Head of Biologicals Research and Innovation

Indigo Ag transforms on-farm regenerative agricultural practices into durable new revenue streams for farmers and agribusinesses, creating a more resilient world with thriving farmers and more sustainable and environmentally prosperous companies. Since 2013, Indigo’s mission has revolved around on three key principles:

• Helping farmers enhance their profitability and soil health
• Improving the quantity, quality, and traceability of the food available to consumers
• Protecting the environment by reducing and removing harmful greenhouse gases from the atmosphere by storing it into agricultural soils, while incentivizing sustainable land stewardship practices from large corporations

Our people build partnerships, explore the science, and engineer the technology to help grow the future of sustainable agriculture. The only way to achieve it is through a unique combination of expertise – from Fortune 500 to academia, soil science and agriculture, to tech start-ups.

The Head of Biologicals Research and Innovation will lead early-stage research and development initiatives focused on biological solutions that enhance crop performance, soil health, and sustainability. This senior leadership role will lead and oversee a technical team tasked with discovery and characterization of microbial products and will work closely with the Biologicals Product and Commercial teams to drive strategy and product development to build a world-class product portfolio. The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader with a strong track record in biological R&D and a deep understanding of microbial science, plant-microbe interactions, and agriculture.

What You'll Do

• Lead and oversee a technical team that delivers on the Biologicals Product Roadmap, through new product discovery, product characterization and improvement and product quality assessment
• Work closely across Biological Product and Commercial Teams to develop and execute a technical strategy for research initiatives aligned with company goals and market needs.
• Build a platform capable of end-to-end product discovery and screening, from lab-, to greenhouse- to field-scale assessment.
• Build and manage a high-performing multidisciplinary team of scientists and researchers
• Foster innovation by identifying and exploring emerging trends in microbial research and agricultural technology.
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including commercial, product development, and data science, to ensure seamless integration of R&D outputs into market-ready solutions.
• Establish and maintain collaborations with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry partners to stay at the forefront of scientific advancements.
• Oversee budgets, timelines, and resource allocation to deliver impactful results.
• Communicate scientific findings and progress to stakeholders, including executive leadership, investors, and external partners.
  
  

What You'll Bring

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biology, Plant Science, or a related field; a strong emphasis on microbial biotechnology is preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in biological R&D, with a proven track record of developing and commercializing agricultural solutions.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to align research goals with business objectives.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills to influence and inspire teams and stakeholders.

How We'll Take Care of You

• Base salary of $190,000 - $210,000 annually
• Equity options & annual cash incentives
• Generous paid time off, including Flexible Time Off, 5 sick days, 5 floating holidays, and 12 annual company holidays as well as one week between Christmas and New Year’s for a company-wide annual break, parental leave, and bereavement leave.
• Robust wellness benefits for employees and their eligible dependents including medical, dental, vision, mental health, and basic life and disability insurance
• Optional benefits available include Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), identity protection, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
• 401K savings plan

Pay Transparency Statement

Indigo is committed to competitive and equitable pay for all employees. The listed pay range for this role is a good faith estimate of the hiring range for this position. Compensation offered will be determined based on several factors including an individual’s experience, qualifications, and geographic location.

Benefits Statement

All regular, full-time, permanent employees who work 30 hours or more each week are eligible to enroll in Indigo’s benefits. Additionally, all full-time employees and some parttime employees are eligible for paid time off as outlined above. Based on their role, employees may also be eligible to receive long-term equity incentives and annual cash incentives.

At Indigo Ag, we understand that talent is not a one-size-fits-all. We want candidates who are passionate about our mission and aligned with our Core Values. That’s why we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements listed above. So let us know what skills you bring to the table and how you will add to our culture!