Chief Scientific Officer

At Bosque Foods, our vision is to accelerate the world’s transition to an environmentally sustainable, equitable, and animal-free food system.

Our mission is to create the next generation of meat alternatives, starting with whole-cut meat products grown naturally from fungal mycelium. We aim to create better-than-meat products that deliver on the entire taste experience, nutrition, and price of traditional meat without compromise.

Founded in 2020, Bosque Foods is the first European fungi-based meat alternative company focusing entirely on the whole-cut meat segment. After graduating from the world’s leading biotech accelerator program, IndieBio in New York City, we opened our lab in Berlin, Germany.

Job Description:

We are looking for a Chief Scientific Officer to lead the development and scaling of our mycelium-based technology. You should be a passionate expert in microbial fermentation, with direct experience in cultivating fungi across different fermentation platforms. You should have an entrepreneurial drive and mindset, high ambition, and the ability to lead the development of our upstream and downstream bioprocess.

Ideally, you have experience developing and executing both an IP strategy and navigating complex regulatory processes. You should have a vast network to tap into across academia and research institutions, in addition to corporate connections. Last, you should be comfortable recruiting and managing a team, while also representing our company’s mission and core values.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for the company’s scientific initiatives.
• Oversee all aspects of research and development activities, including project prioritization, resource allocation, and milestone tracking.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships and collaborations with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry partners to enhance the company’s scientific capabilities and access cutting-edge technologies.
• Negotiate and manage collaborations, licensing agreements, and research partnerships to support the company’s growth objectives.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, quality standards, and industry guidelines throughout the bioprocess.
• Support in recruitment, mentorship, and development of a high-performing team of scientists, and researchers, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Manage Bosque Foods’ intellectual portfolio and drive the IP generation and strategy.

Must-Have:

• PhD or equivalent in relevant scientific discipline (e.g. Microbiology / biotechnology/ biochemistry/ biochemical engineering / food technology or related discipline).
• Experience in a senior scientific role within a biotech industry, preferably in fungal fermentation or related areas.
• Strong track record of leadership; ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Strategic and analytical thinker, capable of developing plans to improve internal competencies and technologies to achieve company objectives.
• Dedication to creating a technology platform from the ground up.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to link with internal and external stakeholders.
• Growth mindset: Capacity to thrive in a fast-paced and challenging startup environment, doing what needs to be done for the business regardless of your title.

Great-to-Have:

• Previous experience in cultivating filamentous edible fungi across research, development, and commercial scales
• Experience analyzing the IP landscape and developing and executing IP strategy. Ability to work with Bosque’s IP lawyer firm
• Established network and track record of bringing relevant industry partnerships, collaborations, or alliances
• Previous experience with using sidestreams as fermentation substrate
• Experience in managing a bioprocess development team
• Previous experience in the food production industry
• Knowledge and experience in process engineering
• Values and participates in a hands-on approach
• Experience in grant writing (US and EU) is a plus

• Opportunity to join a dynamic and diverse mission-driven team with sky-high ambitions to build the future of food.
• Chance to shape and co-create our scientific strategy at an early-stage start-up.
• Work in our brand new lab in the center of Berlin within walking distance of many cafes, restaurants, bars, and parks
• Flexible work culture, encouraging remote work when possible.
• Last but not least, employee discount for Urban Sports Club membership and regular team events

Application Instructions:

If this description sounds like your dream job, please reach out to us!

• Application deadline is May 10th.
• Submit a CV and Cover letter via Join or LinkedIn, or email with the subject line “CSO Position”:
• In your application materials, please include your earliest start date, German work permit status, and salary requirements.

We're looking forward to receiving your application and shaping the next generation of meat alternatives together with you!

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion / worldview, disability, age as well as sexual orientation and identity.