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%.

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