About the Company
We are a fast growing UK food technology company using fermentation to create sustainable food ingredients from agricultural side streams and waste materials.
Our lead product is a cocoa alternative ingredient with a significantly lower environmental footprint and strong commercial advantages for food manufacturers.
Following successful product validation with major food companies, initial outsourced production, and recent Seed investment, we are now entering the next phase of growth: scaling manufacturing capability across the UK and Europe.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced production and scale‑up leader to help drive our manufacturing expansion as we move from pilot production towards repeatable commercial manufacturing.
This is a senior operational role reporting directly to the CEO, combining hands‑on operational execution with strategic manufacturing scale‑up responsibilities.
The role focuses on:
* Managing outsourced production and manufacturing partners
* Leading industrial scale‑up and production trials
* Supporting process industrialisation and supply chain development
* Translating R&D innovation into scalable manufacturing operations
Key Responsibilities
Production & Manufacturing
* Manage outsourced production operations and manufacturing relationships
* Oversee production planning, batch execution, troubleshooting, and delivery performance
* Improve operational consistency, throughput, and reliability
Scale‑Up & Industrialisation
* Lead pilot and commercial production scale‑up trials
* Coordinate with technical teams, engineering partners, and manufacturers
* Support development of scalable manufacturing systems and processes
Supply Chain & Commercial Operations
* Develop supplier and raw material partnerships
* Support logistics, procurement, and manufacturing economics
* Contribute to operational budgeting and commercial decision‑making
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
* Work closely with R&D, engineering, and commercial teams
* Bridge the gap between scientific development and industrial execution
What We’re Looking For
Essential Experience
* Strong background in food manufacturing, production operations, or process scale‑up
* Experience managing manufacturing environments or external production partners
* Project management and operational execution experience
* Commercial awareness and strong problem‑solving ability
* Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑moving environment
Highly Desirable
* Experience in fermentation, ingredients manufacturing, brewing, or related industries
* Startup or scale‑up experience
* Exposure to process engineering or industrial process development
Role Details
* Full‑time permanent position
* Oxford-based with hybrid flexibility
* Regular UK travel and occasional international travel
* Salary: £55,000–£60,000 depending on experience
* Start date: ASAP
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