Senior Director, Technology Development

We’re on a journey to Grow the Future of Materials. How? By unlocking the unique properties of mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms. Our patented technology, Fine Mycelium™, unleashes a new class of materials crafted from nature, engineered for performance, and built for a resilient future.We’re seeking passionate learners to join us in pioneering a materials revolution and creating an epic place to work.

MycoWorks offers competitive equity and benefits programs to support the health, well-being, and financial empowerment of all our employees.We root our relationships with our partners and one another in our core values: Be Mycelial, Cultivate Quality, and Grow the Future, and we're committed to building a diverse team and an inclusive environment where all employees belong. Women, gender expansive individuals, people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Summary

Mycoworks is looking for a Senior Director, Technology Development to manage the upstream process discovery and characterization teams. The role requires a strategic technical leader with expertise in biotechnology, fermentation, and fungal biology. The individual will develop technical plans to meet product specifications, correlate fungal physiology with final product quality, and oversee robust fermentation processes across various systems. They must manage and mentor a technical team, collaborate across functions, and build partnerships with external organizations, to meet business and technical goals. 

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. or Master's degree in a relevant field, 10+ years of experience in technology development, and at least 5 years in a leadership role. Expertise in biotechnology platforms, fermentation systems, strain engineering, fungal biology, and analytical chemistry is essential. Strong leadership, project management, and communication skills are required to lead teams, make strategic decisions, and present complex technical concepts to expert and non-expert stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Technical Leadership

• Develop comprehensive technical plans to achieve product specifications.
• Correlate fungal physiology and metabolism to quality specifications of the final sheet product.
• Experience developing robust fermentation processes in various systems (liquid, solid) and with a broad range of microorganisms.

Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead a strong technical team with 2 experienced Direct reports who are themselves managing teams
• Foster a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams, to achieve technical milestones.
• Oversee the design, development, and testing of new fermentation processes & material and mycelium characterization efforts
• Build and develop systems for technical workflows.

Internal Collaboration & External Partnerships:

• Collaborate with external partners, including universities, vendors and industrial partners
• Scope and establish new partnerships to meet current and future technical and business needs
• Oversee technology transfer activities between sites
• Identify potential bottlenecks or challenges in development and take corrective actions to minimize risks.
• Present key technical outcomes and extract strategic next steps 
• Resource allocation and management to meet technical milestones and business goals
• Collaborate with the Director of Technology and Innovation platform to enable smooth execution of technical work.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Biotechnology, Fermentation, Fungal Biology or a related field.
• 10+ years in technology development, with at least 5 years in a managerial or leadership position in a relevant industry
• Knowledge of biotechnology platforms, fermentation systems, strain engineering, fungal biology, analytical chemistry, assay and method development, data science and statistics, and material science is a plus.
• Ability to zoom in (detail-oriented) and zoom out (consider big picture)
• Ability to seamlessly shift between a detailed, analytical focus and a high-level, strategic perspective.
• Ability to directly manage, mentor and develop team members
• Experience leading cross-functional teams, strategic decision-making, and mentoring teams. 
• Ability to give and receive feedback, active listening and coaching skills. 
• Collaborative and proactive mindset.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies, including budget and timeline management.
• Strong verbal and written