Head of Science

I am looking for a head of Science position in a co founder setting for an exciting start up business based in London.

As Head of Science, you’ll be a pivotal part of this leadership team, responsible for building and driving the scientific vision. This is a hands-on role that blends high-level strategy with cutting-edge research and execution. You'll guide key decisions around strain engineering and optimisation, fungal biology, and computational approaches, while playing a key role in shaping this startup's business trajectory.

Key Responsibilities:

• Scientific Leadership: Spearhead the development of our strain engineering platform, focusing on fungal cells and protein optimisation.
• Team Building & Recruitment: Lead the recruitment and development of a high-performing team of scientists, computational biologists, and engineers. Build a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, and collaboration.
• R&D Execution: Work at the intersection of bench science and computational biology.
• Fundraising: Assist in shaping and delivering the company’s story and vision to investors.
• Innovation: Stay at the cutting edge of fungal biology and computational techniques. Keep a pulse on scientific advancements and industry trends to ensure this technology stays ahead of the curve.

Key Qualifications:

• PhD in Synthetic Biology, Microbiology, Computational Biology, or a related field.
• Expertise in fungal biology, strain engineering and protein optimisation, including both computational and experimental approaches.
• Experience leading scientific research projects and teams.
• Experience in fundraising and investor relations preferred.
• Ability to build, lead, and mentor multidisciplinary teams.
• Hands-on experience in lab and computational tools (e.g., CRISPR, genome editing, AI-driven models).
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

If you are interested in the position, then please apply within. This role is offering compensation of up to £120,000 per annum and a health equity package.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates