Manufacturing Scale-Up Consultant (Contract)

To apply, email your CV (and optional cover letter) to contact@polarilabs.com

Title Manufacturing Scale-Up Consultant

Location London

Compensation £600-800 per day

Contract Temporary

Commitment 2–3 days per week

Duration Initial term of 2–4 months, with the potential for extension depending on project requirements and progress

Start date As soon as possible

Company

Polari Labs is a London based startup. Polari Labs is pushing the frontier of sexual health innovation and building the world’s first platform for anorectal health and pleasure. Our team develops category-defining products to make the preparation for anorectal intercourse spontaneous and hassle-free. Anorectal health has been overlooked for too long, and Polari Labs is here to change that. A-BALL is the first-of-its-kind alternative to douching. It is a hydrogel product manufactured using injection moulding, followed by a unique processing step that is not typically accommodated by manufacturers.

We're looking for an experienced Manufacturing Scale-Up Consultant to help us transition from laboratory production into commercial manufacturing. This is a hands-on contract role for someone who has successfully taken innovative physical products from development into production.

Role

You'll work closely with our team to identify, evaluate and negotiate with manufacturing partners across the UK and Europe. More importantly, you'll help us build a manufacturing capability that remains within the business after your contract ends.

Success isn't measured by reports or presentations, it's measured by selecting the right manufacturing partner, negotiating favourable commercial terms and leaving the team significantly more knowledgeable than when you joined.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute Polari's manufacturing scale-up strategy.

  • Identify, evaluate and compare manufacturing partners across the UK and Europe.

  • Obtain and assess a minimum of five competitive manufacturing quotations.

  • Identify and negotiate with raw material suppliers.

  • Lead commercial negotiations with manufacturers and suppliers to secure the best possible terms for Polari.

  • Support Design for Manufacture (DFM) and manufacturing readiness activities.

  • Advise on supply chain, logistics and production planning.

  • Work closely with our scientific team throughout the manufacturing transfer process.

  • Work alongside and up-skill our Scientist currently leading manufacturing in best practices.

  • Document manufacturing decisions and processes to ensure knowledge remains within the business after the engagement.

How is success measured?

  • Manufacturing knowledge successfully transferred to the internal team.

  • Our Scientists confidently leading manufacturing discussions independently.

  • At least five competitive manufacturing quotes evaluated.

  • Manufacturing and supplier agreements negotiated on favourable commercial terms.

  • A manufacturing partner selected and contracted within the UK or EU.

  • Material supplier agreements established to support commercial production.

Requirements

Essential

  • Significant experience scaling novel physical products into commercial manufacture.

  • Experience with custom manufacturing processes.

  • Experience within the healthcare, medical device, cosmetics or adjacent regulated industries.

  • Experience manufacturing products for both European and US markets.

  • Successfully negotiated at least three manufacturing agreements.

  • Successfully negotiated at least three raw material supplier agreements.

  • Excellent commercial negotiation skills.

  • Strong understanding of manufacturing scale-up, supply chains and logistics.

  • Experience working with early-stage companies or innovative product businesses.

  • Comfortable working in ambiguity and building manufacturing capability from the ground up.

Desirable

  • Experience with consumer healthcare or sexual wellness products.

  • Experience working with novel formulations or biomaterials.

  • Experience supporting Design for Manufacture (DFM).

  • Existing network of UK and EU manufacturers and material suppliers.

  • Experience mentoring technical teams and transferring manufacturing knowledge.

  • Existing network of UK and EU manufacturers

  • Experience bringing hydrogel products to manufacturing

If you have a medical condition or an individual need for an adjustment to our process, and you believe this may affect your ability to be at your best, please let us know so we can talk about how we can best support you and make any
adjustments that may be needed.