Operations Officer - Development

We are a fast-moving, Series A industrial biotechnology startup developing breakthrough bioprocesses to bring sustainable products to market &##127793; . After demonstrating strong performance at pilot scale, we are now preparing for the difficult leap to industrial-scale production. This next phase brings substantial technical, operational, and execution complexity, especially as we work with Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) to scale beyond in-house capability.

We are seeking a Head of Operations who can bring rigor, structure, and foresight to this scale-up journey, someone who can coordinate across science, engineering, and external partners to turn an ambitious development program into a reliable, industrial-ready operation &##128295;&##The Head of Operations will lead cross-functional planning, risk management, and execution across all scale-up and manufacturing programs. You will be the operational owner of our CMO relationships and the translator between technical realities and business decisions. This role requires a deep appreciation for the challenges of scaling fermentation and downstream processes—variability, transfer gaps, equipment constraints, timelines that slip, and the inherent uncertainties of industrial biotech. You will be responsible for driving clarity in a context where many things remain unknown, planning against imperfect information, and ensuring that our path to commercial scale remains grounded, resilient, and achievable.

Scale-Up & CMO Management Own operational leadership of pilot-to-industrial scale transitions, including navigating the non-linear challenges that emerge at larger scales. Coordinate deeply with CMOs on fermentation and downstream operations, ensuring alignment on experimental design, run readiness, process changes, and data expectations. Anticipate and manage execution risk, equipment availability, limited campaign windows, raw material constraints, process deviations, and analytical bottlenecks. Project & Program Management Build and maintain detailed, integrated project plans that account for the realities of scale-up: long lead times, interdependencies, and high uncertainty. Implement and maintain systems for documentation, change management, run planning, and technical/operational sign-off. Uncertainty & Risk Management Develop and maintain a comprehensive risk register covering technical performance, CMO execution, supply chain constraints, and schedule sensitivities. Lead scenario planning for potential failures or delays, e.g., fermentation underperformance, failed batches, CMO capacity shifts, or process redesign. Use probabilistic and adaptive planning principles to manage high uncertainty while maintaining forward momentum. Operational Planning & Execution Build the operational systems required to scale: run planning, campaign logistics, procurement coordination, and quality interfaces. Coordinate material readiness, sample flow, data delivery, and reporting for all scale-up activities. Manage operational budgets tied to scale-up campaigns and CMO workstreams, including forecasting spend and tracking burn. 7–12+ years in industrial biotech, bioprocessing, fermentation, or specialty chemicals with direct experience scaling processes from pilot to industrial scale. ~ Proven track record managing tech transfer and scale-up at CMOs or commercial manufacturing sites. ~ Strong program management skills and experience managing complex, interdependent milestones under uncertainty. ~ Experience implementing operational systems (project tracking, run planning, vendor management, documentation frameworks). PMP, Lean/Six Sigma, or similar certifications.

Direct influence on strategy, resource allocation, and execution as we move toward industrial-scale production. Play a key role in scaling a novel biotechnological process from pilot to industrial production. Join a mission-driven, fast-growing company redefining the food industry. Benefit from flexible working conditions and competitive compensation.

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