Principal Scientist- BioAgri R&D

Position: Principal Scientist – BioAgri Group

Location: Gurugram

Employment Type: Full Time

About the Role

As the Principal Scientist of our client’s BioAgri group, you will be an integral part of their leadership team, leading current and new laboratories and overseeing multiple research teams. You will spearhead the development of cutting-edge products focused on improving soil health, plant nutrition, and crop protection. Your role will involve guiding product testing and registration, protecting intellectual property by patenting innovations, identifying and incorporating new technologies, and ensuring successful product development and commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Develop and implement a strategic vision for the BioAgri group aligned with business strategy and customer needs.
• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team of scientists and researchers, fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Drive the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel products targeted at global markets.
• Own and manage Technical Excellence teams to ensure end-to-end delivery of product pipelines—from early development through commercialization.

2. Research and Development Management

• Oversee the design, execution, and analysis of experiments and studies related to the BioAgri segment, ensuring scientific rigor and regulatory compliance.
• Manage research projects, timelines, and budgets to ensure efficient resource use and timely milestone completion.
• Develop novel bioformulations for crop improvement and crop protection.
• Lead design and development of BioAgri inputs including biofertilizers, PGPR, biocontrol agents, biostimulants, etc.
• Oversee patent filing, review research publications, and ensure protection of intellectual property.
• Identify novel active ingredients such as peptides, metabolites, botanical and plant extracts, hormones, and their agricultural applications.
• Develop scalable production methods for active ingredients and their formulations.
• Drive soil microbiome engineering initiatives to enhance crop productivity.
• Apply advanced plant molecular biology techniques to support R&D activities.
• Prepare and ensure execution of established methods and SOPs.
• Deliver high-quality results on schedule and communicate effectively with stakeholders.

3. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with other internal departments to facilitate seamless product development and commercialization.
• Provide scientific expertise and leadership in product development strategy, seeking innovation and market differentiation opportunities.
• Foster collaboration with external stakeholders including academic institutions, research organizations, and regulatory agencies to accelerate product development.

4. Regulatory Compliance and Intellectual Property

• Ensure adherence to all applicable regulatory requirements and guidelines.
• Develop and implement processes to safeguard intellectual property, including patent application preparation and submission.

5. Global Representation and Technical Collaborations

• Represent the company at conferences, seminars, and technical forums to demonstrate scientific expertise and achievements.
• Establish and maintain strategic collaborations with scientific organizations, research institutions, and industry partners to advance technologies and maintain thought leadership.
• Act as a global ambassador by building and nurturing relationships with key opinion leaders, industry experts, and regulatory authorities.

6. Team Development and Talent Management

• Recruit, train, and mentor a high-performing team of scientists and researchers specializing in BioAgri.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide constructive feedback, and implement talent retention and succession planning strategies.
• Promote a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, and continuous learning within the organization.

Who Are We Looking For

• A visionary technical leader passionate about making a positive impact and improving the world.
• Entrepreneurially minded, excited to work in dynamic setups that create and manage businesses.
• Ph.D. in Plant Biology, Crop Science, Agricultural Biotechnology, Agri-input Science, or related fields.
• Minimum 12 years of postdoctoral experience in Agri-biotech companies or biotechnology industries focused on Agri-input formulations.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing novel bio-based formulations for crop improvement and protection.
• Experience working with multiple active ingredients in agri-input bioformulations.
• Strong command of fundamental plant molecular biology techniques.
• Proven ability to lead highly skilled teams in fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and technical environments.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to clearly convey technical information to various audiences.