Product Innovation Scientist - Food Supplements
Location:
Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland (on-site)
Company:
Key2Biotics
Who We Are
Key2Biotics is an ambitious, science driven early-stage company with a clear mission to elevate probiotic and gut health supplement development for Human Health. Joining us offers a rare opportunity to shape the direction of a fast growing organisation at a formative stage.
You will work at the centre of a small, highly skilled team where scientific rigor, innovation, and accountability define our culture. Your insights will directly influence our formulation strategy, our laboratory capability, and the technical excellence we deliver to clients. This is a hands-on environment with significant autonomy, full scientific accountability, and an expectation of high standards.
You will contribute to building Ireland's first and only specialist Formulation Innovation Centre for probiotics and gut health supplements, with the opportunity to design new approaches, introduce new technologies, and set the scientific foundations for a company on a strong upward trajectory. For the right scientist, this role offers meaningful impact, professional growth, and the chance to help shape one of the most exciting emerging companies in the sector.
About the Role
We are seeking a Product Innovation Scientist to take full scientific ownership of human health food supplement capsule and powder formulation development within our purpose-built Formulation Innovation Centre, located in Cork, Ireland. Reporting to the Head of Product Innovation and CEO, you will work closely with senior leadership while independently leading formulation design, development, and execution, and play a central role in shaping our formulation strategy, laboratory capability, and clinical trial production operations. This role is central to advancing novel, stable, and commercially viable products for clients across the EU and beyond.
Key Responsibilities
Formulation Development
* Lead the development of oral solid dosage formulations, particularly capsule and powder formats, with a strong command of powder science, powder flow characteristics, cohesiveness, compressibility, and blend uniformity.
* Design, optimise, and document formulations from first principles through to final lab validated prototypes that meet scientific, regulatory, and commercial requirements.
* Independently develop prototypes in the lab and lead iterative optimisation based on analytical and sensory assessments.
* Translate scientific insights into robust and scalable formulations suitable for food grade production environments.
Technical Expertise and Innovation
* Apply advanced understanding of powder behaviour, excipients, carrier systems, and stability considerations.
* Evaluate and select appropriate capsule types, excipients, and processing approaches for probiotic and non-probiotic formulations.
* Contribute technical leadership to improve formulation performance including stability, manufacturability, and consumer experience.
* Experience in flavour development, flavour masking, or sensory optimisation of powder based supplements is strongly desirable.
Laboratory and Production Interface
* Execute formulation development, prototype preparation, and small-scale laboratory processes with high precision and scientific discipline.
* Work closely with production partners to support scale up, transfer to manufacturing, and food grade compliance.
* Ensure documentation, batch records, and formulation files meet internal and client standards.
Clinical Trial Production Suite Responsibilities
* Support the establishment, setup, and operationalisation of Key2Biotics' clinical trial production suite.
* Assist in defining equipment requirements, workflows, and SOPs to ensure the suite operates to the standards required for clinical trial material production.
* Independently execute small scale, high precision manufacturing runs for clinical trial batches and preclinical prototypes.
* Ensure all processes meet food grade and study specific requirements, with full documentation, traceability, and quality controls.
* Work closely with the Product Innovation Manager to ensure that the suite supports ongoing formulation development and aligns with regulatory and sponsor expectations.
Qualifications and Experience
* Minimum of 3 years of industry experience in food supplement formulation with a proven track record of developing capsule and powder products.
* Demonstrated expertise in powder science including flow behaviour, cohesiveness, moisture interactions, excipient selection, and blend uniformity.
* Experience working in regulated food grade or nutraceutical production environments with clear understanding of quality, hygiene, and documentation requirements.
* Experience formulating with probiotics and flavour profiling is a strong advantage.
* Bachelor's degree or higher in Food Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline.
* Demonstrated ability to deliver stable, scalable, and commercially ready formulations in an industry setting.
Attributes
* Innovative mindset with the ability to independently translate complex scientific data into practical, commercially viable product solutions.
* High level of scientific rigor and documentation discipline.
* Strong problem solving abilities and comfort working in an agile and fast moving environment.
* Collaborative, transparent, and committed to delivering high quality outcomes for clients.
Why Join Us?
Key2Biotics offers the opportunity to join an exciting early stage company at a formative moment. We offer flexibility, meaningful responsibility, and the chance to help build one of the first dedicated probiotic and gut health formulation innovation centres. This role is suited to scientists motivated by impact, ownership, and the opportunity to shape something from the beginning.
Please note:
Applicants must be eligible to work in Ireland. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.
If you're excited about bringing your product innovation expertise to a startup where your work truly matters, we'd love to hear from you Apply today and be part of our journey at Key2Biotics.