Research and Development Director

Research & Development Director

Hybrid role based out of Ottawa, ON

Full Time, Fixed Term Contract – 12 months, beginning mid‑June 2026

Growcer is an innovative ag‑tech company specializing in the design and deployment of modular food systems, currently consisting of hydroponic systems that enable commercial food production in plug‑and‑play structures. Its vertical farming technology enables customers to grow fresh vegetables in virtually any climate, having been deployed within the Arctic Circle below –50 °C. Growcer has empowered conventional farmers, entrepreneurs, communities, and institutions to grow food locally all year round.

Growcer’s work has been recognized with awards including Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and was featured on Season 13 of CBC’s hit show, Dragons’ Den.

Growcer is looking for a driven individual with a self‑starter attitude as the company enters the next phase of rapid growth and scales globally. Effective Growcer employees are tenacious, enjoy working in a fast‑paced environment, and are comfortable working on big‑picture challenges with lots of autonomy. All positions and work responsibilities tie back to our mission of empowering people to feed the world more sustainably, and applicants who are laser‑focused on contributing to the creation of a better food system will find a workplace and team that shares their vision for sustainable agriculture.

Reporting directly to the CEO, as Growcer’s R&D Director, you will be responsible for building and executing Growcer’s R&D strategy through:

• Acting as a technical centre for plant science‑related due diligence
• Exploration, testing and validation of new technologies and techniques
• Management of strategic partnerships and execution of technology transfers
• Overseeing Growcer’s research labs, existing research projects, as well as expansion into new crop offerings & production systems
• Leading and growing Growcer’s R&D team
• Contributing to the planning and execution of the objectives defined in Growcer’s strategic plan

This role is hybrid out of Ottawa, ON, requiring at least 2–3 days in office.

• Lead Growcer’s Horticulture Research team day‑to‑day, including providing consistent feedback and oversight of team members on project deliverables; guiding their technical work on an ongoing basis; and informing performance reviews
• Guide Growcer’s horticultural research strategy, including continuous improvement in the yield and health of leafy green crops in our evolving modular hydroponic farm systems
• Execute on crop & cultivar expansion projects driven by customer insight and market need, including benchmarking initiatives for yield and labour associated with the cultivation of new crops
• Contribute to the oversight of water quality in our customer network as well as the research farms, and work towards the development of tools and processes to standardise water quality management in Growcer farms
• Implement research strategy in the development of new crop or cultivation platforms (e.g. strawberry, greenhouse), including prototype testing and coordination of the expansion to full‑scale farm systems
• Translate research outcomes into usable formats used either internally (e.g. financial projections tool) or customer‑facing (e.g. standard operating procedures)
• Be accountable for the oversight of several concurrent growing trials in Growcer’s research facilities, consisting of one full‑scale hydroponic farm module, and several smaller walk‑in growth chambers. Drive team accountability for deliverables and meeting of all milestones related to applied research projects
• Set & oversee tasks of other individuals cross‑functionally who support research work (including expansion of the research facilities, prototyping, engineering, and horticulture technicians conducting laboratory duties)
• Oversee the analysis of agricultural data and preparation of research reports for both internal and external use, including managing and reporting for contracted research projects and tax incentive programmes (e.g. SR&ED)
• Ensure that team members…