot to unlock the manufacturing power of biology. We are an early-stage, interdisciplinary team focused on tackling some of the worlds toughest problems by harnessing the power of biological systems. Our mission is to accelerate the path to a sustainable and abundant future by making bio-manufacturing accessible and scalable. We operate with the agility and impact of a startup, driven by the world-class technology and resources of Alphabet's X, The Moonshot Factory. We are looking for people who are passionate about building the infrastructure for a bio-based economy to join us at this critical, high-growth stage.

About the Role

This high-impact role will closely partner with the Project Lead and founding team as the primary dedicated resource for financial, operational, and strategic planning. You will act as a key cross-functional steward, defining and executing the essential infrastructure needed for A-Lifes transition into a large-scale, sustainable business. This is a hands-on Program manager role that requires you to get into the details and implement solutions that will help enable the organization to scale during its critical growth phase.

Key Responsibilities / How you will make 10x impact :

• Financial Planning and Analysis, and Business Strategy :
• Partner with the Project Lead to develop and manage the projects long-term business model, financial forecasts, and resource allocation across research and development; and Operations.
• Own the operating budget, conduct variance analysis, and prepare financial reports for leadership to guide strategic, data-driven decisions.
• Research and analyze market trends, competitive landscape, and potential investment theses to inform core business strategy.
• Operational Excellence and General and Administrative Infrastructure :
• Design, implement, and optimize core business processes (e.g., procurement, vendor management, internal reporting) with an eye for operational excellence and efficiency.
• Development of General and Administrative functions, including identifying external or part-time resources for People Operations, Internal Communications, and Legal / IP processes.
• Drive the full gamut of project management for key operational initiatives, from creating a high-level roadmap to executing on line-by-line detail.
• Scaling and Growth Transition :
• Serve as the lead operational and financial planner for future organizational milestones, creating the foundational structure needed for sustainable high-growth and independent operation.
• Prepare the necessary internal documentation, financial, and organizational systems to support significant team growth and operational maturity.
• Proactively identify, research, and deliver key operational and experimental projects to enable core project milestones.

What you should have :

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $153,000 - $210,000 + bonuses + benefits. 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, equity, or benefits.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace

At X, we dont just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please contact us at x-accommodation-request@x.team.