The Science Program Director leads NXW’s cross-functional R&D agenda, aligning upstream and downstream work streams to deliver measurable impact. Acting as a strategic thought partner, he/she connect scientific domains, facilitate collaboration, and translate research into clear milestones. He/she also build tools to communicate technical progress to partners, customers and stakeholders, manage external R&D partnerships, and participates in securing and executing grant-funded projects.

This role sits at the intersection of science and program management.

Responsibilities

1. Lead and Coordinate the R&D Agenda

• Develop and maintain a clear, cross-functional R&D roadmap spanning strain development, fermentation, downstream processing, and application development.
• Ensure alignment of upstream and downstream priorities, and manage interdependencies between internal and partner-led R&D workstreams.
• Translate research progress into measurable milestones and business impact.

2. Science Collaboration

• Act as a thought partner to scientists across upstream (strain development, fermentation) and downstream (extraction, purification, application) domains—helping connect dots, challenge assumptions, and sharpen priorities.
• Facilitate regular science team meetings to ensure alignment, cross-pollination, and visibility into ongoing work.
• Encourage knowledge sharing across partners and internal teams by building clear documentation, maintaining shared trackers, and distilling findings into actionable insights.

3. Translate Science for Customers and Stakeholders

• Build and maintain tools (decks, briefs, demos) to simplify and visualize technical progress and product attributes.
• Represent the R&D agenda in Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) with partners—especially during Phase 1 (co-design) and Phase 2 (co-development).
• Work closely with the CEO and commercial team to translate scientific updates into commercial signals.

4. Oversee R&D Partnerships

• Act as program lead and project manager for our R&D partnerships with academic institutions and industry players. Ensure the partnership delivers on budget, timeline, and scope.

5. Participate in Securing and Managing Grant Funding

• Identify relevant national and international funding opportunities aligned with NXW’s scientific agenda.
• Participate in the writing, submission, and execution of grant-funded projects in collaboration with external partners and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Business Operations managers to ensure reporting, compliance, and milestone tracking are met for all active grants.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD or MSc) in a relevant scientific field (e.g., microbiology, biotechnology, bioprocessing, or food science).
• 5+ years of experience managing R&D programs or projects in scientific or technical environments, including at least 3 years outside academia.
• Solid understanding of biomass fermentation and/or downstream processing.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and manage complex scientific workflows.
• Excellent communication skills, with a track record of translating technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
• Experience collaborating with external partners, including academic institutions and industry players.
• Familiarity with grant writing, reporting, and compliance processes is a plus.
• Highly organized, collaborative, and proactive in driving initiatives forward.