ADTechOptimer - CEO
United Kingdom
Full Time
Executive
Role Specification
ADTechOptima is a Lancaster University spin-out developing technology intended to improve the recovery, productivity and operation of anaerobic digestion assets. The business combines biochemical interventions with a proprietary operating regime designed to address digester instability and underperformance.
The technology has been demonstrated at laboratory and pilot scale, including work to restore a 6,000 m³ digester to normal operation in fewer than 15 days, compared with an expected recovery period of two to three months. The company’s longer-term vision is to encode its operating knowledge in software that can integrate with plant SCADA systems and support more automated digester management.
The company is seeking a commercially focused Chief Executive Officer to lead market strategy, business development, client acquisition, strategic partnerships and fundraising. Founder Bhushan Gandhi intends to move into a CTO-focused position, concentrating on technology, software development and customer delivery.
This is a pivotal appointment. The incoming CEO will inherit promising technology and early validation but will also need to establish a credible route to market, win the confidence of conservative infrastructure buyers and create sufficient commercial traction to support the company’s next funding round.
Role Purpose
The Chief Executive Officer will lead ADTechOptima through its next stage of commercial development.The CEO’s central purpose is to convert technically promising, early-stage innovation into a credible, funded and scalable business. The appointee will determine the most attractive route to market, secure initial and repeat customers, develop high-value partnerships and position the company for further investment.
This is a hands-on leadership role. The CEO will be expected to operate strategically while also undertaking direct selling, partnership development, proposition building and fundraising.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy and Leadership
- Develop and execute the company’s business and commercial strategy.
- Assess the relative priority of recovery services, performance optimisation, software and new market applications.
- Translate the technical proposition into a compelling commercial narrative.
- Agree clear responsibilities with the CTO and board.
- Establish performance measures, governance and management reporting.
Business Development and Customer Acquisition
- Build and manage a focused pipeline of potential customers.
- Develop senior relationships with plant operators, utilities, waste companies and industrial producers.
- Lead complex, technically informed sales processes.
- Convert customer interest into paid diagnostics, trials and commercial contracts.
- Build credible customer references and case studies.
- Develop pricing and contracting models aligned with demonstrable customer value.
Partnerships
- Identify engineering, technology and channel partners.
- Negotiate partnerships that accelerate market entry and reduce customer-acquisition cost.
- Explore routes through established suppliers already trusted by target operators.
- Assess licensing, resale and joint-development opportunities.
Fundraising and Investor Relations
- Confirm the funding strategy and capital requirement.
- Build an investable growth plan supported by technical and commercial milestones.
- Lead investor engagement and fundraising.
- Maintain relationships with existing funders and stakeholders.
- Prepare the company for diligence, including its financial model, commercial pipeline, technical evidence, IP position and data room.
Product and Market Development
- Work with the CTO to define a commercially viable product roadmap.
- Establish the business case for digitising the operating regime.
- Ensure software plans reflect customer workflow, safety, SCADA integration and cybersecurity requirements.
- Use customer insight to guide product priorities.
Organisational Development
- Build the team and external advisory network required for growth.
- Establish an accountable, practical and collaborative culture.
- Manage limited resources carefully.
- Represent the company with customers, investors, partners and industry bodies.
Candidate Profile
Essential Experience
High-calibre candidates will bring:- Senior commercial or general-management experience in anaerobic digestion, biogas, biomethane, water, waste, renewable energy, process technology or a closely related market.
- A strong record in business development and customer acquisition.
- Experience selling technical propositions into conservative or highly regulated organisations.
- Familiarity with long, multi-stakeholder sales cycles.
- Evidence of converting pilot-stage technology into commercial contracts.
- The ability to operate effectively in an early-stage, resource-constrained business.
- Strong commercial judgement and financial literacy.
- The credibility to engage investors, boards, engineers and operational plant teams.
Highly Desirable Experience
- Direct knowledge of anaerobic digestion plant operations.
- Relationships across UK water, waste, food, agriculture or biogas markets.
- Experience creating strategic partnerships with engineering firms or technology suppliers.
- Fundraising experience in climate technology, industrial technology or university spin-outs.
- Commercialisation of university intellectual property.
- Software, industrial automation, SCADA or operational-technology exposure.
- Experience with value-based, subscription or outcome-linked pricing.
- International market-development experience.
Leadership Attributes
The successful candidate will be:- Entrepreneurial and hands-on.
- Commercially ambitious but evidence-led.
- Comfortable with uncertainty.
- Credible with technical specialists.
- Able to simplify a complex technical proposition.
- Resilient through long sales and fundraising cycles.
- Disciplined about priorities and cash.
- Collaborative with a founder transitioning into a CTO role.
- Willing to undertake detailed execution rather than relying on a large support structure.
Location
A UK base is preferred because the initial commercial focus is principally UK-based. The role will require customer and partner travel. A flexible or hybrid arrangement may be possible, subject to the operating model and access required to the Lancaster team and facilities.Success Measures
Success in the role will be demonstrated by the CEO establishing and executing a clear market-entry, commercial and financing strategy; agreeing effective decision rights with the CTO and board; validating the evidence supporting the company’s technical and commercial claims; and building a focused, qualified customer pipeline. Within the first six months, the CEO should secure paid customer engagements, progress at least one strategically valuable reference site, establish credible partnership opportunities, define the commercial roadmap for the software proposition and produce a compelling investor case. Over the first 12 months, the successful appointee will be expected to deliver measurable revenue growth, create a more repeatable approach to customer acquisition, generate credible evidence of customer outcomes, develop partnerships that produce commercial opportunities, progress the company’s next funding round and establish the team and operating plan required to scale.Engagement Terms
The intended appointment is structured as follows:- Role: Chief Executive Officer.
- Commitment: Full time.
- Location: Preferably UK-based, with travel.
- Salary indication: Approximately £50,000.
- Equity: Expected to form a meaningful component of the package.
- Start: As soon as practical.
Why This Is a Great Opportunity
This is an opportunity to lead a university spin-out addressing a commercially significant challenge across renewable energy, waste treatment and infrastructure productivity. ADTechOptima’s technology has progressed from academic research to pilot-scale validation and a reported commercial-scale intervention, giving the incoming CEO an early evidence base from which to build. The founder’s planned transition into the CTO role will provide the successful candidate with a clear mandate to lead commercial strategy, customer acquisition, partnerships and fundraising while working alongside deep technical expertise. With potential revenue streams spanning digester recovery, performance optimisation, recurring monitoring, software, licensing and strategic partnerships, the CEO will have significant scope to shape the company’s market position, business model, product roadmap and growth strategy. For an entrepreneurial leader motivated by environmental impact and long-term value creation, the role offers the chance to build a scalable business, improve the performance of critical infrastructure and participate meaningfully in the company’s future success through equity.Apply for this position
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