COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Wren Laboratories Ltd is the company behind Optibac Probiotics, the UK’s most trusted & recommended range of friendly bacteria supplements. We believe in cultivating an environment where talent thrives, ideas flourish, and every team member plays a crucial role in our collective success.

As scientists discover more about the importance of the microbiome to overall health and wellbeing, the global demand for probiotic supplements is increasing dramatically and as the experts in friendly bacteria, specialising entirely in live cultures, we are committed to producing a high-quality supplement range containing some of the most researched strains in the world, developed in the world’s leading laboratories.

Our award-winning range is sold in the UK, Ireland and many international markets via multiple different sales channels including pharmacies, health food stores, grocery, online retailers, marketplaces, hospitals, clinics and Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) practitioners. We are proud to be the UK’s bestselling range of probiotic supplements.

Pioneers of the category, Optibac has long been championing the gut health revolution, tirelessly educating professionals and consumers alike on the benefits of friendly bacteria in maintaining overall health and wellbeing.  Our mission is to ‘empower millions of people to change their lives with the power of probiotics’.

A highly ambitious company who believe in making a difference to people's lives through their product range, maintaining a vibrant & inspiring workplace and to giving back to wider society through charitable giving. To date Wren Labs has donated over £2m to charitable causes.   

MAIN PURPOSE & SCOPE OF THE JOB 

As Head of Science & Innovation you will bring senior leadership to several important areas of the business. You will develop our technical & regulatory function, shape our well-established scientific training & education efforts, and take our work with healthcare professionals to the next level. In terms of looking ahead, you will also lead on innovation; develop the existing range, understand the direction of the wider category, and ensure that Optibac remains as relevant and important a brand as ever.  This leadership position requires a dynamic and strategic thinker with commercial acumen.

Reporting to the Managing Director and forming part of the Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Science & Innovation will play a key role in commercial decision making and strategy formulation.

Flexibility is essential at Wren Laboratories, with all teams working closely together to support and develop the Optibac brand, so occasional additional support duties may be required in other areas of the business.

TASKS & RESPONSIBILTIES

This document outlines the duties required of the post to indicate the level of responsibility. It is not a comprehensive or exhaustive list and duties may vary from time to time, but these would not change the general character of the job or the level of responsibility.

The post covers four key areas:

Scientific Innovation & Academia relationships:

• Develop and implement the company's long-term scientific strategy.  Align scientific goals with business & brand objectives.
• Build and maintain relationships with research institutions, academics and other stakeholders to keep abreast of scientific developments into the microbiome.
• Help to nurture and develop our relationships with academic partners driving our involvement in clinical research, securing research grants, and contributing to innovative clinical trial designs.
• Demonstrate strong scientific & commercial awareness, understand market trends, product innovation and work collaboratively across functions to identify opportunities. 

Technical & Regulatory department:

• Support the Technical & Regulatory Affairs team to review & improve our existing products, launch exciting new products which are effective & true to our values; and build a pipeline of new products in the future which consolidates & extends our position as the most researched probiotic supplement brand in UK & Ireland.
• Work closely with the Technical & Regulatory Affairs Manager to write then execute the Tactic briefs, and set quarterly milestones & deliverables, to support the overall Company Strategy.
• Support the Technical & Regulatory Affairs team advising the business on health & medicinal claims labelling & advertising regulations & rules.
• Support cross-functionally at a high level to register our products in international markets. 

Healthcare Professionals Liaison (HPL) team:

• Provide leadership and strategic direction, driving efforts to expand and strengthen our relationships with healthcare professionals in UK & internationally.
• Across multiple markets, ensure we reach more healthcare professionals, deepen their understanding of the scientific credentials behind our products, and inspire their confident recommendation.
• Ensure the HPL team effectively communicates scientific findings, product information, or clinical guidelines to healthcare professionals; support & assist choosing the necessary tools and platforms that make reach possible within budget provided.
• Help the team improve our reach & availability in secondary care (i.e. NHS)

Training & Education:

• Lead and inspire the scientific training & education team.
• Foster a culture of excellence and continuous improvement by supporting team members, delivering ‘best-in-class’ training on a broad variety of topics, and to a broad variety of audiences – both internal, external, UK & international. 

