Director of Finance and Operations

We’re looking for a Director of Finance & Operations to join our team at Meridian — a small, ambitious organisation building a community of researchers focused on AI safety and the long-term future of humanity.

We've scaled rapidly to manage approximately £4M in funding from government bodies, research councils, and major philanthropic organisations, and we need someone to build the operational foundation that supports our continued growth.

You'll have decision-making authority across grant compliance, contract negotiations, fiscal sponsorship arrangements, and strategic operational planning. This is a senior executive role designed to grow with the organisation — you'll be building systems from the ground up and shaping how we operate as we scale our work in AI safety and biosecurity.

What you’ll do

Financial Management

• Manage budgets and financial reporting across multiple grant streams

• Oversee grant compliance and reporting requirements

• Establish financial controls and audit processes

• Develop budget planning and resource allocation strategies

Legal & Compliance

• Lead contract negotiations and legal review processes

• Manage fiscal sponsorship arrangements and partnership agreements

• Coordinate with external legal counsel on complex matters

Operational Systems

• Design and implement scalable operational processes

• Manage visa applications, insurance policies, and administrative requirements

• Establish vendor relationships and service provider contracts

What we’re looking for

• At least 3 years experience in operational, finance, or compliance roles with increasing responsibility

• Experience managing multi-stream budgets (£500K+ annually)

• Direct experience with grant reporting, government contracts, or regulated funding

• Track record of contract negotiations and working with legal processes

• Experience implementing new systems or processes in a growing organization

• Competence with financial tools (QuickBooks, Airtable) and working with external service providers

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of or interest in AI safety, biosecurity, global health & development, or international security (helpful for context, but not required)

• Experience working with academic institutions, research organizations, or mission-driven entities

• Familiarity with UK CIC/charity regulations and governance
  

Additional Details

• This is an in-person role in Cambridge, UK. We may accommodate remote arrangements in exceptional cases.

• We can sponsor UK work visas.

• Contract Type: Full time (40 hours/week)

• Salary: £50,000 - £60,000

• Earliest Start: July 2025 (flexible)

• Contract Duration: 1 yr., with strong intention to renew conditional on performance

What you’ll enjoy beyond the paycheck

• Access to our hub in central Cambridge where you’ll be surrounded by 200+ researchers, technologists and founders tackling AI safety, bio-security and other world-scale problems.

• 4 % employer pension contribution

• Lunches & snacks

• Annual travel & professional-development stipend