Head of Research And Development in Newport, Wales

Kelpi is a world-leading sustainable materials innovation company, using seaweed and natural plant-based oils to create a unique coating material that provides the barrier to moisture that could previously only be achieved by fossil fuel plastics. This unique, renewably sourced coating is then applied to paper and card to create 100% biobased, recyclable packaging which, if it were to escape the recycling stream, will biodegrade in the natural environment.

Our unique, patented technology is at the heart of our business, differentiating our materials from all other biomaterial solutions on the market. Kelpi has been built on the ethos of tackling problems that no-one else can solve; with a world-class team of scientists, we develop and deliver new technology solutions to challenging problems through breaking scientific boundaries and challenging the status-quo.

We are now looking for a Head of R&D to lead Kelpi’s materials discovery and development programme, with a particular focus on the chemistry underpinning our next generation of biomaterials for packaging.

What we are looking for

• An experienced technical team leader who is passionate about sustainability and wants to make a positive impact in the world.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and deep curiosity about materials, chemistry and emerging material technologies.
• A background in novel material development and experience working for a dynamic, action-orientated start-up.
• Comfortable at the lab bench as well as in strategic conversations – a scientist-leader who can translate fundamental chemistry insights into materials with real-world performance and commercial potential.
• The ability to balance a long-term technology roadmap and R&D strategy with creativity to deal with ambiguity and rapid iteration, as well as the tenacity to overcome barriers and blockers.
• A willingness to embrace and leverage the opportunities presented by AI for new material development and the optimisation of existing materials.

Key Responsibilities

• Research strategy & roadmap: Define and own the R&D roadmap for new biomaterial development, collaborating closely with the CTO, to align technological innovation with Kelpi's commercial strategy and sustainability goals. Identify and prioritise high-value research directions in natural feedstock-derived polymer chemistry, material modification, and polymer formulations. Stay ahead of the academic and patent landscape, including competitor materials and technologies; translate emerging science into competitive advantage. Leverage AI to optimise existing materials and to inform the development of new ones. Report progress, risks, and opportunities to the CTO and wider leadership team on a regular basis.
• Materials chemistry & development: Lead the design and synthesis of new biomaterial formulations with targeted mechanical, barrier, and processing properties. Support the operations team with the transfer and process optimisation from lab scale through to small pilot scale in house. Oversee all analytical and testing workflows, ensuring robust, reproducible data generation and interpretation. Maintain a thorough understanding of the regulatory landscape relevant to new material development, particularly food contact and packaging regulations (e.g. US/EU food contact materials legislation, REACH), ensuring all materials are developed with compliance in mind from the outset. Develop and document IP-generating innovations, working closely with the CTO on patent strategy and IP protection.
• Team leadership & culture: Lead a team, currently of two polymer scientists, supporting their day-to-day scientific output and their professional development, with plans to scale the team as the company grows. Foster a culture of curiosity, creativity, accountability, collaboration and innovation within the lab team. Support recruitment, performance management and professional development of the team.
• Cross-functional & executive collaboration: Partner with the product development team to translate material breakthroughs into prototype formats and customer-ready packaging solutions. Collaborate with the operations team to ensure new materials are designed with processability and manufacturability in mind from the outset. Contribute to cross-functional project planning, milestone tracking, and resource allocation.
• External engagement & governance: Build and maintain relationships with academic partners, suppliers, and industry collaborators. Represent Kelpi's science at conferences, industry forums, and with grant and funding bodies (e.g. Innovate UK, Horizon). Ensure appropriate governance, documentation practices, and data integrity are maintained across all R&D activities.

Person specification

Essential experience & qualifications: Experience and qualifications in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or a closely related discipline. Significant postdoctoral or industry R&D experience, with a strong track record in novel materials or polymer/materials chemistry (particularly natural polymers or bioplastics). Demonstrable experience in formulation development and materials characterisation. Proven experience taking novel material technologies from concept through to scale or commercialisation. Experience leading or managing scientists in a research setting. Experience working in a startup or scale-up environment with limited resources and high.

Essential skills & competencies: Entrepreneurial mindset - deep curiosity about materials, chemistry, and emerging material technologies. Able to balance long-term R&D strategy with the creativity and tenacity to iterate rapidly and overcome blockers. Strong leadership and people-management skills, with a collaborative and inclusive approach. Able to prioritise R&D efforts that align with commercial impact; systems-level thinking across materials, scalability, cost, and market needs. Clear communicator, able to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the opportunities presented by AI in materials development.

Desirable experience: Experience in sustainability, climate tech, circular economy or environmentally focused products. Familiar with packaging applications, barrier coatings or film processing. Working knowledge of food contact materials regulations and/or packaging compliance requirements (e.g. UK/EU FCM legislation, REACH), and other regulated industries.

Personal attributes: Inherently curious. Passionate about Kelpi’s mission and values. Comfortable operating in uncertainty and fast-changing environments. Pragmatic and delivery-focused. High integrity, sense of ownership, and innovative approach to problem solving.

What we offer: Competitive compensation package and growth opportunities within a startup environment. Share options. Health cashback scheme. Cycle scheme. Enhanced family-related leave and pay. Opportunities for personal and professional training and development. Opportunities to contribute to meaningful projects that address sustainability challenges.

Where you will be based: This is a full-time position based at our modern office space in central Bristol. We are dedicated to providing an equal, supportive and inclusive culture and embrace a diverse range of talent to contribute to that. Therefore, we welcome all applications - regardless of gender (including gender reassignment), sex or sexual orientation, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin), religion/belief, disability or age. If you have a medical condition or an individual need for an adjustment to our process, and you believe this may affect your ability to be at your best - please let us know so we can talk about how we can best support you and make any adjustments that may be needed. In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use.