Director of Pilot Plant Operations - Windfall Bio
San Mateo, CA
About the Job
At Windfall Bio, we are pioneers in biotech innovation, tackling some of the world's most critical environmental challenges. Our breakthrough solutions focus on capturing and transforming climate-harming methane emissions into beneficial products. Utilizing cutting-edge technology and methane-eating microbes, we convert methane from various sources into valuable outputs, such as organic fertilizers. This nature-based approach provides a sustainable method for industries like agriculture, oil and gas, and waste management to significantly reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact. Join us in our mission to create a cleaner, greener future.
We are looking for candidates with exceptional management and technical skills and with hands-on experience in operating pilot and industrial scale fermentation systems to lead the operations of our pilot plant and the commercial deployment team. Join our team and build the future with us.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Responsible for the operations of a fermentation pilot plant to convert methane to organic fertilizer
- Provide technical leadership to long-term partners and commercial contract organizations (CMOs) to produce mems
- Manage and deliver technical program for the fermentation pilot plant to support field trials at customer's sites, process scale up, new market development and production of mems
- Build and develop a team of fermentation scientists and process engineers
- Lead team to develop KPI improvement program and implement process changes to improve production rate, yield and efficiency.
- Build internal technical capability and external research partner network
- Influence internal stakeholders and lead coordination with cross functional teams (engineering, microbiology, analytical, regulatory, business development) to ensure goal delivery across multiple projects.
REQUIREMENTS:
- PhD (preferred) or MS or BS in chemical engineering, bioengineering or related field of study.
- 10-15+ years of relevant experience in large-scale fermentation operations
- In depth technical expertise in fermentation processes and DSP at pilot and/or manufacturing scale
- Proven track record of leadership and management and development of technical teams is essential
- Experience in methanol and gas fermentation and industrial scale DSP would be an advantage
- Ability to influence and collaborate in a senior cross-functional team across technical and commercial departments
- Strong technical and analytical proficiency, self-motivated, creative, and flexible with the mindset to succeed in a fast-moving 'start -up' environment.
TRAVEL:
- Significant travel to domestic and international locations might be required to support field trials.
Windfall Bio prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status and veteran status.
