Chief Technology Officer

Type of job

Full Time

Job function

Management

Experience level

Senior

Equity

Yes

BE PART OF THE FUTURE OF FOOD

Myconeos is a fungal biotechnology company with expertise in the generation of novel strains and strain improvement of filamentous fungi. This primarily involves the use of natural sexual crossing to breed new fungi.

ABOUT MYCONEOS

Our technology is particularly applicable to the food and aggro-tech industries where genetic modification techniques are not allowed or resisted. The food space is the primary company focus where particular opportunities exist in generating novel and improved cultures for dairy use, mycoprotein applications and producing new functional ingredients (e.g. colours, flavours, nutritionally active ingredients etc.).

THE CANDIDATE

The Chief Technical Officer (CTO) will be responsible for leading and guiding the company's technical and research-driven vision. This key executive role requires a excellent understanding of the application of fungal and yeast science; and, will be responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of research and product development, quality control, and ensuring the scalability and sustainability of our solutions. The CTO will work closely with the CEO, our science founder and scientific advisory board to drive innovation and product development that align with the companies long-term goals. The role requires a strategic thinker who has an entrepreneurial mindset with the with the ability to drive innovation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Technology Strategy & Leadership:

  • Define and lead the overall technology roadmap in alignment with the company’s goals.

  • Stay up to date on trends and advancements in fungal microbiology, biotechnology, and related fields to maintain the company's competitive edge.

  • Develop and implement innovative microbiological solutions for product development.

  • Attend and contribute to our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) meetings chaired by our science founder.

Research & Development:

  • Lead R&D activities, driving the development of new products, processes, and microbiological assays.

  • Manage and mentor a team of microbiologists, lab technicians, and scientists to ensure projects are executed efficiently.

  • Foster a culture of innovation and scientific excellence within the organisation.

  • Awareness of external funding opportunities and preparation of grants

Product Development:

  • Ensure the successful scaling of fungal technologies from research to market-ready products.

  • Oversee product testing, validation, and optimisation, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and standards.

  • Collaborate with regulatory teams to ensure all microbiological products meet necessary certifications and approvals.

Quality Control:

  • Develop and implement robust quality control processes for microbiological testing and production.

  • Ensure that all lab practices meet internal standards as well as those outlined by external regulatory bodies (e.g., SALSA, FSA,EFSA, ISO, H&S etc.).

  • Ensure central record keeping and data logging by the research team.

Collaboration & Communication:

  • Act as the technical spokesperson for the company, interfacing with stakeholders, partners, and investors.

  • Work closely with the business development team to align technical developments with market needs and business goals.

  • Foster external relationships with academic institutions, research bodies, and industry partners to ensure ongoing collaboration.

  • Work closely with our science founder on the science programme.

Resource Management:

  • Oversee the technical budget and manage resources to ensure the efficient allocation of time, staff, and equipment.

  • Assess and integrate new tools, technologies, and methodologies that improve research and product development capabilities.

REQUIREMENTS

PhD or Master’s in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, or a related field.

Proven track record in a senior technical leadership role within the microbiology, biotech, or life sciences industries.

Extensive experience in managing microbiology labs, microbial culture methods, and product development cycles.

Experience in scaling microbiological technologies from lab-scale to full-scale commercial products, and negotiating the regulatory frameworks related to microbiological products (FDA, ISO, etc.).

Strong leadership skills with experience building and managing high-performance teams.

Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at all organisational levels.

Expertise in microbial physiology, molecular biology, fermentation technologies, and microbiome research; familiarity with bioinformatics and data analysis tools and a solid understanding of quality control processes for microbial products.

Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

Additional Requirements:

  • Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

  • High degree of adaptability, with a commitment to staying current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive insights.

  • Current and clean driver’s licence.

WHAT WE OFFER

LOCATION: Nottingham, with regular travel to Europe.

PACKAGE: Competitive with performance related bonus and equity, pension.

Myconeos strives for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Myconeos is a living wage employer.