ZBiotics is a consumer health startup pioneering the category of genetically engineered probiotics. Our team of PhD scientists takes traditional probiotics and enhances them – giving them powerful new functionalities that improve human health and enrich daily life. We incorporate these new probiotics into our own branded products and sell them direct-to-consumer (DTC).

Our first product – the world’s first ever genetically engineered probiotic to go to market – helps people feel better the day after drinking alcohol by breaking down acetaldehyde, one of alcohol’s toxic byproducts. We launched this product in August 2019, and since then we’ve successfully developed product #2, which will launch within the next year.

**Note: Interested candidates should apply via this link **

Job type: Contract
Term: 3-months 
Location: Primarily based in Southern California with extensive travel required throughout the region; occasional travel to other territories will be required as-needed
Travel: This position requires a heavy amount of travel

About ZBiotics
At ZBiotics, we make genetically engineered probiotics that improve daily life. As a group of motivated, yet down-to-earth people, we are fueled by two things: a love for science and a commitment to being people-first. GMO products like ours, built to create benefits for people in their daily lives, are the future. As the first to market, we believe it’s our duty to set a high bar for product quality, safety, and transparency for others to follow.

In 2019, ZBiotics launched Pre-Alcohol, the world’s first genetically engineered probiotic designed to break down the alcohol byproduct that leads to rough mornings after drinking. In 2024, we launched a genetically engineered probiotic drink mix, Sugar-to-Fiber, that creates fiber from the food you eat. This revolutionary product helps to improve the diversity of gut bacteria and overall gut health.

ZBiotics is entering a new chapter of growth by expanding our selling channels from ecommerce into physical retail. We’re activating retail partners across the country and looking to engage an experienced Retail Ambassador to contribute to this effort.

About the Role
We are seeking a self-motivated, organized and enthusiastic Retail Ambassador to be the face of ZBiotics at our retail partner locations. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to help build a cult following within an entirely new selling channel for our brand and products. As a Retail Ambassador, you’ll be a local face for our growing brand, forging strong relationships with store teams and customers, and ensuring ZBiotics shines on every shelf.

This is a fixed-term contract position for 3 months that will primarily work across a defined regional territory, as well as support additional regional launches as-needed. Working hours are flexible, however you’ll be expected to optimize your store visits to ensure maximum team impact. 

This role is for you if …

• You’re energized by our mission to help people live healthier, richer lives with the world’s first genetically engineered probiotics, and excited to be the face of a premium, consumer-GMO brand that people trust.
• You have a relentless focus on delivering a world-class experience to our retail partners and associates, along with an exceptional presentation of our products—ensuring that every interaction with ZBiotics strengthens our reputation as a trustworthy, science-first brand.
• You love talking to people, building relationships, and engaging one-on-one with folks from all walks of life.
• You can deliver clear and straightforward explanations about our products and commit to being honest and transparent about the science. 
• You’re organized and efficient at planning logistics, including mapping out travel routes between store locations to optimize your impact. 
• You’re willing to travel extensively throughout the duration of this contract.

As Retail Ambassador, your key responsibilities include:

• Building authentic relationships with store teams through regular in-person engagement. You’re expected to visit each of our reseller locations within your region between once per week to once per month, depending on the priority of the store, but how you organize those visits to ensure efficiency in travel time is up to you.
• Visiting 30 – 40 stores per week, ensuring each store gets at least one impactful visit per cycle. An impactful visit includes checking display and product placement (including taking photos), engaging with team members and retail staff about product performance and perception, engaging with customers, answering questions, and bringing our brand to life. Your goal is to ensure both retail associates and customers are engaged with and excited about ZBiotics.
• Owning the in-store experience: place/build displays and ensure they are clean, stocked, and visually sharp.
• Troubleshooting issues on the ground – like misplaced or broken displays, or product issues – and flagging problems to our team early so we can fix them quickly.
• Supporting new store launches and product rollouts in collaboration with the broader retail and marketing teams.
• Sharing product knowledge with associates and customers in an authentic, science-first and approachable way.
• Gathering and sharing insights for our Retail and Marketing teams around customer and store team engagement, display performance, and shelf presence. Sharing these insights through a written report on at least a weekly basis, while providing ongoing store check-in updates to our HubSpot CRM.
• Representing ZBiotics at occasional events or demos.

Experience must-haves
If your experience doesn’t align perfectly but you are a dedicated, quick learner, please apply!

• 1+ years of in-store retail experience
• 1+ years experience in merchandising, product sales, a brand or retail ambassador role, or another related position
• Experience with CRMs or sales/merchandising platforms a plus

Requirements

• Must be willing to operate as an independent business entity (LLC, sole proprietorship, etc.)
• Must possess a vehicle, a valid driver’s license, and the ability to obtain and maintain auto liability insurance on their vehicle in compliance with company requirements.
• Must have access to a laptop and smartphone for conducting communications with retail and ZBiotics team members via email, phone calls, and messaging (Slack, Google Chat, SMS). May be asked to attend occasional virtual meetings.
• Must be willing to wear clothing aligned with the brand’s visual standards

This role requires the ability to perform the following physical tasks, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Frequent walking, standing, bending, reaching, and lifting
• Ability to lift/lower, push, carry or pull up to 56 pounds
• Travel within assigned territory, including driving between store locations and as-needed to launches/events in other regions

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state laws.

Compensation

• Flat monthly fee: $5,000
• Event support fee (per activation): $125
• Mileage reimbursement: $0.70 per mile according to the 2025 IRS standard reimbursement rate. Mileage will need to be tracked and submitted for reimbursement on a monthly basis.
• ZBiotics will cover pre-approved travel costs, including flights, hotels and a meal stipend for multi-day travel outside of your assigned territory. The contractor will be responsible for adhering to a travel budget.
• Contractor is responsible for all taxes, insurance, and business-related expenses.

As an independent contractor, you will operate independently and will not be subject to daily oversight or required hours. Contractors are not eligible to participate in ZBiotics’ benefits program.

We are pioneering the development of genetically engineered probiotic bacteria for consumer applications. We use standard genetic engineering techniques such as homologous recombination, combined with rational design and our own robust and constitutive gene expression platform, to create new microorganisms that perform useful functions for the human body.