Pilot Plant Supervisor

LGI Homes; Ankeny (IA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

LGI Homes seeks a Pilot Plant Supervisor to oversee APC pilot plant operations, ensure experimental execution, equipment maintenance, and staff training for safe operation.

Responsibilities include planning trial programs, securing supplies, and preparing test plans; also ensuring data integrity and reporting for each trial.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, chemistry, food science, engineering, or related field.
• 4-5 years experience in an industrial processing environment (food or feed preferred).
• Understand principles of reactors, continuous centrifuges, membrane systems and spray dryers.
• Knowledge of product analytical data interpretation and statistics.
• Ability to work flexible hours and travel up to 25%.
• Strong written and verbal communication; teamwork oriented.

Responsibilities

• Plan pilot plant trials according to project priority.
• Ensure supplies, equipment, and materials meet business needs.
• Prepare pilot plant trial test plans and modify as required.
• Obtain, identify, and analyze samples per test plan.
• Manage trials and save data and parameters from projects.
• Maintain pilot plant data storage and ensure final reports per trial.

Skills

Scientific reasoning

Troubleshooting

Teamwork

Decision making

Data interpretation

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s of Science in Biology

Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry

Bachelor’s of Science in Food Science

Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering

Related field or equivalent experience

Tools

Windows

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Pilot Plant Supervisor oversees the APC pilot plant. In this role, he/she will be responsible for the APC pilot plant experimental execution, equipment maintenance, and training of personnel to safely operate the pilot plant.

Trials organization:

• Plan the pilot plant trials program according to project priority.
• Ensure the supply of required equipment, raw materials and packaging to meet business needs.
• Prepare Pilot plant trial test plans.
• Make sure that the different trials are done according to the test plans and/or modify test plans as required.
• Ensure samples are obtained properly, identified and analyzed according to the test plan.
• Manage the different trials and save all the important data and parameters from the different projects conducted in the Pilot Plant.
• Properly save and store the pilot plant raw data.
• Assure that a final report is provided for each trial conducted in the Pilot Plant.

APC Pilot Plant:

• Maintain preventative maintenance schedule and ensure items are completed on time.
• Supervise cleaning and proper organization of all APC common areas
• Ensure all APC equipment is maintained in good working order.
• Continuous improvement of SOP’s related to safety and efficiency.
• Ensure that common reagents and consumables are generally available in the Pilot Plant.

Team Management – Training and Development:

• Responsible for training LAB associates, to safely operate the pilot equipment.
• Provide Coaching to individual team members to foster an excellent safety culture.
• To write, up dated and maintain the working procedures for the different equipment as required
• Supervise direct reports.

Technology Development:

• Management of assigned projects.
• Equipment commissioning.
• Provide technical opinion to the Management for review and recommend changes in the productive process and recommend effective solutions for different problems that could affect the technical departments.

Perform various tasks as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Understand principles and application of reactors, continuous centrifuges, membrane systems and spray dryers
• General knowledge of food sciences, biology, microbiology and basic chemistry
• Good understanding of food/Feed processing principles.
• Interpretation and communication of product analytical data.
• Strong trouble shooting skills.
• Proven proactive approach.
• Comfortable making autonomous decisions.
• Works well in a team environment.
• Knowledge of basic statistics.
• Knowledge of basic analytical techniques commonly used in quality control labs for food and animal feed (protein, ash, moisture, etc.)
• Able to work flexible hours and willing to travel up to 25% of the time.
• Project Management.
• Knowledge of Windows and Microsoft office.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, chemistry, food science, engineering, related field or equivalent relevant experience.

Experience:

4-5 years experience in an industrial processing environment (food or feed preferred).

BASIC PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Approximate: 8-Hour Day (may be longer during peak season)

Key:

Occasional = 0% - 33%

Frequent = 34% - 66%

Continuous = 67% - 100%

N/A = Not Applicable

Standing - Frequent

Sitting - Occasional

Walking - Frequent

Bending/Kneeling/Crouching/Stooping - Frequent

Reaching above shoulder - Occasional

Climbing (stairs, ladders, etc.) - Occasional

Working on Heights:

Unprotected Heights - N/A

Protected Heights - Occasional

Lifting Weights from 0 to 50 Pounds - Occasional

Push/Pull/Maneuver Equipment/Products/Materials - Frequent

Weighing from 0 to 50 Pounds

Being Around and/or Operating Laboratory and Pilot Plant Equipment - Frequent

Operating a Vehicle (as a part of your job) - Occasional

Read/Monitor Gauges on Various Equipment - Frequent

Hand Movements:

Recording Data - Frequent

Operating Lab Equipment - Frequent

Operating Computer - Occasional

Simple Grasping (right and left) - Frequent

Firm Grasping (right and left) - Frequent

Fine Manipulating (right and left) - Frequent

Vision: Good Vision, Corrected to Normal; or Ability to

Access Required Information and to Perform Job Duties - YES

Color Definition Required: - YES

Hearing: Good Hearing, Corrected to Normal; or Ability to

Communicate/Understand Required Information and to Perform Job Duties - YES

Mobility: Ability to be mobile throughout required work areas.

Office - Frequent

Multiple Locations - Occasional

Plant - Frequent

BASIC MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

This job requires the mental capabilities to apply scientific knowledge/principles to apply and communicate processes/procedures in a Pilot Plant setting. Furthermore, necessary in accomplishing job duties are the abilities to implement analytical methods, provide creative solutions to problems as situations arise.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND EXPOSURES:

Pilot Plant working conditions exist with exposures to chemicals while performing plant trials, laboratory procedures and analysis. May include exposure to acidic and alkaline substances. Additional exposures include biohazards, odor, noise, moving equipment and occasional use of poisonous chemicals.

At times the employee may be required to travel on company business with exposures to inclement weather. (10% travel estimated)

Participates in E-Verify

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