Director – Mushroom Cultivation & Extraction

Job Description

About Rylaq Rylaq is pioneering high-value functional mushroom products—ranging from DIY grow-kits to nutraceutical formulations. As we scale our cultivation and extraction operations, we’re seeking an industry veteran to guide our R&D, production protocols, and quality systems. Role Overview As our Director – Mushroom Cultivation & Extraction, you will: Advise on the design and optimization of controlled-environment growth chambers Develop and validate scalable extraction processes for bioactive compounds Establish SOPs and QC/QA benchmarks (e.g., β-glucan assays, microbial limits) Mentor our technical team and liaise with contract growers/labs You’ll be the technical authority driving Rylaq’s upstream (spawn → fruiting) and midstream (harvest → extract) excellence. Key Responsibilities Cultivation Strategy: Recommend substrate formulations (sawdust, coir, bran) and spawn ratios Optimize parameters (temperature, humidity, CO₂, light) for Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, etc. Extraction & Formulation: Design scalable solvent- or water-based extraction workflows Specify concentration targets, solvent recovery, and residue management Quality & Compliance: Draft and implement GMP-level SOPs Define QC tests: potency (HPLC/UV), microbial, heavy metals Ensure FSSAI/ISO/HACCP readiness Team Leadership: Train lab technicians on sterile technique, aseptic transfers, and batch records Coordinate with external contract manufacturers for pre-order kit fulfillment Technology Evaluation: Scout and pilot new bioreactor, pasteurization, and drying technologies Drive continuous improvement via small-scale trials and data analysis Ideal Candidate Profile Experience: 10+ years in mushroom cultivation and/or extraction for nutraceutical or pharmaceutical applications Proven track record scaling from lab to commercial (5 kg→500 kg+/month) Technical Skills: Deep understanding of spawn preparation, sterile culture, substrate pasteurization/sterilization Expertise in extraction techniques (Soxhlet, maceration, supercritical CO₂) Familiarity with downstream processing: concentration, spray drying, encapsulation Regulatory Know-How: Hands-on with FSSAI/DGFT regulations for food/health products GMP, HACCP documentation and audits Soft Skills: Strong coaching and cross-functional communication Data-driven mindset with proficiency in basic statistical tools Entrepreneurial spirit and comfort in a fast-moving startup What We Offer Strategic advisory equity or profit-share package Opportunity to shape a novel functional mushroom brand from the ground up Collaboration with a passionate, multidisciplinary team Show more Show less