President / CEO

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will set and execute the company's strategic vision, drive revenue growth, build a world-class team, and position Axcend for long-term value creation.

• Define and communicate a compelling long-term vision and strategic plan that positions Axcend as a category leader in compact, sustainable HPLC technology
• Identify and prioritize high-growth market segments — including biopharma, drug discovery, precision medicine, PAT, and defense — and align resources accordingly
• Monitor competitive landscape, emerging technologies, and industry trends to inform product roadmap and go-to-market strategy

• Drive aggressive revenue growth by scaling the commercial organization across domestic and international markets
• Champion Axcend's disruptive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model and sustainability value proposition ("Green HPLC") to global biopharma and industrial clients
• Build and nurture strategic partnerships, OEM relationships, and channel alliances to accelerate market penetration
• Represent Axcend at major industry conferences, trade shows, and with key accounts

• Co-lead future fundraising efforts, including venture capital, strategic investment, and/or debt financing rounds
• Manage P&L with discipline, balancing growth investment against capital efficiency
• Build and maintain strong relationships with investors, board members, and financial partners
• Develop and execute a long-term value-creation strategy with an eye toward a successful liquidity event, whether through acquisition, IPO, or strategic recapitalization

• Recruit, develop, and retain top-tier talent across all functions — sales, R&D, operations, marketing, and finance
• Foster a high-performance, mission-driven culture rooted in Axcend's core values: integrity, passion, boldness, respect, humility, ownership, and fun
• Establish scalable processes, systems, and organizational structures to support rapid growth

• Oversee all company operations, ensuring product quality, supply chain reliability, and customer success
• Coordinate cross-functional execution between sales, field application scientists, service, and R&D teams
• Ensure regulatory compliance and IP protection across all markets

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in life sciences, analytical instrumentation, or a closely related industry, with at least 5 years in a C-suite or GM role
• Demonstrated success scaling a capital equipment or instrumentation business from early/growth stage through a significant revenue inflection point and into sustained commercial traction
• Direct experience with capital raising — ideally having led or co-led one or more funding rounds totaling $20M+
• Experience operating at both large, established organizations (providing process discipline and enterprise relationships) and smaller, high-growth companies (providing scrappiness and speed)
• Deep understanding of the HPLC, chromatography, mass spectrometry, or broader analytical instrumentation market
• Strong commercial instinct with a track record of building and leading high-performing sales and go-to-market teams
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MS, PhD, or MBA) preferred. A technical education in life sciences, chemistry, or engineering is a plus

• Existing relationships within the global biopharma, biotech, and life science research communities
• Experience with Process Analytical Technology (PAT), inline/atline monitoring, or sustainability-driven instrumentation sales
• Familiarity with drug discovery, precision medicine, DoD, radiopharmaceutical, or energy sector applications
• Track record of at least one successful exit (acquisition or IPO) as a senior leader or CEO

• Visionary yet execution-oriented — equally comfortable setting strategy and rolling up sleeves
• Exceptional communicator who can inspire teams, engage boards, and close enterprise deals
• Resilient, adaptable, and energized by the pace and ambiguity of a high-growth startup environment
• High integrity, intellectual curiosity, and genuine passion for innovation in science and sustainability