R&D Director

R&D Director

Reports to: Chief Innovation Officer

Hamilton, MT (relocation assistance provided with 90 transition to Hamilton, MT)

Job Overview:

Reporting to the Chief Innovation Officer and working closely with Local Bounti’s innovation team members, the R&D Director will coordinate, and monitor activities associated with the Company’s product development process. The Company is currently running trials with different genetics, substrates, form-factors, processes, lighting regimes, nutrient regimes, environmental regimes and more. We are seeking a high intellectual, experienced R&D manager with a strong track record of disciplined coordination of hundreds of trials to drive data-drive improvements in company performance.

Responsibilities:

• Manage, coordinate, and participate on cross-functional team activities that drive completion of the Company’s R&D projects
• Manage project goals, timelines, resource planning, and budgeting
• Support a flexible product development process with clear requirements and documentation
• Identify risks and create mitigation plans for each of the R&D project goals
• Provide R&D leadership with reporting and communication materials to monitor and update the status of R&D projects
• Manage and/or create documentation as needed to support design, development, changes,  manufacturing, and SOP’s
• Support development and compliance of the company’s Quality System and Process including implementation of documentation control system
• Manage external consultants for product design and development related activities
• Support selection, qualification, and management of prototyping

Qualifications:

• 6 years of project management in R&D product development in the life sciences, plant sciences or indoor agriculture research  industry
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant scientific disciplines required; advanced degrees strongly preferred
• Extensive background in one or more of the following areas fertigation, LED lighting, genetics trialing, plant phenotyping, germination, tissue culture and R&D for agricultural production.
• Track record of successful products developed and commercialized in the plant sciences research field
• Professional project management certification preferred
• Experience in implementing and managing document control systems
• Experience in both start-up and large companies strongly preferred
• Excellent interpersonal and team management skills
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Enjoys working in entrepreneurial but collaborative team-oriented environment
• Highly organized, disciplined, and efficient in meeting deliverables
• Highly proficient in the use of business platform tools including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, project management tools, documentation control, and other relevant software applications

About Local Bounti:

Local Bounti is a leading controlled environment agriculture (CEA) company. Our mission is to bring our farm to your kitchen and deliver the freshest, locally grown produce in the fewest food miles possible.

By growing local and minimizing the distance between farm and plate, Local Bounti helps eliminate food waste and provides fresh, high-quality produce to areas of the country over 1,000 miles from their current source. Our sustainable greenhouse technology delivers ideal growing conditions for each of our diverse selection of crops, resulting in 90% less water consumption and 95% less land use than conventional agriculture, no need for herbicides or pesticides, and the lowest carbon footprint in the industry. We provide an interactive, educational, and safe work environment and are dedicated to helping our employees grow within the company. Local Bounti is committed to fully integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives in all our business activities.