Designation: DGM/GM Biotech

Job Descriptions The General Manager/DG,, Biotech Centre, Kumar Organic Products Limited is responsible for leading the Biotech team (which includes R&D;, Pilot plant, QC-Micro) in Jigani, Bangalore to invent, develop, and commercialize new active cosmetic ingredients, innovative compounds and process technology aligned with the needs of KOPL business.

Develop and implement process technology improvements in Kumar

Secure and protect intellectual property assets.

Co-ordinate new compound development and scale-up.

Identify distinctive raw material suppliers for Biotech Products (with purchase department)

Provide a responsive Biotech Centres presence for the customers. Manage KOPL Biotech Centres capital and expense budgets

Take leadership in outsourcing (manufacturing) of products developed by Biotech Centre and increase the revenue.

Lead the R&D; Team and development of recent Molecules.

Bio transfer, Gene synthesis

- Able to lead, develop and commercialize various bio-based ingredients by processes of fermentation & biotransformation for cosmetics & personal care industries.
- Screening capabilities (enzymes, microorganisms)

Design capabilities. Team: Biotechnology Scientists, Research Associates, Process Development Scientists, Analytical Support and Technical Staff

Position Purpose To lead the Biotechnology R&D; function for development, optimization, scale-up and commercialization of biotechnology-based processes for APIs, pharmaceutical intermediates, specialty chemicals and other value-added products.

The position will be responsible for converting scientific concepts and laboratory processes into commercially viable, robust, safe, scalable and cost-effective manufacturing processes.

The role will also drive innovation through fermentation, microbial biotechnology, enzymatic transformation, biocatalysis, strain improvement, process intensification and sustainable manufacturing technologies.

Key Responsibilities

A. R&D; Strategy and Technology Development

- Develop and execute the company's 35-year biotechnology R&D; strategy aligned with business objectives.
- Identify new opportunities in fermentation, biocatalysis, enzymatic synthesis, microbial conversion and sustainable chemical manufacturing.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and assess their technical and commercial feasibility.
- Build internal biotechnology capabilities and technology platforms.
- Establish appropriate project stage-gate and technical review systems.

Product and Process Development
- Lead biotechnology process development from laboratory proof-of-concept through pilot and commercial scale.
- Develop and optimize fermentation and biotransformation processes.
- Optimize media, feed strategy, inoculum, fermentation parameters, reaction conditions and downstream recovery.
- Establish robust process parameters and operating ranges.
- Improve yield, productivity, conversion, purity, cycle time and process consistency.
- Develop processes capable of meeting required product quality specifications.

Scale-Up and Commercialization
- Lead scale-up from laboratory to pilot and commercial manufacturing.




- Define scale-up criteria and critical process parameters.
- Work closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, Analytical R&D; and EHS teams.
- Support pilot and commercial batches.
- Troubleshoot process and manufacturing problems.
- Lead technology transfer and process validation support.
- Ensure successful implementation of developed processes at manufacturing sites.

Process Economics and Cost Optimization
- Develop techno-economic evaluations for new biotechnology processes.
- Identify major cost drivers and opportunities for cost reduction.
- Drive reduction in raw-material consumption, solvent usage, utilities, waste generation and cycle time.
- Establish target cost of goods for new processes.
- Deliver measurable manufacturing cost improvements through biotechnology/process innovation.

E. Innovation and Intellectual Property
- Identify opportunities for patents and proprietary process technologies.
- Work with the IP/legal team on patentability and freedom-to-operate assessments.
- Generate process know-how and protect critical technical knowledge.
- Maintain awareness of competitor technologies and industry developments.
- Build a pipeline of differentiated biotechnology technologies.

F. R&D; Project Management
- Establish project objectives, milestones, timelines, resources and budgets.
- Manage multiple R&D; projects simultaneously.
- Conduct periodic technical and management reviews.
- Identify technical risks and establish mitigation plans.
- Ensure timely completion of development milestones.
- Prepare technical reports and management presentations.

