Head of Strain Development

Join an ambitious deep-tech organisation developing next-generation bio-manufacturing technologies at the intersection of synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and data-driven research. This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll take ownership of strain engineering strategy, platform development, and scientific delivery, helping to build a high performing biological R&D engine capable of delivering industrial scale production strains.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the strain development function, delivering microbial production strains for high-value industrial ingredients.
• Drive the development of a high throughput strain engineering platform that integrates metabolic engineering, protein engineering, automated screening, fermentation feedback, and data driven decision making.
• Identify and overcome biological bottlenecks across pathways, precursor availability, cofactor balance, transport, toxicity, expression systems, stability, and regulatory mechanisms.
• Design and execute strain improvement strategies using rational engineering, directed evolution, library approaches, and advanced genetic engineering techniques.
• Work closely with fermentation, scale-up, automation, and data science teams to accelerate strain performance and industrial readiness.
• Establish robust scientific workflows, experimental standards, documentation practices, and data management systems that support scalable R&D operations.
• Develop and maintain an IP-aware development strategy, identifying commercially valuable innovations and protecting technical advantage.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists and technicians while fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and collaboration.
• Personally contribute to experimental design, troubleshooting, and critical laboratory activities when required.

What experience you’ll need to apply:

• Significant experience engineering microbial production strains within synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, industrial biotechnology, or a related field.
• MSc or PhD in Synthetic Biology, Microbiology, Metabolic Engineering, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Strong track record delivering measurable improvements in microbial strain performance for industrial or commercial applications.
• Deep understanding of metabolic pathway engineering and the ability to diagnose and solve complex biological bottlenecks.
• Experience applying protein engineering techniques, including rational design, directed evolution, and library-based approaches.
• Hands-on molecular biology expertise, including construct design, cloning, transformation, screening, and strain characterisation.
• Strong experimental design and data analysis skills, including statistical approaches and modern computational tools.
• Experience developing and managing high-throughput screening workflows and translating screening results into production performance improvements.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing scientific teams within a research, start-up, scale-up, or industrial R&D environment.
• Ability to balance scientific rigour with commercial priorities and deliver results within ambitious timelines.
• A proactive, organised approach with strong communication skills and a focus on continuous improvement.

Desirable:

• Experience scaling biological products from laboratory research through fermentation development and industrial deployment.
• Experience working with automated laboratory systems, high-throughput experimentation, or AI/ML-assisted research workflows.
• Knowledge of intellectual property strategy and commercialisation within biotechnology.
• Previous experience building scientific platforms or research functions within a fast-growing company.

What you’ll get in return for your experience:
An opportunity to join a pioneering organisation developing transformational biological manufacturing technologies with the potential to reshape the production of industrial ingredients. This role will be highly influential in defining scientific strategy, building world-class biological capabilities, and driving the development of commercially viable production platforms. You’ll work alongside an ambitious multidisciplinary team in a collaborative environment with significant opportunity for ownership, innovation, and long-term impact.
Competitive salary.

What’s next?
If you’re excited by building high-performance strain engineering platforms and delivering breakthrough biotechnology at industrial scale, we’d love to hear from you, please direct any questions to Jazz@adlib-recruitment.co.uk or apply now for more information.