DESIRABLE SKILLS & ABILITIES 

• Strategic thinking – Ability to develop and execute high-impact strategies across 4 different departments.
• Leadership and management skills – Ability to lead, champion and develop diverse teams.
• Commercial awareness – Understanding of industry dynamics, competitive positioning, and identifying opportunities for business expansion.
• Technical & regulatory acumen – Understanding of supplement regulations e.g. FIC etc. compliance, and health & medicinal claims legislation e.g. NHCR.
• Detail-oriented & precise – Skilled in managing technical and regulatory aspects while keeping sight of broader goals.
• Clear communication – Ability to simplify complex information into compelling narratives.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Effectively collaborate with various departments.
• Problem-solving & adaptability – Proactive in overcoming challenges and adjusting strategies as needed.
• Event & stakeholder engagement – Confident in representing the business at industry events, with flexibility to travel.
• Integrity & professionalism – Always demonstrates confidentiality, discretion, and reliability.

KNOWLEDGE, QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE 

Essential

• Degree in life sciences, healthcare, nutrition, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience within natural products, healthcare, or pharmaceutical industries.
• Proven success in Senior leadership team; contributing to strategy, budgets, and business growth.
• Experience in team management.
• Experience of new product development; from conception through to launch 

Desirable

• Knowledge of supplement regulations and compliance
• Knowledge of healthcare professional strategies that drive engagement and advocacy.
• Background in medical education or professional training for healthcare providers.

TO APPLY

To apply for this role please send your CV along with a covering letter and your salary expectations to technical-vacancy@wrenlabs.com

• Must have valid working visa for the UK
• No agencies please
• Deadline for applications is 25/04/2025 
• The ideal candidate will carefully read the job description, and detail in a cover letter the knowledge, skills and experience which make them suitable for the role, along with their availability, notice period, preferred working hours, and salary expectations.
• Applicants who do not include a comprehensive covering letter with their application will not be considered.
• The interview process may consist of a telephone interview, initial interview, and second interview for final stage applicants. 

We believe that a diverse, inclusive culture drives creativity and success.  We strive to create a workplace that values all people, where we embrace differences, and everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

Company Benefits: 

Annual leave

• 22 days, plus the usual Bank & Public Holidays per leave year, plus a discretionary extra 3 days between Christmas & New Year.

Long service recognition - additional annual leave

• Annual leave increases by 3 days upon completion of 3 full years’ service.

Sickness absence

• All full time employees are entitled to 20 days paid sick (pro-rated for part time/reduced hours). Plus an additional 5 days ‘Special Leave’ to support employees with those unexpected life events.

Time off for appointments

• We appreciate it’s not easy getting a doctor’s appointment these days, so to make the process even less stressful, you are not expected to work the time back for appointments such as this (or hospital, dentist etc).

Maternity/Adoption leave

• Such a precious time and we want you to be able to enjoy making the memories without having any additional stress.
• Providing they meet the criteria (having worked with us for 1yr) employees are entitled to full pay for the first 26 weeks (this is over and above the statutory requirement of just 6 weeks), Statutory Maternity Pay for a further 13 weeks, plus the option of taking an additional 13 weeks unpaid leave.

Pension

• 4% employer contributions when matched by 4% employee contributions after 3 months service.

 Health Cash Plan

• 24/7 access to an EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) where you will find a wealth of health advice and support via a website and/or app, the scheme also offers access to counselling services. The scheme also allows members to claim back the cost of a wide range of health treatments quickly and simply using an app.  

Mental Health First Aid

• All managers are given training on Mental Health Awareness but in addition, we have a team of three fully trained Mental Health First Aiders who are on hand to talk, support or signpost…whatever the need might be.

 Mini-nutrition consultations

• Once a quarter we offer mini-nutrition consultations with a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist. Team members can book in for a free 30 minute virtual private consultation, where they can seek nutritional advice to aid health and wellbeing.

 Free/Discounted products for employees

• Equivalent of up to £500 (RRP) worth of free Optibac products per financial year.

 Friends & Family Discount

• All employees issued with unique F&F 25% discount code to be shared with friends & family (just not via social media). Purchases are made via the consumer website, with 25% being taken off the RRP.

 Charity donations

• As well as making their own charity contributions through the Aga Khan Foundation and supporting Woman Kind with donations via the sales of our For Woman product range, the company is also committed to supporting local charities and one way of doing this is to match personal fundraising efforts, like for like, up to the value of £500 per employee, per year!