Head of Commercial & Business Operations

ABOUT HYFÉ':

Hyfé transforms plant waste into chemical alternatives to petroleum. Petrochemicals account for 7% of global emissions and drive over a third of global oil demand, yet the industry remains one of the most overlooked contributors to climate change. 

At the same time, over four billion tons of plant biomass waste are generated globally each year—containing more than enough carbon to replace petroleum-derived chemicals entirely. 

Hyfé addresses this challenge with a novel biorefining approach that uses food-safe solvents and catalysis to produce low-cost platform chemicals. Unlike traditional biorefineries, Hyfé leverages food processing waste rich in high-value specialty chemicals, enabling platform chemicals to be competitively priced and biorefineries profitable at any scale. This model also unlocks a powerful new revenue stream for food manufacturers—transforming what was once costly waste into valuable ingredients. 

Backed by a leadership team with decades of experience in oil refining, specializing in scaling industrial processes and pioneering sustainable solutions, Hyfé is uniquely positioned to commercialize refining of the future. By transforming abundant and underutilized plant materials into high-value resources, we not only reduce emissions but also pave the way for decarbonizing industries heavily reliant on fossil-based resources.

JOB OVERVIEW:

We are seeking a Head of Commercial and Business Operations to lead Hyfé’s go-to-market execution, early revenue development, and cross-functional operational systems. This is a hybrid role that combines commercial leadership with business operations management—ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-moving startup environment and can seamlessly shift between building customer partnerships and managing internal functions that keep the company running.

This role will be critical in demonstrating commercial traction, ensuring operational readiness, and supporting the CEO and executive team in scaling the business with discipline.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Commercial Strategy & Execution

• Develop and execute the commercialization roadmap for Hyfe’s initial product lines (e.g., polyphenols, pectin, oils, and bio-based binders).

• Identify, engage, and close early adopter customers through pilot agreements, LOIs, early sales, or offtake MOUs.

• Lead customer engagement, market segmentation, and value proposition development based on product attributes and unit economics.

• Build and manage Hyfe’s B2B sales pipeline and GTM analytics infrastructure.

• Develop and manage feedstock supply partnerships, securing long term offtake agreements for waste/byproducts.

• Coordinate the operational interface between pilot-scale production and customer sampling/delivery, ensuring quality, documentation, and timelines.

• Oversee product readiness for regulatory, safety, and quality standards in alignment with customer expectations.

• Help craft narrative around Hyfe’s business model, pricing strategy, and revenue projections based on real customer interest and traction.

Business Operations Leadership

• Support the CEO with internal operations, owning the financial model and supporting budget management.

• Collaborate with finance and legal advisors to manage compliance, bookkeeping, and grants administration.

• Lead board meeting preparation: align materials, surface key metrics, and help drive internal accountability.

• Design and refine lightweight administrative systems to enable team efficiency during rapid growth.

• Support fundraising materials and investor communications by contributing commercial milestones, customer feedback, and GTM plans.

REQUIREMENTS:

Must have qualifications:

• 5–10 years of experience in B2B commercialization (sales, partnerships, go-to-market), ideally in chemicals, materials, or bio-based materials.

• Proven track record of securing pilot agreements, LOIs, or offtake deals in novel product categories (bio-ingredients, extracts, functional materials).

• Demonstrated ability to translate technical product features into compelling customer value propositions.

• Experience building foundational commercial systems: CRM, pricing models, segmentation, and GTM dashboards.

• Strong financial fluency and comfort navigating budgets, contracts, and operational metrics.

• Excellent communicator, capable of interfacing with customers, internal teams, and investors.

• Startup temperament: resourceful, decisive, adaptable, and deeply mission-aligned.

Highly desired qualifications:

• Previous leadership role at a seed to Series A/B startup with experience wearing multiple hats across commercial and business operations.

• Familiarity with food and chemicals regulatory frameworks (and quality standards).

• Background in supply chain, logistics, or manufacturing operations in food, biotech, or chemicals, ideally at startups.

• MBA or graduate degree in business, food science, chemical engineering, or a related field.

BENEFITS:

• Competitive annual salary, commensurate with experience 

• Generous vacation policy, including 15 days of PTO, paid holidays, office closure on the last week of the year

• 401(k) plan 

• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Short-term disability coverage

• In-office snacks & drinks 

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Hyfé is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.