The Role
At Notpla we’re at the leading edge of sustainable innovation, creating natural alternatives to single-use plastic packaging that’s carefully engineered to create a healthier planet. Founded on the belief that nature knows best, we’re an innovative, ideas and action-oriented scale-up who develop and manufacture uncompromisingly natural packaging solutions from seaweed and plants.
As a Food Scientist, you’ll be joining an innovative, fast moving and agile Formulation & Process team that pride themselves on their pivotal research and development.
This is an exciting time to join Notpla, right on the brink of a record-breaking year for revenue and on-track for major growth in the next 18-24 months. Bolstering confidence in our financial performance, we have just secured a Series A+ fundraise for £20million, enabling us to scale our growth and environmental impact faster than ever.
Led by strong values, all Notpla employees are encouraged to take responsibility for their domain, giving a high level of autonomy. Our aim is to build an inspiring culture that's reflected in our working policies, environment and employees.
Besides offering exciting roles and a great working environment, Notpla provides competitive salaries, the potential for EMI Share Options, a zero-carbon pension scheme, discounts with local businesses, and subsidised social activities. Our office first hybrid working policy allows you to work in the manner that maximises your productivity, while still creating a vibrant and collegiate work environment. We are a social business with regular clubs and events, and we are proud of how our diverse workplace has created a community that is all pushing towards the common goal of making plastic disappear.
The Food Scientist will play a pivotal role in advancing Notpla’s innovative Edibles product line, working alongside the Edibles Category Owner and the Technical Category Manager to develop and optimize edible packaging solutions. This position requires a deep understanding of food science principles, a passion for sustainability, and a hands-on approach to product development and testing. The Food Scientist will contribute to the research, formulation, and refinement of Notpla’s edible materials, ensuring they meet the highest standards of functionality, safety, and customer satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development and Project Management
- Develop and refine formulations for edible packaging solutions, such as Ohoo, edible films, and pipettes, ensuring product quality and performance.
- Work closely with Notpla’s clients to optimise the interactions between their contents and Notpla’s edible packaging materials.
- Collaborate with the Edibles Category Owner and Technical Category Manager to align product development with market needs and strategic goals.
- Conduct experiments to test the functionality, compatibility, durability, shelf life, organoleptic and any other sensory properties of edible products under various conditions.
- Optimise recipes and manufacturing processes to enhance scalability, cost-efficiency, and environmental impact.
- Develop and validate analytical test methods to ensure consistency and reproducibility in formulation performance.
- Own food safety regulations and standards, ensuring all products comply with legal and industry requirements.
- Develop and maintain project timelines, coordinating with internal teams and external partners to ensure smooth execution.
- Communicate project progress effectively with internal stakeholders, providing clear updates and risk assessments.
Scale-Up & External Partnerships
- Participate in pilot trials and factory production runs, ensuring formulations perform as expected in real-world conditions.
- Troubleshoot formulation issues that arise during scale-up, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
- Document all scale-up findings, optimising processes for efficiency and reproducibility.
- Identify and engage with external partners, such as material suppliers, labs, specialised contract manufacturers, and technology consultants, to fast-track scale-up activities.
- Coordinate and oversee development activities with partners to ensure project alignment and adherence to company standards.
Research & Innovation
- Explore and experiment with new ingredients and technologies to push the boundaries of edible packaging innovation.
- Conduct research into alternative food-grade materials and extraction methods, particularly focusing on sustainable sources like seaweed.
- Analyse trends in the food and packaging industries to identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation.
- Work with external research institutions and suppliers to access new scientific insights and cutting-edge technologies.
Testing & Quality Assurance
- Establish and execute rigorous testing protocols to ensure the safety, stability, and sensory appeal of edible products.
- Identify and address potential issues related to shelf life, texture, flavor, or interaction with packaged contents.
- Collaborate with the Technical Category Manager to troubleshoot engineering and manufacturing challenges.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Industrialisation and Commercial teams to ensure seamless integration of scientific insights into product development and market launch.
- Support the Edibles Category Owner in presenting technical findings and product updates to internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide technical expertise to the marketing team for the creation of customer-facing materials and educational content.
Sustainability & Impact
- Champion sustainability by prioritizing environmentally friendly ingredients, processes, and packaging solutions.
- Quantify and communicate the environmental benefits of edible products in collaboration with Notpla’s Impact team.
Your profile
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field. A PhD is a plus.
- 5+ years of experience in food product development and market launches, preferably in edible packaging or food-grade materials.
- Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, microbiology, preservation, and quality assurance standards.
- Familiarity with sensory evaluation techniques, food testing methodologies and patents.
Skills & Attributes:
- Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Hands-on approach to experimentation and prototyping.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional environment.
- Excellent communication skills, capable of explaining complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Passion for sustainability and innovation, aligning with Notpla’s mission and values.
- Familiarity with extrusion and solvent casting is a plus.
About us
Notpla is a family of regenerative packaging materials, made from seaweed and plants. Behind these products is a company of the same name, deeply committed to making the planet a healthier place. Winner of the prestigious Earthshot Prize, Notpla are famed for their innovative, scalable alternatives to plastic. These include the edible liquid bubbles - Ooho, their seaweed-coated food containers, single-use films and rigid materials. To date, their solutions have already replaced 16 million pieces of single-use plastic from entering our environment.
Notpla Limited takes inclusion and diversity seriously. It is important for us that we live by our values and our policies outline how – We work better together. Notpla is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.
