️ about us
the bland company is a food and biotech startup that produces cost-efficient, highly functional ingredients by transforming overlooked agricultural by-products using novel biochemical processes.
our flagship solutions are clean-label proteins designed to help leading food brands reduce their dependence on egg-derived ingredients-without compromising functionality. we're already in trials with several large cpgs and are backed by top-tier investors and industry advisors. our founding team is composed of biochemists and biochemical engineers with a track-record of developing next-gen ingredients and a mission to transform the food system.
the role
we are seeking a strategic, hands-on, technically exceptional head of r&d to lead scientific innovation and scale manufacturing. you'll drive the development of our novel protein ingredients - from lab-scale to real-world application.
you'll manage a growing team of scientists and application experts working on protein chemistry, scale-up, and formulation science. this is a unique opportunity to define the technical dna of a high-impact company shaping the future of sustainable food.
key responsibilities:
- lead r&d across core areas: protein chemistry, process optimisation, and application science
- translate business goals into clear technical objectives and deliverables
- define and execute our r&d roadmap - from platform refinement to client-facing application validation
- identify and evaluate emerging scientific methods and technologies to accelerate progress
- recruit, manage, and mentor a multidisciplinary team
- oversee experimental design, data analysis, and documentation
- collaborate with the founding team on ip strategy, regulatory planning (e.g. gras), and grant/scientific communication
- support scale-up and transfer of r&d to manufacturing environment
- coordinate with external partners (labs, cros, academic collaborators, suppliers)
- contribute to strategic decisions around which food categories and use cases to prioritize, based on ingredient performance and customer feedback
- oversee the development and management of a world-class laboratory
requirements:
- phd in biochemistry, chemistry, food science, biotechnology or a related discipline
- 10+ years industry experience in food ingredient or protein r&d, with a track record of leading projects and teams
- deep expertise in plant protein structure, plant protein functionality (solubility, emulsification, gelling, water/oil binding, etc.) and protein structure-function relationships
- experience across protein modification methods - physical, chemical, and biological
- experience in protein purification and characterisation techniques
- familiarity with food product development cycles and application testing
- excellent project management, communication, and mentoring skills
- exposure to ingredient scale-up and tech transfer from lab to pilot/commercial scale
- bonus: experience working with upcycled ingredients, co-product valorization
- bonus: familiarity with regulatory strategy (gras, efsa, etc.)
what you'll get:
- leadership role at the heart of a high-impact food biotech startup
- lead a world-class scientific team and build cutting-edge infrastructure from scratch
- access to global network of advisors and collaborators
- fast learning, high ownership, and the chance to see your work in products that hit the market
- competitive compensation + equity
- a collaborative, dynamic team that's in this for the long run
