28d ago
Job description
Key Responsibilities
Research Strategy & Internal Alignment
- Align scientific research with commercial strategy by converting technology challenges into actionable hypotheses and an integrated R&D agenda.
- Define the scientific questions, hypotheses, and integrated research agenda for responsible research direction, aligned with the company's technology roadmap and business goals.
- Act as the primary technical interface with internal stakeholders (engineering, operations, business development, regulatory/IP), external academic and industrial partners.
Technology development & delivery
- Design research and experimental plans, data collection, and analysis pipelines, ensuring robust, reproducible and transferable results.
- Drive the technology along the TRL ladder toward pilot and first-of-a-kind plant
- Champion IP generation: identify, document and file patentable inventions and trade secrets in cooperation with the IP team.
Team Building & Mentoring
- Assemble and attract a team of researchers, technicians, and Co-PIs.
- Provide training for less experienced personnel and foster a collaborative, safety-first lab culture.
- Grow internal capabilities in catalysis, scale up and process engineering.
Communication
- Deliver clear, decision-ready reports to internal leadership and external partners.
- Report deliverable both internally and to partners.
Required Qualifications & Experience (7+ years of experience)
- Doctorate (or equivalent) in chemical engineering, catalysis, energy/process engineering, chemistry, or related discipline, with a strong record in fuel synthesis.
- Demonstrated expertise in biofuel/e-fuel value chain.
- Proven record of project delivery - taking research from bench concepts toward pilot/demo scale on budget and on schedule.
- Excellent written and oral communication, collaborative mindset, and adaptability.
About this role
Experience
Senior
About EcoCeres
Company Overview
Name
EcoCeres Limited, a privately held company backed by Bain Capital, Kerogen Capital, and Hong Kong and China Gas Company (Towngas)
HeadquartersHong Kong, Hong Kong
Founded2008
SizeApproximately 500–1,000 employees (source: linkedin.com)
What They Do
EcoCeres is a global leader in the innovation and commercialization of renewable fuels and green molecules derived exclusively from waste-based biomass feedstocks (source: ecoceres.com). The company specializes in producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), alongside renewable naphtha and cellulosic ethanol, using proprietary technology that converts used cooking oil and agricultural waste into drop-in substitutes for fossil fuels (source: ifc.org). Their SAF is fully traceable and ISCC-certified, delivering up to a 90% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuel, positioning EcoCeres as a key player in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and road transport (source: about.hsbc.com.hk). The company’s proprietary feedstock-to-fuel process enables production across multiple fuel types rather than focusing on a single product, supporting global energy resilience through industrial-scale production from 100% waste-based feedstocks (source: ecoceres.com).
Projects & Track Record
EcoCeres operates industrial biofuel production facilities in Hong Kong, China, and Malaysia, including a notable plant in Jiangsu and a biofuel production hub under construction in Pasir Gudang, Johor, designed to produce SAF, HVO, and bio-naphtha at scale (source: ifc.org). A landmark commercial project is the November 2024 partnership with HSBC and Cathay Pacific, where HSBC Hong Kong purchased approximately 3,400 metric tonnes of SAF for Cathay Pacific flights departing Hong Kong International Airport, supporting the local SAF ecosystem with fuel made from used cooking oil (source: about.hsbc.com.hk). The company has also forged strategic collaborations with British Airways to extend SAF supply, partnered with Viva Energy to accelerate SAF adoption in Australia, and worked with SF Group and China National Aviation Fuel to advance low-carbon air cargo in China (source: ecoceres.com). In 2026, EcoCeres expanded into low-carbon backup power for data centers through collaborations with Chindata and Bridge Data Centres, completing the first HVO-powered backup fuel pilot in the Asia Pacific region (source: ecoceres.com). The company’s ambitious regional growth includes a proposed HK$10 billion investment in a SAF plant in Dongguan, signaling a multi-year buildout across the Greater Bay Area (source: scmp.com).
Recent Developments
In August 2025, EcoCeres published its sustainability report along with a greenhouse gas accounting and audit report for 2025, underscoring its commitment to transparency and emissions reduction tracking (source: ecoceres.com). The following month, the company publicly supported Hong Kong’s vision to develop a sustainable aviation fuel industry chain in the Greater Bay Area, describing itself as a Hong Kong-based climate tech unicorn with proprietary technology converting agricultural waste into advanced biofuels achieving up to 90% lifecycle emissions reductions (source: ecoceres.com). Throughout 2026, EcoCeres announced multiple commercial partnerships and market expansion initiatives, including showcasing at Beijing China TransPo 2026, collaborations with SF Group and China National Aviation Fuel, and extending SAF supply agreements with British Airways and Viva Energy (source: ecoceres.com). Additionally, the company was recognized as the "Best Company to Work for in Asia" in May 2026, reflecting its growing reputation and workplace culture (source: ecoceres.com).
Working There
EcoCeres employs approximately 500 to 1,000 people globally, with roles spanning production, engineering, commercial, supply chain, sustainability reporting, audit, business development, partnership management, communications, and market development (source: linkedin.com). The company’s operations and hiring activities are concentrated in Hong Kong, mainland China, and Malaysia, with business development and partnership roles primarily based in Hong Kong, while plant operations and production work are centered in China and Southeast Asia (source: ifc.org). EcoCeres is distinguished from conventional fuel traders or utilities companies by its focus on waste-to-fuels biorefinery technology, emphasizing proprietary conversion processes and industrial-scale production of SAF, HVO, and related green molecules, supported by international commercial partnerships and a strong employer brand (source: ecoceres.com).