SR Scientist – Plant Bioassays Team Lead en Pivot Bio

About Pivot Bio:  

Fueled by an innovative drive and a deep understanding of microbiology, genomics, crop nutrition and agriculture, Pivot Bio is pioneering game-changing advances in fertilizer technology. Our first commercial product harnesses the power of naturally-occurring microbes, modern gene editing and application technologies to provide nitrogen to crops.  We are dedicated to providing new solutions for farmers to improve yield as they work to help feed the world’s growing population. Read/Hear more about Pivot Bio on Forbes or PBS News Hour.

As Team Lead, the Senior Scientist will direct a high-throughput, high-impact assay platform that serves as a critical enabler for product advancement across the company. The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary collaborations with Agronomy, Fermentation, Application R&D, Regulatory, and Data Science teams, while setting strategic priorities, ensuring scientific rigor, and driving innovation in assay methodologies. This is a leadership role suited to an accomplished scientist with deep expertise in plant and microbial biology, team management, and platform development. 

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership 

• Define and execute the long-term scientific strategy for plant bioassay capabilities and platform development 
• Lead cross-functional strategic planning to align assay development with company product roadmaps 
• Drive innovation in assay methodologies and plant phenotyping technologies 
• Represent the Plant Bioassays team in senior leadership meetings and strategic planning sessions 

Scientific Excellence 

• Design and oversee complex in planta workflows to evaluate microbial strain performance for agricultural applications 
• Ensure scientific rigor and statistical validity across all experimental designs and analyses 
• Lead interpretation of large, complex datasets and provide strategic insights to stakeholders 
• Champion best practices in experimental design, data quality, and reproducibility 

Team Leadership & Development 

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists and research associates 
• Foster a culture of scientific excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement 
• Conduct performance reviews, career development planning, and talent acquisition 
• Provide technical guidance and strategic direction to team members across multiple projects 

Operations & Platform Management 

• Oversee operational excellence and continuous improvement of the St. Louis research site 
• Implement and optimize high-throughput screening workflows and automation technologies in concert with our Automation team 
• Establish and monitor advanced indicators and metrics that drive operational and scientific success 
• Lead capacity planning and resource allocation across multiple concurrent projects 

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Partner with senior leaders across Agronomy, Fermentation, Application R&D, Regulatory, and Data Science teams 
• Influence company-wide experimental priorities and resource allocation decisions 
• Communicate complex scientific findings and strategic recommendations to executive leadership 
• Lead external collaborations with academic institutions and technology partners 

Compliance & Safety 

• Ensure adherence to all safety, regulatory, and quality standards 
• Oversee equipment qualification, maintenance, and compliance protocols 
• Lead risk assessment and mitigation strategies for laboratory operations 

 Required Qualifications 

• Ph.D. in Plant Biology, Microbiology, Agricultural Sciences, or related field 
• Minimum 8 years of relevant industry experience post-degree, with at least 3 years in leadership roles 
• Proven track record of leading and developing high-performing scientific teams 
• Extensive experience in biological assay development, validation, and platform management 
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration at senior levels 
• Strong background in statistical analysis, experimental design, and data interpretation 
• Excellent leadership, communication, and presentation skills with experience presenting to executive audiences 
• Experience managing complex, multi-project portfolios and resource allocation 

 Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in agricultural biotechnology, microbiology, or related industry  
• Advanced expertise in plant phenotyping, high-throughput screening, and automation technologies 
• Experience working with corn, cotton and small grains. 
• Proficiency in advanced data analysis tools and platforms (R, Python, JMP, Tableau, or other cloud-based analytics) 
• Training in advanced statistical methods, Six Sigma, or lean methodologies 
• Experience with regulatory submissions and compliance in agricultural or biotechnology sectors 
• Track record of technology transfer, patent applications, or publication in peer-reviewed journals 
• Experience managing external partnerships and vendor relationships 

 Travel

• Up to 15% occasional travel for conferences, collaborations, or site visits 

Must Be Authorized to Work in the United States

What We Offer: 

• Competitive package in a disruptive startup 
• Stock options 
• Health/Dental/Vision insurance with employer-paid premiums 
• Life, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability policies 
• Employee Assistance Program with free referrals and discounts 
• 401(k) plan, 3% Match 
• Commuter benefits 
• Annual Training & Development support 
• Flexible vacation policy with a generous holiday schedule 
• Exciting opportunity to work with a talented and fun team

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