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R&D lead
Location: Oxfordshire
Key Skills: Significant experience in development of Plant-based food ingredients. Prior commercial experience in a R&D leadership role.
Role overview: This is an exciting opportunity to build and lead the R&D capabilities in a newly established and fully funded food-tech start-up, working on developing a versatile range of sustainable functional food ingredients from a grain called amaranth.
Job Overview:
- Develop a detailed R&D strategy to create an innovative protein/starch extraction process and develop a range of functional food ingredients
- Validate the R&D lab layout and design the workflow (incl. equipment)
- Hire the R&D team (amend existing job descriptions, leverage own and external networks to scout for candidates, interview, onboard successful applicants)
- Manage the process and ingredient development
- Work with external partners and laboratories to conduct experiments and analytical tests
- Develop a pipeline of research projects to be done with academic institutions in the UK
- Overall: lead, strategize, plan, organize, communicate internally and externally.
- Accountable for daily decision making in the lab
Capability requirements:
- PhD in a related field
- 10+ years of experience in developing & commercializing food ingredients
- Experience in grain processing or plant-based protein extraction is preferred
- Experience in launching an R&D facility and assembling a team is preferred
- Deep knowledge of food and food industry (ingredients and Consumer Packaged Goods)
- Creative proactive entrepreneurial approach to work
- Strong business acumen, leadership, planning, strategy, communication
Package:
Our client offers a permanent position with a starting salary of £70,000-£80,000 (depending on experience). This is an opportunity to join the company at start-up phase with significant career development as the company growth.
