Head of Research & Development (all genders)

at  Novocarbo

THESE ARE YOUR PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS WE’D APPRECIATE:

• You have a university degree in a technical or scientific discipline and at least 5 years of experience in the field of materials and/or material development (e.g. with chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturers, in the oil and gas industry, in mechanical engineering or in technical consulting).
• You have relevant personnel and project management experience in a research and development context.
• You have experience with funding projects, both in the application process and in implementation and execution.
• Practical experience with production processes and/or process development, pyrolysis plants and the topics of biochar and carbon removal is a plus.
• You communicate fluently in German and English. Any other languages are a plus.
• You have a high affinity for IT tools: We mainly work with MS 365 and Notion.

THESE ARE YOUR PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS WE’D APPRECIATE:

• You have a keen interest in the development of sustainable materials and applications (e.g. for the substitution of fossil materials) in a young market segment.
• You have a high degree of ownership for your own projects and convince us with your hands-on attitude.
• You are always data-driven and can make decisions with an excellent entrepreneurial mentality.
• Teamwork and personal dialogue at eye level is to you (as for us) a prerequisite for successful, respectful collaboration.
  You don’t meet 100% of the requirements? We support personal growth and individual professional development strategies so please apply anyways.
  We encourage everyone to apply and welcome applicants no matter their age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, physical or cognitive ability, and ethnicity.

ABOUT US

We are scientists, engineers, soil enthusiasts, and business professionals who work hand in hand to shape the economic transformation towards a low-carbon future.
The spirit that drives us traces back to the company’s origins. Caspar von Ziegner founded Novocarbo in 2017 with the aim of pushing forward carbon removal solutions to contribute to achieving the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. We pursue this critical mission with creativity, expertise, courage, innovative spirit, and irrepressible will.
From the very first vision until now, much has transpired: A handful of people has grown into a team of more than 30. At our headquarters in Hamburg, colleagues from fields like science, engineering, marketing, and business development work together on continuously optimize our products and processes. At our production sites, the Carbon Removal Parks, we put our knowledge into practice. What drives us in all our activities is the firm belief that we can mitigate climate change by further scaling our pioneering carbon removal technology.
A team-oriented and purpose-driven work culture with flat organizational structures is what makes you thrive? Then join us! We cherish a collaborative and trustworthy culture that values reliability and down-to-earth attitudes. Hierarchies take a backseat; relationships with colleagues and superiors are friendly and approachable. Teamwork is fostered in our modern offices located in the heart of Hamburg. Our unique working features include flexible hours, home office options, and a dog-friendly office environment.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

At Novocarbo, we work as a team to solve one of the most important problems of our time: our goal is to store 100 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually, making a significant contribution to achieving climate goals.
We are one of the largest producers and distributors of biochar in Europe and sell our Carbon Removal Credits to renowned companies worldwide. Several new sites for the production of biochar and regenerative heat are already in planning. To continue this positive momentum, we are looking for a Head of Research & Development (all genders).This position is a crucial part of our growing organisation to build our Research & Development department and to sustainably secure and apply our intellectual property.

FOLLOWING TASKS ARE IN FOCUS OF YOUR ROLE

• You drive the strategic build-up of the R&D department, cultive an innovative culture and foster an environment that encourages creativity and continuous advancement.
• You strategically oversee the entire portfolio of basic research and product development projects. This encompasses detailed planning of resource allocation, ensuring alignment with overarching company goals, and adherence to timelines and budgets.
• You design and implement scalable R&D processes, i.e. establish a laboratory infrastructure that is conducive to efficient and effective research and development activities, ensuring it supports both current and future projects.
• You will work closely with our Biochar & Substrates and Industrial Materials units as well as our operations and production team to further develop potential fields of application for biochar.
• You guarantee that all R&D endeavours strictly adhere to highest standards of product stewardship, safety protocols, and compliance with all applicable regulations and standards
• You lead the strategic development and protection of intellectual property This includes identifying new opportunities for innovation and safeguarding the company’s competitive edge.
• You represent Novocarbo’s interests in specialised committees (e.g. EBI-Biochar, Fachverband Pflanzenkohle, DIN e.V.) and proactively expand our participation in scientific discourses.