R&D Operations Specialist

The Opportunity

We are seeking an R&D and Preclinical Operations Specialist to provide operational and administrative support to a small, highly collaborative preclinical R&D team, including toxicology, bioanalytical, and research staff. This role partners closely with scientists and external vendors to support study execution by managing scheduling, documentation, vendor coordination, and procurement processes, enabling the scientific team to remain focused on execution and data generation. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career professional interested in building a career in biotech operations, with exposure to preclinical development, CRO engagement, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day operational coordination and logistics for preclinical scientists, toxicologists, research associates, and bioanalytical staff.
• Partner with Procurement, Legal, and Finance to support vendor onboarding, contract initiation and life cycle management, purchase orders, and invoice tracking.
• Exercise judgment to coordinate competing priorities across R&D, ensuring study support planning activities are met by scheduling meetings, coordinating timelines, and tracking key milestones.
• Manage documentation systems related to operations of preclinical and toxicology studies, including protocols, reports, contracts, invoices and key communications. Ensure protocols, reports and data records meet audit-ready standards, drive continuous improvements in document tracking workflows.
• Maintain and continuously improve vendor record-keeping frameworks, ensuring contract status, statement of work and study related documents are proactively monitored.
• Own internal meeting operations, setting agendas in partnership with scientific leads, ensuring decision clarity, and tracking deliverables to closure.
• Support the Senior Director, Preclinical and Translational Sciences with calendar management, meeting preparation, and follow-up actions. Synthesize meeting outcomes into action plans and track execution.
• Manage budget tracking tools and prepare spend analyses for preclinical and toxicology activities in partnership with Finance and Procurement.
• Help establish and maintain operational processes, templates, and trackers to support a growing preclinical organization.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and consistency across preclinical operations and administrative workflows.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, or a related field.
• 1-3 years’ experience post degree in a preclinical focused role with external contracts experience.
• Exposure to preclinical research, toxicology, bioanalytical sciences, or CRO environments, 1-2 years prior experience/exposure. Exposure concurrent with undergraduate work is acceptable.
• Familiarity with procurement, contracts, or vendor management processes.
• Proficiency with common business tools such as Microsoft Office. Experience with LinkSquares and/or Net Suite is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills and comfort working with both internal teams and external vendors.
• Proficiency with common business tools such as Microsoft Office. Experience with LinkSquares and/or Net Suite is a plus. Prior experience in an administrative, operations, or coordinator role within biotech, pharma, or life sciences is preferred.

Work Location and Conditions

• At Amylyx, we proudly support remote work opportunities within the United States. However, due to business considerations related to health insurance coverage and state tax regulations, we are unable to hire employees who reside and/or work in certain states. Currently, we are not considering applicants from Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii Michigan and Tennessee.
• You will be expected to travel to our corporate location in Cambridge, MA several times a year and attend other company-related events as necessary and requested.
• You must have access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at your remote location.