Head of Research And Development in London

Meatly is a UK-based cultivated meat biotechnology company on a mission to make real meat, without animals. We take cells from a single chicken egg — just once — and use them to produce real, nutritious meat here in the UK, giving our pets the meat they need and crave without ever hurting another animal. We are the world's first company to receive regulatory approval to sell cultivated meat for pet food in the UK, and we are building the technology and production capabilities to scale that breakthrough globally.

A senior scientific leadership role for an exceptional researcher-manager who can drive a focused, high-impact R&D programme — executing the scientific vision set by the CSO and translating it into measurable progress across Meatly's core technology pillars. The Head of R&D sits at the heart of Meatly's scientific operations. Working under the strategic direction of the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), you will own the day-to-day execution of the R&D programme — managing the research team, coordinating workstreams, maintaining scientific rigour, and ensuring that experimental outputs are translated efficiently into actionable insight.

While the CSO leads the company's overarching scientific vision and external scientific positioning, the Head of R&D is responsible for making that vision operational: prioritising projects, managing resources, maintaining governance standards, and developing the team. You will work closely with the Head of Production to support technology transfer from the lab into the pilot plant, and contribute to cross-functional activities including regulatory submissions, IP development, and stakeholder engagement as required.

Key Responsibilities

• R&D Programme Execution
  • Own the operational delivery of the R&D roadmap under strategic direction from the CSO, ensuring projects are well-scoped, resourced, and progressing against milestones.
  • Coordinate research workstreams across core technology pillars - media optimisation, biological process, and process development - ensuring coherence and maximising interfaces.
  • Maintain a rigorous experimental culture: robust hypothesis-driven design, appropriate controls, thorough data recording, and clear interpretation of results.
  • Identify technical bottlenecks and propose evidence-based solutions; escalate strategic trade-offs to the CSO as appropriate.
  • Track and report on R&D progress, key metrics, and resource utilisation to the CSO and CEO.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Provide direct line management, mentorship, and performance development for research scientists, postdocs, and research associates.
  • Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and psychologically safe team culture in which scientific challenge and open discussion are encouraged.
  • Support recruitment of R&D staff in partnership with the CSO, contributing to interview processes and onboarding.
  • Identify individual development needs and work with team members to create meaningful growth opportunities.
  • Facilitate effective knowledge sharing through journal clubs, internal seminars, and experimental review sessions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Act as the primary R&D interface with the Head of Production, supporting technology transfer and ensuring research outputs are documented to a standard suitable for process development.
  • Provide scientific data packages for regulatory submissions.
  • Contribute to grant applications, publications, and conference presentations in collaboration with the CSO.
  • Support investor due diligence processes by preparing clear, accurate scientific materials.
• Resource & Budget Management
  • Manage the R&D operational budget in collaboration with the CSO, tracking expenditure against plan, overseeing lab and equipment procurement.

Requirements

Essential

• PhD in cell biology, tissue engineering, bioprocess engineering, biochemistry, or a closely related field.
• Significant research experience (typically 6–10 years), with a clear track record of leading or coordinating research programmes.
• Deep expertise in at least one of Meatly's core technology areas: animal cell culture, bioprocessing, or cell culture media development.
• Proven ability to manage and develop a team of scientists, with strong mentorship and performance management skills.
• Experience overseeing scientific governance, data management, and research quality systems.
• Strong publication and/or patent record demonstrating scientific productivity and impact.
• Excellent project management skills — able to coordinate multiple concurrent workstreams and deliver against milestones.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Direct experience in cultivated meat, alternative proteins, or cell-based food technology.
• Familiarity with UK novel food regulatory frameworks (FSA/FSS) and experience contributing to regulatory data packages.
• Experience working under or alongside a CSO or equivalent scientific leader in a biotech company.
• Exposure to technology transfer from research to production or process development environments.
• Familiarity with IP management processes, including invention disclosure and patent filing workflows.

What we offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Equity participation in a high-growth, mission-driven company.
• 24 days annual leave plus 8 UK bank holidays.
• Learning & development budget, including support for relevant training, courses, and conferences.
• Access to well-equipped laboratory and bioprocessing facilities.
• The opportunity to develop novel bioprocesses that have never been built before, at the company leading the world in cultivated meat.
• Pension contribution and private health insurance.

All candidates will be informed by the start of September, and interviews will be held in the first two weeks of September. Meatly is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.