Pilot Plant Supervisor

All Aviation Jobs; Ankeny (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

All Aviation Jobs is seeking a Pilot Plant Supervisor for our Ankeny, IA facility. You will oversee the APC pilot plant, execute trials, and train LAB staff to safely operate pilot equipment.

The role emphasizes equipment maintenance, data integrity, and final trial reporting. The ideal candidate has a science background with 4–5 years in industrial processing, strong problem-solving, and good communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, food science, engineering or related field.
• 4-5 years experience in an industrial processing environment (food or feed preferred).

Responsibilities

• Oversee pilot plant staff and direct reports.
• Plan and execute APC pilot plant trials per project priority.
• Ensure equipment, materials and packaging are available.
• Prepare trial plans and verify adherence to test plans.
• Collect, identify and analyze samples as per plans.
• Manage trials and preserve data and final reports.
• Maintain preventive maintenance schedule and keep areas clean.
• Coach and train LAB associates to safely operate equipment.
• Develop and update SOPs for safety and efficiency.
• Provide technical input to management and suggest process improvements.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Skills

Supervisory skills

Autonomous decision-making

Troubleshooting

Project management

Communication skills

Windows & MS Office

Travel up to 25%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, food science, or engineering

Job description

• Supervise direct reports.
• Comfortable making autonomous decisions.

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.

Education

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

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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