Vice President, Upstream Process Development

About the role

Blues​tem Biosciences is seeking a Vice President of Upstream Process Development to lead the fermentation strategy from bench to commercial scale. This senior position will drive the commercialization roadmap, work with internal and external partners, and translate biological insights into scalable manufacturing processes.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic plan for commercializing upstream fermentation, targeting demonstration and commercial scales.
• Design and manage critical fermentation experiments, including scale‑down models aligned with commercial goals.
• Lead process characterization, optimization, and control (QbD) to enable seamless scale‑up and technology transfer.
• Provide technical input for techno‑economic models and advise on utility, system, or equipment upgrades.
• Evaluate external partners’ capabilities and oversee implementation of the upstream process at Bluestem’s demonstration facility.

Required profile

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Fermentation Science, Microbiology, Physiology, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of hands‑on R&D experience in fermentation, biochemical engineering, and cellular physiology.
• Proven ability to run pilot/demo‑scale fermentations and, preferably, commercial‑scale operations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to thrive in a fast‑paced startup environment.

Required skills

• Fermentation science and media optimization.
• Process design and dynamic control strategies.
• Statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP, R, Minitab).
• Yeast strain development and promotion from screening to bioreactor scale.