Manager - Strategy and Operations

Who We Are

Vial is a hyper-scalable biotech company advancing programs into the clinic by leveraging dramatically cheaper trials and computationally designed therapeutics.

Our mission is to reimagine drug development in order to cure all human diseases. We have assembled a talented team of clinical operators, chemists, and innovative thinkers to achieve this vision.

Vial is fully remote and was founded by Simon Burns in October 2020. Since our founding, we have grown rapidly to a team of 50+ employees with over $100 million in funding from leading investors including General Catalyst, Box Group, and Byers Capital.

Vial is rebuilding the infrastructure to advance research. By deploying technology at every step, we are creating a more efficient future for drug discovery.

What You'll Do

We’re looking for a Strategy & Operations Manager to help shape how Vial scales - strategically and operationally. This is a high-ownership, high-autonomy role at the center of the business, partnering directly with senior leadership to turn complex problems into clear decisions and fast execution.In this role, you’ll lead multiple cross-functional initiatives that influence firm-level strategy and the day-to-day mechanics of running clinical trials. You’ll operate as both a strategic thought partner and an execution engine, translating ambiguity into action and measurable outcomes. You’ll report directly to the COO.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leadership to define, pressure-test, and execute firm-level strategy

• Identify high-leverage operational problems, analyze data (SQL, dashboards, ad-hoc analysis), and design solutions that materially improve speed, quality, or cost

• Build and scale tools that enable better decision-making, from dashboards to lightweight AI workflows and internal operating tools

• Drive cross-functional execution across Clinical Ops, Product, Engineering, and other teams to ensure trials run smoothly and efficiently

• Create clear, compelling exec-ready narratives through written memos, dashboards, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders

• Help define best practices, operating rhythms, and scalable processes as Vial continues to grow.

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years of experience in Finance and/or Operations and/or Strategy and/or Analytics

• Experience in Consulting, Investment Banking + Startup S&O/BizOps roles preferred

• Problem solving and analytical skills, including proficiency in and expertise in building dashboards, SQL, AI workflows, and Excel (can maintain complex spreadsheets)

• Combine business context and analytics to take on a problem area and implement a customized solution

• Entrepreneurial mindset, experience in startup environment preferred a plus

• Deeply analytical, systems thinker, focused on finding scalable solutions

Why You’ll Love Working At Vial

Innate curiosity.

At our core, we embody an insatiable curiosity. Our journey into the realm of clinical trials was ignited by a firsthand understanding of the challenges involved. This innate curiosity drives us to constantly innovate, seek fresh ideas, and bring our vision of reimagining clinical trials to life.

Fostering autonomy.

Autonomy is our guiding principle. We firmly believe that when team members are entrusted with autonomy, they unleash their true potential. Our culture fosters an environment where each individual takes ownership of their domain, empowering them to make a profound impact.

The pursuit of mastery.

We are dedicated to cultivating mastery. We understand the value of honing expertise in a craft. The pursuit of mastery, coupled with a deep sense of pride in one's workmanship, fuels our unwavering commitment to tackle intricate challenges. At Vial, we foster a culture of highly autonomous professionals, each an expert in their field, collaborating on an immensely demanding endeavor together.

Move fast, stay humble.

Our strength lies in agility and humility. We firmly believe that intellectual honesty and a nimble mindset are the pillars of success. By staying adaptable and open-minded to all solutions, we tackle obstacles head-on, remaining humble in the face of adversity. This enables us to surmount the hurdles that confront us at every twist and turn.

Benefits

• Competitive Equity Compensation

• 100% Employer-Covered Base Health Plan for Employee (Coverage Varies by Location)

• One time, Remote Office Setup Stipend

• Retirement Savings Plan with Company Matching (after 90 Days of Employment)

• 16 Weeks of Fully Paid Paid Parental Leave (after 90 Days of Employment)

• Remote-First, Flexible Work Schedule

• 12 Company-Observed Holidays (in addition to Holiday Break). Regional statutory holidays are also observed based on your location.

• Unlimited Vacation

We prioritize candidate safety. Please be aware that official communication will only be sent from '@vial.com' or ''@tryvial.careers' addresses. Vial is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.