Office manager

Diffractive Labs Office manager London What We're Looking For Diffractive Labs is an AI-driven materials discovery start-up, aiming to move beyond the bottleneck of human-driven scientific experiments. We combine frontier AI with a purpose-built high-throughput wet lab to run a closed-loop discovery process. We target materials critical for the energy transition. As we grow, we need someone to own the day-to-day running of the company so our team can stay focused on the research. As our Office Manager, you will be the engine behind our operations. You'll run the back office and ensure smooth operations and processes, such as payroll, benefits, events, accounting, making sure every process runs on time and every detail is handled correctly. This role suits someone highly organised, discreet with sensitive information, and comfortable being the person who keeps things moving without needing to be chased. What You'll Do Payroll, pensions & benefits: act as the main point of contact for payroll, pension and benefits, ensuring the right information gets updated and each cycle runs smoothly HR & employment admin: manage employment contracts, HR records, and onboarding paperwork. Onboarding & recruiting support: run new hire onboarding end to end and provide administrative support through the recruiting pipeline, from scheduling to offer paperwork. Tax, Invoices & expenses: process and pay invoices, manage ad-hoc expense reimbursements, coordinate with our accountants and keep our financial admin accurate and up to date. Office procurement: manage supplies, vendor accounts, and subscriptions so the team always has what it needs to work well. Events & travel: organise team dinners and off-sites, and book ad-hoc travel for the team. Vendor liaison: be the reliable interface between the company and our external specialists, making sure nothing falls through the cracks. Skills & Qualifications 1–3 years of experience in office management, HR administration, executive assistance, or operations coordination, ideally at a small or fast-growing company. Highly organised, with a track record of managing several workstreams and vendors at once without dropping details. Comfortable handling sensitive information, including salaries, personal data, and contracts, with discretion. Strong written and verbal communication skills, and confidence liaising directly with external providers such as accountants, lawyers, and payroll bureaus. Proactive and resourceful: you follow up without being asked twice and bring solutions, not just problems. Nice to Have Experience working in a startup or scale-up environment. Familiarity with UK payroll, pension, and core employment law basics. Experience with HR, accounting, or expense tools (e.g. Rippling, Xero). Why Join Us Direct impact: you'll be the person who keeps the company running smoothly day to day, freeing up the team to focus on research breakthroughs. Deep collaboration: we operate as a tightly knit, interdisciplinary team where everyone shares context and works together. Meaningful ownership: You'll have a real stake in how the company runs and grows. Competitive package: we offer competitive compensation, generous paid time off, and premium benefits How to Apply If you're excited about this role and believe you could thrive in it, we'd encourage you to apply even if you may not align with every part of the job description. Diffractive is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. If you require any adjustments or accommodations at any point during the interview process please let us know - we will be happy to help. Hit the apply button below to submit your application. We are looking forward to hearing from you!