job details
summary
- bengaluru, karnataka
- permanent
- job categoryengineering
Head of R&D
Department: R&D | Reports to: Managing Director / CEO, Multiplex Group | Location: Peenya, Bengaluru
Experience Level: 10+ Years | Employment Type: Full-Time
Job Summary
The Head of R&D will lead the Research & Development function for Multiplex Bio-Tech Pvt. Ltd. (MBT), setting the scientific and commercial direction for microbial formulations, biofertilizers, biocontrol agents and other agricultural bio input products. The incumbent will own the R&D strategy, product pipeline and portfolio ROI, lead a multidisciplinary team of approximately 20 scientists, research associates and technicians, and ensure R&D outputs are scientifically sound, commercially viable and fully compliant with applicable regulatory frameworks. The role requires close collaboration with commercial, manufacturing, supply chain and regulatory teams, and a strong personal commitment to scientific integrity and ethical research practice.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic R&D Leadership
* Define and drive the R&D strategy and multi-year technology roadmap for microbial formulations, biofertilizers, biocontrol agents and related agri-input products, aligned to overall business goals.
* Identify emerging opportunities and white spaces in agricultural microbiology and agronomy, and translate them into an actionable innovation pipeline.
* Represent R&D at the leadership level, converting scientific priorities into measurable business outcomes.
Product Development & Commercialization
* Lead end-to-end product development, from concept and lab-scale proof of concept through pilot trials, scale-up and commercial launch.
* Own stage-gate reviews and go/no-go decisions across the product development pipeline. * Ensure new products meet efficacy, quality, cost and regulatory requirements prior to commercial release. * Partner with the commercial team to translate market and customer needs into R&D briefs, and support field trials, product positioning and technical launch support.
Team Leadership & Capability Building
* Lead, mentor and manage a multidisciplinary R&D team of approximately 20 across microbiology, formulation science, agronomy and QA/QC.
* Build organizational capability through structured hiring, training, performance management and succession planning.
* Foster a culture of scientific rigor, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement across the team.
Project & Portfolio Management
* Manage the R&D project portfolio, prioritizing initiatives based on ROI, strategic fit, resource availability and time to-market.
* Apply structured ROI and cost-benefit analysis to evaluate new product opportunities, R&D investments and build versus-partner decisions.
* Establish and maintain robust project management systems covering timelines, budgets, milestones and risk registers across all active projects.
* Report progress, risks and outcomes to senior leadership on a regular cadence.
Regulatory, Quality & Ethical Compliance
* Ensure R&D activities and product dossiers comply with applicable regulatory frameworks, including FCO, CIB&RC and DSIR recognition requirements.
* Oversee preparation of technical and regulatory documentation supporting product registrations, approvals and DSIR recognition status.
* Uphold GLP/GMP standards, data integrity and the highest standards of scientific and research ethics across the R&D function.
Cross-Functional & External Collaboration
* Collaborate closely with commercial, manufacturing, supply chain and quality teams to ensure R&D outputs are scalable and commercially viable.
* Build and manage relationships with external research institutions, universities, industry bodies and technology partners.
* Evaluate and manage external collaborations, licensing opportunities and technology in-licensing or out-licensing arrangements.
Budget & Resource Ownership
* Own and manage the R&D budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources across projects and functions. * Track and report R&D spend against ROI and business impact, recommending course corrections as needed.
Qualifications & Skills
Educational Qualification
* Ph.D. / M.Sc. / M.Tech in Microbiology, Agricultural Microbiology, Agronomy, Plant Sciences, Biotechnology or a closely related discipline. A Ph.D. is strongly preferred for this function-head role.
Experience
* Around 10 years of progressive experience in product development and commercial R&D, preferably within the agri-biotech, biofertilizer, biocontrol, biostimulant or related agricultural input industries.
* Demonstrated experience managing a team of approximately 20, including scientists, research associates and technicians.
* Proven track record of taking products from concept through to commercial launch.
Core Technical & Managerial Skills
* Strong technical grounding in microbiology and/or agronomy, with working knowledge of microbial formulation science, fermentation and agricultural product development.
* Demonstrated ability to conduct ROI analysis, cost-benefit evaluation and investment prioritization for R&D projects.
* Strong project management (OKR and related) skills, including planning, budgeting, risk management and cross functional execution.
* Working knowledge of Indian regulatory frameworks for agri-input products (FCO, CIB&RC, DSIR); awareness of global frameworks is a plus.
* Comfort with data-driven decision-making and use of analytics tools for portfolio and performance tracking.
Leadership & Behavioural Attributes
* High ethical standards and an unwavering commitment to scientific integrity, data integrity and responsible research practice.
* Strong people-leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to build, mentor and retain high-performing technical teams.
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with technical teams, senior leadership and external partners.
* Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline, comfortable operating in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
* Collaborative, transparent and accountable leadership style.
Good to Have
* Prior experience in a head-of-function or senior leadership R&D role within an agri-input, biotech or life sciences company.
* Exposure to IP and patent strategy, technology licensing or fundraising support.
* Publication record, patents, or significant contributions to product pipelines in previous roles. * Familiarity with global regulatory frameworks (EU, US-EPA, FAO/WHO) for agricultural biotechnology or biologicals.
* Experience working with or building DSIR-recognized R&D units.
Desired KPIs
* Number of new products or product variants launched per year (target: ≥ 5/year). * R&D pipeline value and ROI delivered against R&D budget, reviewed quarterly. * On-time delivery of key R&D project milestones (target: ≥ 85%).
