descripción del trabajo

About Us

Kykeon Analytics is a scientific laboratory startup founded in 2020 dedicated to chemical analysis in the context of public health and harm reduction. We specialize in analytical testing of psychoactive substances, operating under strict quality and safety protocols.

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly capable and independent Laboratory Operations Manager to take full responsibility for our Spain-based laboratory. The right candidate will run the lab and lead the team independently, meeting with the Director once or twice a week for strategic coordination but otherwise managing all daily operations without supervision.

This role combines a competitive base salary with clear accountability and performance-linked incentives. We invite applicants with a strong sense of ambition who want to see the fruits of their labour in the form of tangible positive impacts on society and in the form of financial rewards for creativity and strong performance, while at the same time taking personal responsibility for their work and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of ~4 lab staff, ensuring efficiency, morale, and accountability.
• Fully learn all lab workflows, systems, and protocols within the first month.
• Operate and supervise LC-MS/MS, FTIR, bench top NMR, and NIR instruments, ensuring proper maintenance and quality control.
• Develop and validate new LC-MS/MS methods for novel compounds.
• Maintain strict organization of the lab, manage inventory, and control costs.
• Optimize laboratory costs and costs of the analytical service.
• Innovate: develop more efficient workflows, integrate new tools, and improve productivity.
• Report operational status, results, and needs to the Director weekly in writing, and in regular meetings.
• Provide clear written weekly operational reports and regular updates to the Director.
• Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and ethical standards, particularly in handling psychoactive substances.
• Train new lab staff in performing their lab work and acquiring the skills required to do so and help train deputy lab managers who can substitute for the lab operations manager for limited periods of time.
• Be available for occasional overtime when required by urgent operational needs.
• Be available for occasional travel internationally and to represent Kykeon in Spain.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 4+ years experience in laboratory management, including team leadership.
• Proven ability to independently run a laboratory and make operational decisions.
• Good experience with LC-MS/MS, including method development.
• Operational familiarity with FTIR, NMR, and NIR instrumentation.
• Excellent team leadership and morale-building skills.
• Exceptional organizational ability and cost-control mindset.
• Strong written and spoken English; conversational or fluent Spanish preferred.
• Comfortable working with psychoactive substances in a harm reduction setting.
• Creativity and problem-solving skills encouraged and rewarded.
  

Compensation and Incentives

• Gross annual salary: €40,000 – €60,000, depending on qualifications and experience.
• Performance Rewards: We encourage creativity and independent thinking. Creative ways to improve workflows, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and tangible reductions in time and expenses are rewarded with bonuses (see below). The operations manager should always attempt to find ways to reduce operating costs and improve performance, quality and efficiency in the lab and will be rewarded for achieving improvements in these areas. Bonuses will also be rewarded for exceptional performances that go above and beyond normal requirements, for instance for performing higher than standard volumes of testing.
• Penalty Clauses (written into the work contract): Deductions from the base salary may be applied if: Lab operating costs rise due to mismanagement of resources and operations without a proportional increase in output or revenue. Results are given late and deadlines are missed. Errors occur in results provided to clients or published by the lab.
• Bonus types:
• Deferred Profit-Sharing Bonuses: Granted as legally binding obligations, payable in cash once Kykeon achieves net profitability.
• Preferred Shares May be awarded in exceptional cases for consistent, high-impact contributions and leadership — especially those that enable lasting company growth or create long-term value.

Availability

Priority will be given to candidates who can start within 3–5 weeks.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send the following to info@kykeonanalytics.com:

• A letter of motivation outlining your interest in the role and how your experience aligns with the requirements.
• A current CV (curriculum vitae).
• Reference letters, if available.

Only complete applications will be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.