Operator Foreman – Demonstration Facility

About the role

We are looking for a hands‑on Operator Foreman to lead our first demonstration‑scale biochemical production facility. You will guide the plant from construction completion through commissioning, start‑up and long‑term commercial operations.

Key responsibilities

• Direct daily plant operations to meet mass, energy and yield targets and maintain SOPs, work instructions and safety protocols (LOTO, confined‑space, PSM).
• Identify and resolve process bottlenecks using root‑cause analysis, and synthesize performance data into reports for senior management.
• Lead recruitment, hiring and onboarding of an 8‑12 person operations team, providing mentorship and scheduling.
• Partner with construction and engineering teams for mechanical completion, commissioning, qualification and validation activities (FAT, SAT, utility start‑up).

Required profile

• B.S. in Chemical, Biochemical Engineering or related field, or equivalent hands‑on plant leadership experience.
• 3+ years in biochemical, bioethanol, food/beverage or specialty chemical manufacturing.
• Experience with greenfield or major brownfield start‑ups and scaling from pilot to demonstration scale is preferred.
• Strong communication, organization and ability to thrive in a fast‑paced startup environment.

Required skills

• Aerobic/anaerobic fermentation and aseptic processing.
• Downstream purification processes.
• Heat transfer, fluid dynamics and mass transfer fundamentals.
• Root‑cause analysis, SOP development, LOTO, confined‑space entry.
• Industrial safety standards: OSHA, PSM, HAZOP, P&ID/PFD reviews.

What we offer

• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• Relocation assistance for out‑of‑area candidates.