Operations Specialist

About us:

ChemFinity Technologies is building critical mineral recovery systems to produce over 20 minerals from waste and mining feedstocks at low cost, using our proprietary, high-performance, high-durability sorbent filters. Up to a 6x increase in critical mineral demand is expected by 2040, to meet the supplies needed for clean energy, defense, manufacturing, and other technology sectors. However, 80% of U.S. critical minerals already come from foreign sources, and 7% of greenhouse gas emissions come from mining. Our team’s mission is to produce these minerals in ways that are cheaper, cleaner, and more accessible than existing methods such as high-temperature smelting, starting with precious metals like platinum.

Spun out of UC Berkeley in late 2022 and based in New York City, ChemFinity is backed by top-tier investor firms and over 10 top government and grant agencies, such as Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Fellows, the U.S. Department of Energy, ARPA-E, and the U.S. EPA. ChemFinity has been recognized as top innovators in the critical minerals sector by the World Economic Forum, Forbes, and Conservation X Labs.

What you will do:

ChemFinity seeks a detail-oriented and dynamic Operations Specialist to drive operational excellence in a multi-faceted role. This critical role will be responsible for building and managing systems, processes, and procedures that improve our business operations and startup growth. In this role, you will work creatively and collaboratively with our co-founders, R&D team, and external partners across various multiple functions (e.g., HR, IT, finance, infrastructure, commercialization), as we grow from the lab to commercial scale.

Key responsibilities include:

Business Operations

• Improve, oversee, and execute on internal systems and workflows to enhance efficiency across administrative, technical, and business processes.

• Identify and resolve day-to-day operational duties, such as invoice processing, documentation, and calendar management.

• Assist with special projects as needed, which may include event and travel coordination, IT systems, and team logistics.

• Full-time work on-site at our Brooklyn facility.

People & Culture

• Coordinate and structure recruiting and onboarding processes.

• Assist with business planning, strategy, and project management, including goal setting, roadmapping, timeline management, budgeting, and performance tracking.

Strategic Support

• Partner with the co-founders to prepare fundraising and investor materials, such as in managing data rooms, updating key documents, and compiling business updates.

• Support the research, application, and management of strategic grant opportunities and startup programs.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in business, engineering, or a related field (MBA is a plus).

• 3–5+ years of experience in operations, strategy, or consulting, preferably in high-growth and mission-driven environments such as startups, non-profits, or tech organizations.

• Scrappy and resourceful mindset with a strong sense of ownership and willingness to tackle tasks of any size to support the team's success.

• Excellent attentiveness to detail and ensuring high accuracy of documents.

• Proven capabilities in problem-solving and creating and improving operational systems in growing teams.

• High trustworthiness and able to carefully handle confidential information across stakeholders.

• Strong communication skills, including writing and speaking across assorted audiences.

• Bias toward action and constant improvement.

• Comfortable with tools such as Excel, project management software, and CRM platforms.

• An unwavering commitment to supportive work behavior, team building, and sustainability.

Other preferred qualifications:

• Experience in handling and putting together grant applications and budgets.

• Experience in other key responsibility areas listed above.

• Experience in climate tech or deep tech startups, other early-stage ventures.

• Experience in managing external communications, such as company social media accounts and public-facing updates.

• The desire to be in a dynamic startup environment and proactively use critical thinking to solve difficult but impactful challenges.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary range for this position is expected to be $80K-$120K. Compensation will be commensurate with experience level. For this role, we will also consider candidates from a range of experience levels and highly value fit with our team.

• Competitive compensation, including equity options

• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits

• 401(k) benefits with company matching

• Flexible paid time off and holidays

• Health/fitness stipend

• Open, supportive, and diverse team focused on creating major impact

Please reach out to recruiting@chemfinitytech.com if you have questions. ChemFinity Technologies is an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace as a core value. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, nationality, color, sexual orientation, ancestry, religion, gender identity, age, marital status, disability status, or veteran status. We know the right candidate may not meet every criterion listed in this job description. If you believe you are a great candidate for this role and possess relevant skills not listed above, we encourage you to apply and tell us why you are a great fit!