G. Quality, Regulatory and EHS
- Ensure R&D; activities comply with applicable GMP, quality, EHS and biosafety requirements.
- Maintain appropriate documentation and traceability of development activities.
- Support regulatory submissions and technical responses where required.
- Ensure safe handling of microorganisms, enzymes, chemicals and biological materials.
- Promote safe-by-design approaches during process development.

H. Team Leadership
- Build and lead a high-performance biotechnology R&D; team.
- Recruit, train and develop scientists and technical personnel.
- Establish technical competency and career-development plans.
- Mentor scientists in experimental design, troubleshooting and scientific decision-making.
- Develop succession plans for critical technical positions.
- Promote collaboration between R&D;, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering and Commercial functions.

I. External Collaboration
- Identify and manage collaborations with universities, research institutes, CROs, technology providers and biotechnology companies.
- Evaluate external technologies and licensing opportunities.
- Establish partnerships for specialized technical capabilities where appropriate.




- Represent the company at relevant technical forums and industry conferences.

1. Key Interfaces

The position will work closely with:
- R&D; / Process Development
- Analytical R&D;
- Production / Manufacturing
- Quality Assurance and Quality Control
- Engineering
- EHS
- Regulatory Affairs
- Supply Chain / Procurement
- Business Development
- Finance
- Intellectual Property / Legal
- External research and technology partners

1. Qualification

Essential:

- PhD equivalent qualification in Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Fermentation Technology, Chemical Engineering or related field.

Preferred:

- PhD in Industrial Biotechnology, Bioprocess Engineering, Microbiology, Biocatalysis or a related discipline.

1. Experience

- Typically 15–25+ years of relevant industrial experience.
- Significant experience in API, pharmaceutical intermediate, specialty chemical, fermentation or industrial biotechnology environments.
- Demonstrated experience in taking biotechnology processes from laboratory development to pilot/commercial manufacturing.
- Experience in leading multidisciplinary R&D; teams.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing economics and commercial scale-up.

1. Technical Competencies

Strong knowledge in several of the following:
- Industrial fermentation
- Microbial biotechnology
- Biocatalysis
- Enzyme technology
- Strain development/improvement
- Upstream processing
- Downstream processing
- Biotransformation
- Process optimization
- DOE and statistical process development
- Scale-up and technology transfer
- API/intermediate manufacturing
- Process troubleshooting
- GMP principles
- EHS and biosafety
- Techno-economic evaluation
- Intellectual property and patent strategy
- Cell biology
- Product and Process Development
- Biotechnology R&D; Strategy
- Identify and evaluate new technology/product opportunities
- New Projects
- Projects completed on schedule
- Yield improvement
- Productivity improvement
- Conversion improvement
- Number of successful development batches
- Scale-Up and Commercialization
- Successful scale-up rate
- Technology-transfer completion %
- Pilot/commercial batch success rate
- Manufacturing deviations attributable to process development
- Time from laboratory development to commercial readiness
- Successful scale-up rate
- Technology-transfer completion
- Pilot/commercial batch success rate
- Manufacturing deviations attributable to process development
- Time from laboratory development to commercial readiness
- Cost Reduction and Process Improvement
- Innovation and IP
- Project Management - within approved budget and timelines
- Team Development
- Quality, EHS and Compliance
- CRM-ERP adherence
- Audits-Financial, Quality and EHS audit – ensure no Major or High Risks

New Products + Successful Scale-Up + Higher Yield + Higher Productivity + Lower Cost + Robust Processes + IP + Sustainable Manufacturing + Strong Technical Team The position should therefore be measured not only by the number of experiments or projects completed, but primarily by the commercial and manufacturing impact generated from R&D.;

📌 Biotech HEAD (Bengaluru)
🏢 Kumar Organic Products
📍 Bengaluru