* Regulatory approvals or registrations secured per year, aligned to the product pipeline. * Team capability building: training hours, internal promotions and retention of key talent. * Ethical and regulatory compliance audit pass rate: 100%.
experience
16Head of R&D
Department: R&D | Reports to: Managing Director / CEO, Multiplex Group | Location: Peenya, Bengaluru
Experience Level: 10+ Years | Employment Type: Full-Time
Job Summary
The Head of R&D will lead the Research & Development function for Multiplex Bio-Tech Pvt. Ltd. (MBT), setting the scientific and commercial direction for microbial formulations, biofertilizers, biocontrol agents and other agricultural bio input products. The incumbent will own the R&D strategy, product pipeline and portfolio ROI, lead a multidisciplinary team of approximately 20 scientists, research associates and technicians, and ensure R&D outputs are scientifically sound, commercially viable and fully compliant with applicable regulatory frameworks. The role requires close collaboration with commercial, manufacturing, supply chain and regulatory teams, and a strong personal commitment to scientific integrity and ethical research practice.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic R&D Leadership
* Define and drive the R&D strategy and multi-year technology roadmap for microbial formulations, biofertilizers, biocontrol agents and related agri-input products, aligned to overall business goals.
* Identify emerging opportunities and white spaces in agricultural microbiology and agronomy, and translate them into an actionable innovation pipeline.
* Represent R&D at the leadership level, converting scientific priorities into measurable business outcomes.
Product Development & Commercialization
* Lead end-to-end product development, from concept and lab-scale proof of concept through pilot trials, scale-up and commercial launch.
* Own stage-gate reviews and go/no-go decisions across the product development pipeline. * Ensure new products meet efficacy, quality, cost and regulatory requirements prior to commercial release. * Partner with the commercial team to translate market and customer needs into R&D briefs, and support field trials, product positioning and technical launch support.
Team Leadership & Capability Building
* Lead, mentor and manage a multidisciplinary R&D team of approximately 20 across microbiology, formulation science, agronomy and QA/QC.
* Build organizational capability through structured hiring, training, performance management and succession planning.
* Foster a culture of scientific rigor, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement across the team.
Project & Portfolio Management
* Manage the R&D project portfolio, prioritizing initiatives based on ROI, strategic fit, resource availability and time to-market.
* Apply structured ROI and cost-benefit analysis to evaluate new product opportunities, R&D investments and build versus-partner decisions.
* Establish and maintain robust project management systems covering timelines, budgets, milestones and risk registers across all active projects.
* Report progress, risks and outcomes to senior leadership on a regular cadence.
Regulatory, Quality & Ethical Compliance
* Ensure R&D activities and product dossiers comply with applicable regulatory frameworks, including FCO, CIB&RC and DSIR recognition requirements.
* Oversee preparation of technical and regulatory documentation supporting product registrations, approvals and DSIR recognition status.
* Uphold GLP/GMP standards, data integrity and the highest standards of scientific and research ethics across the R&D function.
Cross-Functional & External Collaboration
* Collaborate closely with commercial, manufacturing, supply chain and quality teams to ensure R&D outputs are scalable and commercially viable.
* Build and manage relationships with external research institutions, universities, industry bodies and technology partners.
* Evaluate and manage external collaborations, licensing opportunities and technology in-licensing or out-licensing arrangements.
Budget & Resource Ownership
* Own and manage the R&D budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources across projects and functions. * Track and report R&D spend against ROI and business impact, recommending course corrections as needed.
Qualifications & Skills
Educational Qualification
* Ph.D. / M.Sc. / M.Tech in Microbiology, Agricultural Microbiology, Agronomy, Plant Sciences, Biotechnology or a closely related discipline. A Ph.D. is strongly preferred for this function-head role.
Experience
* Around 10 years of progressive experience in product development and commercial R&D, preferably within the agri-biotech, biofertilizer, biocontrol, biostimulant or related agricultural input industries.
* Demonstrated experience managing a team of approximately 20, including scientists, research associates and technicians.
* Proven track record of taking products from concept through to commercial launch.
Core Technical & Managerial Skills
* Strong technical grounding in microbiology and/or agronomy, with working knowledge of microbial formulation science, fermentation and agricultural product development.
* Demonstrated ability to conduct ROI analysis, cost-benefit evaluation and investment prioritization for R&D projects.
* Strong project management (OKR and related) skills, including planning, budgeting, risk management and cross functional execution.
* Working knowledge of Indian regulatory frameworks for agri-input products (FCO, CIB&RC, DSIR); awareness of global frameworks is a plus.
* Comfort with data-driven decision-making and use of analytics tools for portfolio and performance tracking.
Leadership & Behavioural Attributes
* High ethical standards and an unwavering commitment to scientific integrity, data integrity and responsible research practice.
* Strong people-leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to build, mentor and retain high-performing technical teams.
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with technical teams, senior leadership and external partners.
* Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline, comfortable operating in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
* Collaborative, transparent and accountable leadership style.
Good to Have
* Prior experience in a head-of-function or senior leadership R&D role within an agri-input, biotech or life sciences company.
* Exposure to IP and patent strategy, technology licensing or fundraising support.
* Publication record, patents, or significant contributions to product pipelines in previous roles. * Familiarity with global regulatory frameworks (EU, US-EPA, FAO/WHO) for agricultural biotechnology or biologicals.
* Experience working with or building DSIR-recognized R&D units.
Desired KPIs
* Number of new products or product variants launched per year (target: ≥ 5/year). * R&D pipeline value and ROI delivered against R&D budget, reviewed quarterly. * On-time delivery of key R&D project milestones (target: ≥ 85%).
* Regulatory approvals or registrations secured per year, aligned to the product pipeline. * Team capability building: training hours, internal promotions and retention of key talent. * Ethical and regulatory compliance audit pass rate: 100%.
experience
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