Pilot Plant Supervisor

Roquette Laisa España SA; Geneva (IL); On-site; USD 82,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Roquette is seeking an experienced R&D Pilot Plant Supervisor to lead day-to-day pilot plant operations in Geneva, IL, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient execution of experimental trials. You will drive continuous improvement, manage external services, and oversee HSE and Food Quality programs for the Americas R&D team.

The role reports to the Process Development Team Lead and requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field, with hands-on pilot-scale experience and strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field (+2 years of experience).
• High School Diploma or Associate Degree with 5+ years of industrial food or ingredient processing experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day pilot plant operations (setup, execution, cleanup) per weekly schedule.
• Ensure experiments run safely, on protocol, and on time.
• Monitor equipment performance and troubleshoot operational issues.
• Manage pilot plant budgets for materials, labor, and maintenance.
• Lead HSE and Food Quality programs for Americas R&D.
• Supervise and train pilot plant technicians and interns.
• Plan and execute process development and scale-up activities.
• Collect and document process data with traceability for reports.

Skills

Pilot plant operations

Leadership

Safety knowledge

Data collection & analysis

GMP knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

High School Diploma or Associate Degree +5 years industrial food/ingredient processing

Job description

The Role:

We are looking for our next R&D Pilot Plant Supervisor to join our R&D Team.

Roquette is a leader in plant-based ingredients, dedicated to innovation and excellence. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced R&D Pilot Plant Supervisor to join our dynamic team. This role is crucial in driving our research and development efforts to new heights, ensuring we remain at the forefront of technological advancements.

As the R&D Pilot Plant Supervisor, you will be responsible for the day to day operations of our pilot plant facility including set-up, execution, and clean-up of experimental trials, ongoing and preventative maintenance of pilot equipment, managing of pilot related external services (janitorial, pest control, etc.), and providing ideas for continuous improvement. Additionally, you will be responsible for overseeing the Health, Safety and Environmental activities as well as the Food Quality program for the Americas R&D team.

This role will report directly to the Process Development Team Lead.

This is on-site position located in Geneva, IL.

Compensation:

The current salary range for this role is estimated to be $82,000-$95,000. In addition, this position may also be eligible to earn performance-based incentive compensation. The specific compensation offered to a candidate will be influenced by a variety of factors including but not limited to skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

What You’ll Do:

Pilot Plant Operations Management:

• Responsible for the day-to-day operations of our pilot plant facility including set-up, execution, and clean-up of experimental trials according to the weekly pilot plant schedule.
• Ensure experimental runs are executed safely and according to protocols and timelines.
• Monitor equipment and process performance and troubleshoot operational issues.
• Ensure pilot plant operates (materials, labor, maintenance) within allotted budget.
• Track and optimize resource utilization (raw materials, energy, equipment time).

Process Development & Scale-Up:

• Translate R&D concepts into scalable processes.
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to optimize processes, recipes, or production methods.
• Identify risks in the pilot plant operations.
• Validate process reproducibility and robustness.

Equipment & Facility Oversight:

• Maintain pilot plant equipment, contacting equipment vendors or contractors when needed, including preventative maintenance and calibration.
• Plan and supervise modifications or upgrades to pilot plant infrastructure.
• Work with process development engineers on new equipment design or acquisition.
• Manage utilities (steam, water, compressed air, etc.) critical for operations.

Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Compliance: (engineering degree needed)

• Enforce strict safety standards and regulatory compliance (e.g., OSHA, GMP, etc.).
• Conduct risk assessments (HAZOP, safety reviews).
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Train staff on safe operating procedures and emergency protocols.

Team Leadership & Training

• Supervise future state pilot plant technicians and co-ops.
• Provide hands‑on training for experimental procedures and equipment use.
• Schedule staffing and ensure adequate coverage for trials.
• Foster a culture of safety, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Experiment Planning & Execution

• Collaborate with R&D teams to plan pilot trials.
• Ensure accurate execution and adherence to experimental design according to operating parameters, and success criteria.
• Adjust conditions in real time based on observations or data.

Data Collection, Analysis & Reporting

• Collecting and recording accurate process data.
• Ensuring data integrity and traceability.
• Providing operational observations and trial summaries.
• Supporting engineers and scientists with the information needed for analysis.
• Assist in technical reports summarizing findings and recommendations.
• Maintain proper documentation for traceability and compliance.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, safety, and quality.
• Implement new technologies or methodologies.
• Support innovation initiatives and experimentation capabilities.

What You’ll Need:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field (+2 years of experience)
• High School Diploma or Associate Degree with minimum 5 years of industrial food or ingredient processing experience

Additional beneficial skills

• Strong chemical/process engineering knowledge (or relevant field), experience operating food equipment in a GMP environment is a plus.
  • Hands‑on technical expertise with pilot-scale equipment
  • Leadership and team management skills
  • Problem‑solving and troubleshooting ability
  • Knowledge of safety and regulatory frameworks
  • Excellent communication across technical and operational teams

Work Environment

• This role spends approximately 30% of the time in an office environment and 70% of the time in the pilot plant environment.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This is a full-time position. Days and flexible hours of work are required to meet project, manufacturing and business demands.

AAP/EEO Statement

Roquette is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. “AAP, EEO, Drug-Free Workplace”

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.