How to apply for Business Operations Manager, L3

About Citrine Informatics

Citrine Informatics is at the forefront of using AI to accelerate the development of sustainable materials, enabling companies to bring eco-friendly products to market faster. Working here means contributing to cutting-edge technology that has a real impact on sustainability and innovation. The remote-first culture and collaboration with top-tier clients make it an exciting place for forward-thinking professionals.

About the role

As Business Operations Manager, L3, you will lead the Commercial Operations Team, owning the tech stack, commission planning, and deal desk functions. You'll also drive high-impact analytical projects that inform strategic decisions, directly influencing Citrine's growth trajectory. This role is pivotal in ensuring operational excellence and scalability as the company expands.

A typical day

You might start your day with a quick sync with the sales team to address deal desk inquiries, then dive into analyzing commission data to ensure accuracy. Later, you could lead a meeting with the COO to present findings from a growth analysis and discuss next steps. Throughout, you'll balance team management, strategic projects, and cross-functional collaboration to keep operations running smoothly.

Who Citrine Informatics is looking for

• 5+ years in business operations, sales operations, or deal desk roles, preferably in a high-growth tech or SaaS environment.
• Proven experience managing and optimizing commercial tech stacks (e.g., Salesforce, CPQ, commission tools) and leading a team.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights and drive cross-functional initiatives.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience supporting C-level executives and sales teams.

Tips for this application

• Highlight your experience with commercial tech stacks (Salesforce, CPQ, etc.) and quantify improvements you've made to sales operations processes.
• Emphasize any experience in commission planning and deal desk management, as these are core responsibilities.
• Showcase your analytical prowess by describing a complex business problem you solved and the measurable impact it had.
• Demonstrate familiarity with AI or materials science industries, or express genuine interest in Citrine's mission to accelerate sustainable materials development.
• Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description, such as 'commercial operations', 'deal desk', 'commission planning', and 'high-impact analytical work'.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your hands-on experience managing commercial operations in a tech-driven environment, with specific examples of optimizing tech stacks and processes.', 'A proven track record of leading analytical projects that influenced strategic decisions, ideally in a growth-stage company.', 'Your ability to manage a team and collaborate cross-functionally, particularly with sales, finance, and executive leadership.', "Your enthusiasm for Citrine's mission and how your operational expertise can support their growth and sustainability goals."]

Research before applying

• Learn about Citrine's AI platform and its applications in materials development to understand the company's value proposition.
• Research the COO's background and recent company announcements to align your answers with leadership priorities.
• Explore common challenges in sales operations for SaaS companies and how they might apply to Citrine's growth stage.
• Understand the basics of materials science and sustainability to speak intelligently about the industry.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach evaluating and optimizing our current commercial tech stack to support a scaling sales team?
• Describe a time you identified a flaw in a commission plan and how you addressed it.
• Walk us through a complex deal desk scenario you managed and the outcome.
• How do you prioritize analytical projects when multiple stakeholders have competing needs?
• What metrics would you track to measure the success of the Commercial Operations Team?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on past responsibilities without demonstrating measurable impact or results.
• Neglecting to mention experience with specific tools like Salesforce, CPQ, or commission software.
• Showing a lack of interest in the company's mission or industry, which can come across as a poor culture fit.