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About us

“Arborea is industrialising photosynthesis to turn CO2 into food without fertile land”.


Our mission-driven company is accelerating the transition to a healthy and sustainable food system by developing ground-breaking cell cultivation technologies to produce the most sustainable ingredients and proteins on the planet. Our journey starts with a revolutionary platform to grow photosynthetic microorganisms, the “BioSolar Leaf”, which mimics the functioning mechanisms of real leaves to boost productivity while slashing costs and has gained strong traction from the world’s largest food corporations.


Following our latest venture capital-financing, we are scaling to production and expanding an amazing team of enthusiastic, collaborative and mission-driven individuals who take pride in using their diverse skills to make healthy and sustainable food accessible to everyone. Our core values include perseverance, collaboration, curiosity, innovation, transparency and altruism, and we strive to bring these values to life every day.


We join a new generation of entrepreneurs, activists, engineers and scientists who recognize that the centuries-old food system cannot sustain the dietary needs of 7 billion people and counting - and that the intersection between nature and technology holds a solution. 


About this Job

This is a rare chance for a bright, driven graduate to work right next to a Forbes 30 Under 30 founder while he scales a climate-tech company. You will be the CEO's right hand. You'll manage his time and priorities so he can focus where he adds the most value, and you'll take on strategic projects across the business.

The role is roughly half executive support and half founder's associate work. The project share will grow as you prove yourself. You will see how a deep-tech start-up is built, financed and commercialised, which makes this a strong launchpad for a career in strategy, operations, venture or leadership.


Key Responsibilities


Executive support

  • Manage the CEO's diary, inbox and priorities across UK and Portugal time zones, and protect time for deep work.
  • Plan and book complex international travel, including trips to Moita and visits to partners, investors and conferences.
  • Prepare briefing notes, agendas and background research before meetings, and take minutes and follow up on actions afterwards.
  • Act as a trusted first point of contact for investors, partners, board members and the team, and handle confidential information with discretion.
  • Coordinate board meetings, investor updates and internal leadership meetings.


Founder associate projects
  • Research markets, competitors and customers in alternative proteins, food ingredients and climate tech.
  • Help build fundraising materials: pitch decks, financial summaries, data rooms and investor pipeline tracking.
  • Support business development by researching prospective partners, drafting proposals and keeping CRM and pipeline data up to date.
  • Own cross-functional projects from start to finish, such as grant applications, partnership launches, event appearances and internal process improvements.
  • Draft communications for the CEO, including LinkedIn posts, speeches, press responses and presentation content.
  • Track company priorities and OKRs, chase progress, and give the CEO clear, concise updates.


Requirements

 

Essentials

  • A strong university degree. Law, Business, Economics, English, History or another strong academic degree.
  • Exceptional organisation: you juggle many priorities and nothing slips through the cracks.
  • Excellent written and spoken English, and the ability to turn complex information into clear, sharp summaries.
  • Strong analytical skills and confidence with Excel/Google Sheets, PowerPoint/Google Slides and modern productivity tools.
  • High emotional intelligence, absolute discretion and professional maturity when dealing with senior stakeholders.


Desirable

· Genuine passion for sustainability, food systems or climate technology.

· Internship or work experience in a start-up, consulting, VC, banking or an executive office.

· Portuguese, Italian or another European language would be an advantage.

· Interest in biotech, alternative proteins or the food and beverage industry.


Company Benefits

  • Direct mentorship from Arborea's founder and exposure to every part of a scaling deep-tech business.
  • Real responsibility from day one, with a clear path to a larger strategic or operational role.
  • The chance to help tackle global food security and climate change.
  • A small, international, mission-driven team across London and Portugal.
  • Competitive salary based on experience.