Chief Scientist

Role: Chief Science About Pakka Limited At Pakka Ltd, we are committed to sustainable innovation, creating eco-friendly packaging solutions that align with the needs of modern businesses. With over 40 years of manufacturing excellence and a strong R&D foundation, we have been revolutionizing in three major segments, namely Wrap & Carry, Food Services & Flexible Packaging. Join us to shape the future of packaging and make a meaningful impact. Mission of the Role Lead the scientific vision and technical roadmap to make fibre-based and other sustainable materials perform like conventional plastic packaging at a commercially viable cost. Build a strong multidisciplinary research team and translate scientific breakthroughs into scalable, safe and high-performing packaging solutions that replace plastic. Key Responsibilities 1. Own and execute the technical roadmap across barrier coatings, moulded fibre, flexible packaging and fibre/feedstock technologies, aligned with customer needs, sustainability goals and commercial viability. 2. Provide scientific leadership across cellulose and fibre science, biomaterials, polymers, surface chemistry and material processing; guide research priorities, experimental approaches and technology selection. 3. Lead the development of plastic-free, PFAS-free barrier systems and high-performance packaging solutions addressing moisture, oxygen, grease, heat resistance, sealability and mechanical performance. 4. Oversee research programmes from laboratory formulation and prototyping through pilot validation, ensuring technical readiness, reproducibility, manufacturability and transfer to commercial scale. 5. Establish rigorous experimental design, material characterization, testing protocols and scientific review processes to ensure reliable data, product performance and research quality. 6. Own the science-related intellectual property strategy, including invention identification, patent filings, technical documentation and decisions on publication within Pakka’s agreed guardrails. 7. Hire, mentor and develop Lead Scientists, Materials Scientists and other R&D specialists; establish clear research priorities, accountability, cross-functional collaboration and scientific capability building. 8. Lead the open research agenda and build collaborations with universities, research institutes, technology partners and startups to accelerate breakthrough innovations and expand Pakka’s knowledge base. 9. Work closely with Customer Solutions, Proof and Commercialisation teams to convert customer briefs into prototypes, validate solutions through pilot gates and address performance, regulatory and cost requirements. 10. Guide technical decisions on research methods, experiment selection, material platforms and resource allocation within the approved science roadmap and mission guardrails. Qualifications Ph.
D. in Fibre Science, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Cellulose Chemistry, Barrier Materials, Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline with a strong research and development background. Experience
· Scientific Leadership: 10–15 years of industrial R&D experience in fibre, polymers, coatings, packaging or related materials, with proven expertise in leading multidisciplinary research teams.
· Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of cellulose science, biomaterials, polymer chemistry, barrier coatings, moulded fibre, flexible packaging and material characterization.
· Lab to Commercial Scale: Proven experience in at least one successful lab-to-scale launch, including prototyping, pilot validation, industrial scale-up and commercialization.
· Innovation & Research Management: Expertise in scientific strategy, experimental design, research programmes, IP management, patent development and data-driven decision-making.
· International Exposure & Collaboration: Experience working with global R&D organisations, research institutions and technology partners, including participation in international conferences, exhibitions and scientific forums.
· People Leadership & Collaboration: Ability to mentor scientists, manage cross-functional research teams and translate scientific innovations into commercially viable solutions. Success Measures
· Solutions passing the pilot gate: number of scientifically validated solutions successfully progressing through pilot-stage approval.
· Months from brief to prototype: time required to translate an approved customer or research brief into a validated prototype.
· Patents filed: number of patent applications filed arising from the Science circle’s research and innovation programmes.
· Technical performance and cost competitiveness of solutions progressing toward commercialisation. What

We Offer
This role offers the opportunity to shape the scientific direction of sustainable packaging innovation at Pakka, lead multidisciplinary research programmes and develop solutions with measurable environmental and commercial impact. You will work with collaborative teams and external technology partners in an innovation-focused environment, with competitive compensation and opportunities for professional growth. To Apply: If you’re passionate about leading scientific innovation and shaping the future of sustainable packaging, send your CV and cover letter to Lakshmi.vikram@pakka.com. Join us to shape the future of sustainable packaging