Chief of Staff

About Apheris

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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.

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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.

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About the role

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We  

are hiring a Chief of Staff to the CEO to operate at the center of Apheris. This is a hands-on, high-trust role with direct exposure to the CEO and full visibility into the company’s most important decisions.  

You will partner closely with the CEO and leadership team on board and investor matters, fundraising, company-wide priorities, and critical cross-functional initiatives. You will own preparation and follow-through on leadership decisions, drive execution across teams, and ensure that strategic priorities translate into concrete outcomes. This role requires strong judgment, structure, and the ability to move seamlessly between strategy and execution.  

You will operate with significant autonomy and discretion from day one. You will be expected to anticipate issues, surface trade-offs, and keep the organization focused and moving at pace. This role is designed for someone who wants to sit at the nerve center of an ambitious AI company and materially shape how it scales from Series A to Series B and beyond.

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What you will do

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En  

able the company leadership  

• Act as a force multiplier for the CEO by structuring priorities, preparing decisions, and ensuring rigorous follow-through.  
• Own preparation, execution, and follow-up of key leadership, board, and external meetings.  
• Keep cross-functional initiatives moving, ensuring clarity, timeliness, and delivery quality.  
• Optimize the CEO’s engagement with key stakeholders, including investors, board members, and senior partners.  

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Investor relations and fundraising preparation  

• Prepare investor and board materials in collaboration with company leadership.  
• Maintain consistent, data-driven investor communications and reporting.  
• Consolidate company metrics, coordinate data-room updates, and track fundraising deliverables.  
• Selectively work with the finance team on reporting, forecasting, and operational planning to ensure sound decision-making.

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Strategic and analytical projects  

• Own and drive 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.

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Drive operational initiatives  

• Evolve the company’s operating cadence, including planning cycles, OKRs, and performance management.  
• Build and maintain lightweight documentation, dashboards, and communications that create transparency and scalability across teams.  
• Improve execution speed and organizational effectiveness through AI-enabled systems and automation.  

You will operate as an execution partner and force-multiplier, ensuring the right things happen quickly and to a high standard.

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What we expect from you

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Ma  

ster’s or advanced degree in business, economics, engineering, life sciences, or a related analytical field, graduating in the top 10% from a top-tier university or business school.  

2-  

4+ 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.  

St  

rong analytical and problem-solving skills, able to structure complexity and extract insights quickly.  

Ex  

ceptional execution drive, organization, and attention to detail.  

St  

ong 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.  

Hi  

gh ownership mindset; you take responsibility for outcomes, not just tasks.  

Co  

mfort working in a remote-first environment across distributed teams.  

Ex  

cellent written and verbal communication. English: C2 level; German optional.  

Cu  

riosity and willingness to learn about AI-driven drug discovery, the broader life sciences ecosystem, and Apheris’ customers.

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Nice to have

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De  

eep involvement in fundraising for startups, ideally at Series A or later stages.  

Pr  

ior exposure to life sciences domains.  

Ex  

perience in setting up agentic workflows or improving organizational efficiency through AI and automation tools.

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What we offer you

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In  

dustry-competitive compensation, including early-stage virtual share options  

Re  

mote-first working – work where you work best, whether from home or a co-working space near you  

Gr  

eat 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  

Ge  

nous holiday allowance  

Of  

fice 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  

Hi  

gh 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