Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
Denmark
Black Swans Exist
Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
Reports to: CEO
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Start: As soon as possible
About the Company
We are a venture-backed food-tech startup on a fast growth trajectory. Our mission is to bring the next generation of clean-label, solid-state-fermented foods to industrial scale—products that taste outstanding, are nutritionally dense, and are produced with minimal environmental impact. We blend deep microbiology expertise with advanced process technology and a pragmatic startup mindset.
Your Mission
As CSO you will be the scientific engine that links research, production, and business. You will ensure we understand our organisms in depth, translate that knowledge into stable, scalable processes, and protect the innovations with a sharp IP strategy.
Key Responsibilities
| Focus Area | What You Will Do |
| 1. Microbiological Platform & Food Safety | • Build and maintain an advanced knowledge base on our fungal and bacterial strains, their metabolism, and interactions. • Translate insights into concrete production and quality parameters (pH, aw, oxygen, temperature, growth media, batch consistency). • Identify risks (contaminants, toxins, sensory deviations) and implement preventive controls and QA procedures. |
| 2. Process & Yield Optimisation | • Lead experimental and AI-supported design-of-experiments to increase yield, shorten cycle time, and ensure consistency. • Drive scale-up from pilot (kg) to industrial scale (tons) in close collaboration with the production team and external partners. |
| 3. Strategic R&D Partnerships | • Formulate and manage collaboration agreements with universities, CROs, and technology suppliers. • Coordinate multidisciplinary projects (strains, formulation, texture, flavour) and convert results into commercial opportunities. |
| 4. IP Management | • Develop an IP roadmap, identify patentable elements, draft invention disclosures, and manage external patent attorneys. • Secure freedom to operate and robust global protection. |
| 5. Team & Culture | • Build a small, high-performing R&D and QA team (1–3 FTEs in year one). • Embed a data-driven, experimental culture and coach colleagues without a microbiology background. |
| 6. New Product Development (nice to have) | • Contribute to concept and prototype development of new fermented ingredients together with marketing and commercial teams. • Leverage AI tools for faster flavour/texture screening. |
| 7. Investor & Stakeholder Engagement | • Act as scientific spokesperson at board meetings, in due-diligence processes, and on fundraising roadshows. |
What You Bring
- Ph.D. (or equivalent) in microbiology, food science, biochemistry, or related field.
- 15+ years of industrial fermentation experience—solid-state expertise is a major plus.
- Proven record of scaling processes from pilot to full production and implementing QA/QC systems.
- Hands-on experience with IP management (patent applications, FTO, portfolio steering).
- Strong project-management skills: planning, budgeting, cross-functional leadership.
- Prior experience in a venture-funded startup or other high-growth environment.
Personal Attributes
- Self-driven, proactive, and decisive—comfortable working with incomplete data.
- Pragmatic and hands-on; able to switch fluidly between strategic and operational levels.
- Clear and persuasive communicator in both written and spoken English (Danish a bonus).
- Natural bridge-builder across R&D, production, commercial, and investor groups.
- Passionate about sustainable food innovation and clean-label principles.
Life at Our Startup
You will join a small, ambitious team where success is built on collaboration and rapid learning. A typical week might include:
- 1–2 days on-site in the production facility for sampling and process reviews.
- Data analysis and DoE planning from the office or remote.
- Brain-storming sessions with university and technology partners.
- Thursday demo tastings with marketing & sales—we always taste our progress!
We value openness, humour, and learning through experimentation. Ready to help shape the future of fermented foods? We would love to hear from you!
Per Christensen
Managing Director & Co-founder
Per is the Managing Director and Co-founder of Black Swans Exist, a role he has held since the company's inception in June 2020. Based in Copenhagen, Per brings a visionary approach to the business, helping companies discover rare, high-impact talent, or "Black Swans," that drive extraordinary performance.
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