We're Hiring: Chief Product & Innovation Officer (CPIO)EcoSTEM Group | Ecostem Materials Pvt. Ltd. Building industrial products from agricultural waste. EcoSTEM is transforming banana pseudostem and agricultural residues into high-value biomaterials for textiles, industrial applications, composites, cellulose and sustainable materials. We are looking for a hands-on Chief Product & Innovation Officer (CPIO) to convert our technical capabilities into validated products, scalable processes and commercially viable applications. This is a leadership role for a technical innovator who can move beyond research and deliver measurable industrial outcomes.

Key Responsibilities
1. Fibre Technology & Process Optimisation
• Standardise A/B/C/D banana fibre grades with measurable specifications for length, fineness, strength, cleanliness, moisture and purity.
• Improve extraction, cleaning, drying, cutting, combing and cottonisation processes.
• Establish verified yields, material balances, process losses and cost per kilogram. 2. Textile & Yarn Commercialisation
• Develop cottonised banana fibre, sliver, tops and yarn pathways.
• Lead spinning, carding and fibre-blending trials with textile mills.
• Convert customer feedback into qualified products, specifications and repeatable manufacturing processes. 3. Industrial Applications
• Develop application pathways for rope, cordage, technical nonwovens, insulation, acoustic materials, automotive interiors, composites, boards and panels.
• Coordinate trials with manufacturers, converters, laboratories and research institutions.
• Deliver application-specific performance data and customer qualification plans. 4. Cellulose & Advanced Biomaterials
• Evaluate cellulose recovery, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocellulose from suitable fibre and biomass streams.
• Establish realistic recovery yields, purity, chemical and water consumption, energy requirements, preliminary CAPEX/OPEX and technical feasibility.




• Develop evidence-based go/no-go recommendations before major pilot investments. 5. Biomass Valorisation & BioSAP
• Identify viable industrial applications for central core, short fibres, pith and other residual streams.
• Assess liquid-stream/BioSAP composition, stability, shelf life, efficacy and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Build stream-wise mass balances and economics without double-counting feedstock across competing products. 6. R&D; Leadership & Technical Commercialisation
• Coordinate collaborations with institutions, testing laboratories and industry partners.
• Prepare technical datasheets, trial protocols, product specifications, technical dossiers and grant/R&D; inputs.
• Maintain experiment records, intellectual property documentation and evidence-based technical claims.
• Work closely with the Founder & CEO and commercial team to translate technical validation into customer adoption. First 90-Day OutcomesThe successful candidate will be expected to deliver:
• Day 15: Product and biomass-stream baseline, mass-balance assessment, application prioritisation and a costed R&D; plan.
• Day 40: Fibre-grade specifications, cottonisation route comparison, measured process yields/losses and initial application samples.
• Day 65: Documented progress in textile/yarn trials and at least two priority non-moulded application trials, with technical results and preliminary economics.
• Day 90: A complete technical dossier, stream-wise economics, customer/partner feedback, IP register and a prioritised 6–12-month product-development roadmap.



These are delivery milestones; technical success must be demonstrated through testing rather than assumed in advance. Ideal Candidate
• PhD, M.
Tech or equivalent strong technical experience in fibre science, pulp and paper, materials science, chemical engineering, biomaterials, textiles or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in product development, industrial R&D;, process scale-up and technology commercialisation.
• Practical understanding of natural fibres, cellulose processing, composites, nonwovens or related industrial materials.
• Ability to work with laboratories, manufacturers, customers and research institutions.
• Robust capability in experimental design, mass balances, process economics, technical documentation and project execution.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, hands-on execution and comfort working in an early-stage cleantech company. Role Details
• Position: Chief Product & Innovation Officer
• Company: Ecostem Materials Pvt. Ltd. — EcoSTEM Group
• Reporting to: Founder, MD & CEO
•

Location:
To be mutually agreed; plant and partner-site visits will be required.
• Engagement: Initial 90-day performance assessment, with longer-term leadership appointment subject to mutual agreement and demonstrated outcomes.
• Compensation: Based on experience, engagement structure and demonstrated capability. Important scope note: Moulded-fibre products and packaging are managed by a separate project lead. The CPIO will coordinate on shared fibre specifications and technical interfaces without owning that workstream.

How to Apply
Send your CV or LinkedIn profile along with a brief note describing:
• Two industrial products or technologies you have personally taken from development to validation or commercialisation.
• Your experience in process scale-up and measurable cost/yield improvement.
• What you would aim to deliver for EcoSTEM in your first 90 days. EcoSTEM Group — Engineering Green Innovation.

📌 Chief Product and Innovation Officer (India)
🏢 Ecostem Group
📍 India