Chief Science Officer Kowbucha

Job Name

General Information

Date Published

11-Nov-2024

Advertising Ends

24-Nov-2024

Country

New Zealand

Location

Manawatu

Role Type

General Management

Work Type

Permanent

ID#

9394

Position Description

Our Co-operative

Fonterra’s strength is in the collective | Te Mātāpuna toa takitini

We are a Co-operative created and owned by Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers. Since our beginnings, collaboration, innovation, and passion have enabled us to share the goodness of our dairy with the world. We're committed to caring for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk, producing nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients loved here in New Zealand and around the world.

As part of the Fonterra Co-op, you'll be solving for a better future alongside a team connected by solid values as we strive to be a leader in dairy sustainability, dairy innovation and science, with a focus on New Zealand milk.

When you join Fonterra, you'll open yourself to a career of opportunities where you can grow with us by developing your skills, sharing your knowledge, and exploring diverse career paths that ignite your passions.

About the opportunity | Te whiwhinga mahi

At Fonterra, we’re pioneering a breakthrough in sustainability with Kowbucha™ – an innovative fermentation-based solution designed to improve productivity and reduce methane emissions in dairy calves and cows. Our mission? To empower the dairy industry to reduce its carbon footprint while lifting productivity, contributing to a greener future for New Zealand and beyond.

Based in either our R&D Centre in Palmerston North or our Microbiome Research Centre in Cork, Ireland, we now have an opportunity for a Chief Science Officer to lead the scientific and technological vision for Kowbucha™. You’ll be at the helm of groundbreaking trials, navigating regulatory landscapes, and overseeing the science and product development that will bring our innovation to market. This is an opportunity to drive meaningful change with a dedicated team and ensure our solutions are scientifically robust and commercially impactful.

Key Accountabilities:

Lead Scientific Development: Oversee Kowbucha’s™ product discovery and development pipeline, driving commercial success for novel animal health, nutrition, and wellbeing solutions. Lead a talented R&D team to meet business needs.
Ensure Scientific Credibility: Maintain high standards of scientific rigor across all Kowbucha™ research programs and products. Write and review scientific publications, prepare patent claims, and present findings at conferences.
External scientific engagement: Building relationships and profile for Kowbucha within the scientific and animal nutrition science communities we engage with including research, commercial and investment partners
Drive Commercial Viability: Identify and prioritise valuable bacterial cultures and probiotics, evaluate complementary technologies, and foster strategic partnerships to enhance Kowbucha’s™ development portfolio.

About You | Ko wai koe

You’re a visionary scientist with a passion for sustainable agriculture and an impressive track record driving research from lab to market. With a PhD in Microbiology, Rumen Microbiology, Cellular Bioscience or related field and ideally research experience in livestock, you have a record of achievement in applied scientific research. Global experience and a demonstrated ability to turn complex scientific discoveries into commercial success will make a lasting impact.

Your leadership skills are crucial as you guide cross-functional teams and cultivate partnerships with external scientific collaborators. You’ll bring commercial acumen to prioritise high-impact projects and work closely with our manufacturing, marketing, and sales teams to ensure our product reaches the market successfully. Strong communication skills are essential, as you’ll connect with stakeholders from farmers and our shareholders to the scientific and animal nutrition community, and the media.

Join us to lead an exciting journey towards a more sustainable dairy industry and a brighter future for our planet.

Are you excited about this opportunity but may only meet some requirements?

At Fonterra, we are committed to building a diverse workplace and, therefore, open to looking at applicants with excellent transferable skills. If that's you, we encourage you to apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or one of our other opportunities.

Or join our Talent Community to be notified about new and relevant job opportunities.

The benefits of life at Fonterra | Te ora i Te Mātāpuna

Our people and what they bring to our Co-op shape our success. We have a collaborative culture, inspiring leaders, and passionate people, making Fonterra a great place to work. We also offer competitive remuneration and a range of benefits, regardless of your role or location.

Our story | Ō mātou kōrero

Being part of Fonterra means being part of a unique history, realising the potential of dairy for generations to come, and solving for a better future together.

Whanaungatanga, our Co-operative spirit, guides a common strength and purpose.
Manaakitanga is how we care for all our people at the heart of what we do.
Kaitiakitanga ensures we care for the land, farming in a way that regenerates our farms and environment for future generations.
Whakaohooho inspires us all with excellent career development opportunities, benefits, flexibility, and balance to suit everyone's lifestyles and choices.

Our Co-operative is a place where everyone can be themselves, feel empowered to do their best, and are empowered to create goodness for generations.

Sound good to you? Come join our whānau and let’s solve for better, together. You, me, us together. Tᾱtou tᾱtou.

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