Business Operations Manager - UK
Salience Labs is an Oxford spinout developing silicon photonics optical switches that remove data-movement bottlenecks in AI data centres. They're hiring a Business Operations Manager to run finance, HR and day-to-day operations for the UK business, based on-site in Abingdon. This operations role sits within the UK's photonics and semiconductor sector.
About us
Salience Labs is building an industry-defining approach to optical circuit switching for AI infrastructure, engineered for real latency reduction and cost savings at hyperscale. We're moving from proven technology to real world deployment at scale, and joining at this stage means genuine ownership over that next chapter, working alongside a small, highly technical team on one of the most consequential problems in AI infrastructure today.
The Role
As Business Operations Manager at Salience Labs, you will be the connective tissue that keeps a fast-moving deep-tech company running smoothly. You will own a varied portfolio of operational workstreams that help the business deliver at pace. You will work closely with the leadership team, engineers and external partners in a UK/US start-up environment.
Responsibilities
Managing legal and corporate administration, including contracts, compliance documentation and company reporting
Maintaining IP records and coordinating with external advisers
Supporting with some logistical challenges as they arise
Implementing and owning our inventory and resource planning systems
Supporting people and talent processes, and building strong working relationships with our technical teams
Supporting finance operations, including grant administration, procurement and requests from investors and partners
Leading facilities and capital projects, including lab and office development, health and safety and office management
Supporting the IT team with security, resilience and supplier requirements
Owning marketing, PR and events operations, including website, media, agency management and international trade shows
Providing ad hoc support to the leadership team on presentations, reporting and research
Proactively identifying opportunities to improve how the business operates
What We're Looking For
5+ years in operations, business operations or an executive generalist role, with ownership of planning, implementation and results
Experience working across a UK/US start-up structure
A track record of delivering to fixed external deadlines, such as building projects, events and equipment shipping
Strong written communication, with the ability to produce polished external copy and slides
Comfort using AI tools to work efficiently across a wide remit
Quick to learn unfamiliar subjects, and clear about when to bring in specialists
Comfortable managing a varied portfolio of workstreams and prioritising effectively
Even Better If You
Have experience in hardware, deep-tech, semiconductor or lab-based start-ups
Have managed trade compliance or international shipping for technical equipment
Have led facilities or capital projects from start to finish
Have implemented inventory or resource planning systems
Have run international events or managed PR and marketing agencies
About Salience Labs
Salience Labs develops silicon photonics-based optical switches for AI data centres, enabling all-optical connectivity between compute nodes to overcome data-movement bottlenecks. Spun out from the University of Oxford and University of Munster in 2021, the company was co-founded by Vaysh Kewada, Johannes Feldmann, Harish Bhaskaran, and Wolfram Pernice. Its OC-32M all-optical switch delivers 10ns latency (20x lower than electronic alternatives) at under 1W per port, with 32-, 64-, and 128-port variants in development. Salience has raised $88M to date, including a $30M Series A led by Applied Ventures and ICM HPQC Fund. The company was ranked #28 in Sifted's AI 100 and #2 in Hardware. It is headquartered in Oxford with an office in San Jose.