Founder's Associate

About Apheris

At Apheris, we are building the future of how AI is applied in pharmaceutical R&D.
Our federated computing technology enables global pharma companies to collaborate securely on large AI models that accelerate drug discovery, without ever sharing their proprietary data. By powering multi-partner data networks across small molecules, antibodies, and protein folding, Apheris is redefining how science and AI intersect.

We currently host two flagship networks: the AI Structural Biology (AISB) Network, focused on protein co-folding and binding affinity prediction, and the ADMET Network, focused on small-molecule property prediction. In addition, we have just launched ApherisFold, an enterprise co-folding application that enables pharma teams to deploy cutting-edge models such as OpenFold 3 and Boltz-2 directly within their own environments. 

About the role

We are hiring a Founder's Associate to work closely with company leadership. This is a hands-on, high-exposure role for someone who wants to move fast, take ownership, and learn what it really takes to scale an early-stage AI company. You won't just observe how a startup grows from Series A to Series B and beyond — you'll be in the arena shaping that journey every day.

You'll work side by side with the CEO and leadership team on the company's most critical priorities — from investor and board topics to company-wide OKRs, internal operations, and special projects. You'll prepare board materials, support fundraising, and drive cross-functional initiatives that improve how the company runs. You'll dive into new topics, master them quickly, and make sure things get done with speed and precision. This is a role for someone who thrives on responsibility, learns fast, and wants to have a tangible impact on the trajectory of the company. 

What you will do

• Enable the company leadership
  • Provide execution leverage by preparing, structuring, and following up on key meetings and projects.
  • Keep cross-functional initiatives moving, ensuring clarity, timeliness, and delivery quality.
  • Manage time-sensitive priorities so leadership can focus on strategic work.
  • Selectively support our CEO in making the best out of his time with key stakeholders.
• Investor relations and fundraising preparation
  • Prepare investor and board materials in collaboration with company leadership.
  • Consolidate company metrics, coordinate data-room updates, and track fundraising deliverables.
  • Maintain consistent, data-driven investor communications and reporting.
  • Selectively work with the finance team on reporting, forecasting, and operational planning to ensure sound decision-making.
• Strategic and analytical projects
  • Contribute to strategic initiatives, special projects, and analytical deep-dives that support company priorities.
  • Conduct targeted market or competitive analyses where relevant to inform strategic discussions.
  • Collaborate across Product, Science, and Commercial teams to ensure progress on high-impact workstreams.
• Drive operational initiatives
  • Help design and implement processes that improve efficiency across planning, OKRs, and performance tracking.
  • Support talent-related work, including hiring, onboarding, and performance management cycles.
  • Design and maintain lightweight documentation, dashboards, and communications that create transparency and scalability across teams.
  • Collaborate with the Chief of Staff to enhance how the company operates using AI-enabled systems and automation tools.

You will operate as an execution partner and force-multiplier, ensuring the right things happen quickly and to a high standard. One potential development path for this role is to grow into a Chief of Staff or Strategy & Ops role over time. 

What we expect from you

• Bachelor's or master's degree in business, economics, engineering, life sciences, or a related analytical field, graduating in the top 20 % from a top-tier university or business school.
• 1-3 years of work experience in high-performance, fast-paced environments such as strategy consulting (e.g., MBB), venture capital, or high-growth startups or scaleups, complemented by prior internships.
• Deep involvement in fundraising for startups, ideally at Series A or later stages.
• Strong proficiency in core tools, including expert-level PowerPoint and Excel skills, ability to build high-quality materials fast, and comfort using modern AI and productivity tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, able to structure complexity and extract insights quickly.
• Exceptional execution drive, organization, and attention to detail.
• High ownership mindset; you take responsibility for outcomes, not just tasks.
• Comfort working in a remote-first environment across distributed teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication. English: C2 level; German optional.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn about AI-driven drug discovery, the broader life sciences ecosystem, and Apheris' customers.

Nice to have

• Prior exposure to life-sciences domains, which is a plus but not .
• Experience in setting up agentic workflows or improving organizational efficiency through AI and automation tools.

What we offer you

• Industry-competitive compensation, including early-stage virtual share options
• Remote-first working – work where you work best, whether from home or a co-working space near you
• Great suite of benefits, including a wellbeing budget, mental health benefits, a work-from-home budget, a co-working stipend and a learning and development budget
• Regular team lunches and social events
• Generous holiday allowance
• Office Days at our Berlin HQ or a different European location (3x a year)
• A fun, diverse team of mission-driven individuals with experience across leading organizations (e.g., MBB, Palantir, NVIDIA, top pharma) and a drive to see AI and ML used for good
• High exposure to core strategic and technical topics, significant ownership from day one, and plenty of room to grow personally and professionally while shaping your own role

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