Job Details
The Director of Chemistry will join the Ruby Bio team and be responsible for the synthesis, characterization and scale-up of bio-based surfactants for application in home & personal care, food, and industrial segments. Ruby Bio is an early-stage biotechnology company with the mission of making high-value chemicals in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner. Our proprietary microbial platform has unique and differentiating properties suitable for sustainable production of a variety of complex molecules that are expensive and / or difficult to manufacture synthetically, limiting their supply and use.
Primary Responsibilities
Lead chemical research and development activities of bio-based surfactants including synthesis and characterization.
Collaborate with internal application development, market development and bioprocessing teams to build a targeted pipeline of bio-based surfactants.
Chemical process scale-up of surfactant synthesis for pilot/commercial production.
Leverage knowledge of surfactant functionalities to aid formulation and/or application solutions.
Identify opportunities for technical innovation and translate them to R&D initiatives.
Deliver results for complex projects on time, through regular written and oral reports to management.
Contribute to intellectual property with application write-ups and examiner actions.
Mentor, train, and coach colleagues to build knowledge and expertise.
Maintain and promote a safe work environment.
Competencies:
Deep technical expertise in surfactant synthesis, scale-up and characterization.
Deep understanding of surfactant chemistry including structure function relationship.
Systematic and thorough knowledge of experimental design, principles, and execution.
Good project management skills.
Technical and business communication skills.
Market and product Insight related to surfactants.
Excellent multi-tasking, organizational, and communication skills.
Interface cross-functionally with other R&D departments, business development and manufacturing groups to support commercial production of bio-based surfactants.
Education & Other Requirements:
MS or PhD in Chemistry, chemical engineering, or related field
Ten+ years of surfactant synthesis and scale-up in chemical industry.
Excellent connection within technical and business networks.
Additional background in surfactant applications development is a plus.
. Up to 15 % travel may be required.