Piloting Facility Manager

BioMADE; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan with match

Paid time off

Hybrid work policy (as applicable)

Free parking

LinkedIn Learning access

Job summary

BioMADE seeks a Piloting Facility Manager in Ames, IA to lead the new piloting facility during construction and startup. You will drive safe, efficient operations, align with customer piloting goals, and manage staff and budgets in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires deep biomanufacturing knowledge, strong regulatory awareness, and hands-on leadership to build a resilient pilot plant network across multiple facilities. Travel up to 10% may be needed.

Qualifications

• BS or advanced degree in Engineering with substantial industrial experience.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in production/pilot plant management or related fields.
• 8+ years in biomanufacturing operations leadership.
• Experience with fermentation, media prep, cell separation, and downstream purification.
• Regulatory experience including OSHA compliance.
• Strong safety culture and leadership.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall facility performance, safety culture, project delivery, staff development, and budgeting.
• Translate customer piloting goals into robust technical plans for the piloting facility.
• Prioritize safety and operational safety management across processes.
• Oversee commissioning of the pilot plant and its systems.
• Develop SOPs and critical processes for facility operations.
• Collaborate with capital projects to improve operability during engineering and construction phases.

Skills

Biomanufacturing experience

Facility operations management

Safety leadership

Process control & automation knowledge

Budgeting & staff development

Regulatory compliance (OSHA)

Team leadership

Education

BS or higher in Engineering (chemical/biochemical)

Engineering degree with industrial experience

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

SCADA/PLC knowledge

Job description

Piloting Facility Manager

Application Deadline: 25 September 2026

Department: Network Planning and Operational Structure

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Ames, IA

Reporting To: Chief Manufacturing Officer

Compensation: $145,000 - $175,000 / year

Description

BioMADE is working to change the United States’ bioindustrial innovation ecosystem by creating a network of pilot and intermediate scale facilities so that U. S. innovators can scale, and ultimately produce, bioindustrial products domestically. This position will be responsible for ensuring that this once-in-a-generation opportunity to create and operate biomanufacturing piloting infrastructure will set our nation on course to have resilient and secure supply chains for the chemicals and materials originating from renewable feedstocks.

The Piloting Facility Manager (PFM) will lead a team that delivers effective and efficient operations to the companies using the BioMADE piloting facility for the scale up of their process and early production of their product. The PFM will be a role model for safety leadership driving a strong safety culture. Working in conjunction with BioMade's extensive member organizations, the PFM will deliver project results from innovative manufacturing processes that make a wide variety of products via fermentation technologies. The PFM will manage a flexible piloting environment while maintaining safety and regulatory standards.

The Iowa piloting facility is currently in a construction phase with completion planned for Fall 2027. This position will contribute by bringing real world experience in operating a production or piloting facility as we commission and start up the Iowa BioMADE piloting facility. The PFM needs to be comfortable with developing and improving new work processes as we move forward in building a multi-facility pilot plant network.

As the most senior position at the facility, the PFM will be responsible for setting annual goals, hiring and coaching staff, and budgeting. This position may be involved in development of the long-term capital investment strategies for the pilot plant network, or projects seeking operational efficiencies, capacity expansion, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for the overall performance of the facility in meeting the organizational goals including driving a strong safety culture, completing piloting projects on time, developing staff, and managing budgets
• Partner with our business development team to understand our customer’s piloting goals and convert them into robust technical plans that can be executed in the piloting facility
• Focus on safety in operations, both employee safety and process safety management
• Lead the development and execution of the commissioning of the pilot plant
• Lead in the prioritization and development of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other high priority processes and systems for the facility
• Collaborate with the capital project team to improve the operability of the facility during the engineering and construction phases of the project
• Manage the site logistics of ordering, receiving, storing and shipping of raw material, supplies, and final products
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• BS or advanced degree in Engineering or related discipline (chemical engineering, bioengineering, biotechnology, biochemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or other relevant engineering discipline) with substantial industrial experience.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in production management, pilot plant management, capital project management, or reliability management with significant portion of that in industrial settings.
• 8+ years in operations management in biomanufacturing facility, preferably a portion of that leading the operations of a facility.
• Excellent understanding of biomanufacturing equipment and facilities, including media preparation, fermentation, cell separation, and downstream purification.
• Prior experience in operating a facility to meet regulatory requirements, including OSHA and other government regulatory agencies.
• Must possess and cultivate the highest levels of safety awareness.
• Prior experience in managing operators, engineers, and other staff.
• Experience working with a diverse group of contractors in meeting reliability and operational goals.
• The ability to be self-directed and work independently under tight deadlines is required. Must be motivated and able to work hands-on in a fast paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent organizational and detailed planning skills required.
• Working knowledge of process control and automation is desired.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and have experience with record keeping, writing reports and SOPs in the Microsoft Office environment.
• Must possess the ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

Pre-employment Screening Requirements

• Employment in this role is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and pre-employment drug and alcohol screening, conducted following a conditional offer of employment and in accordance with applicable federal and state law. Our full testing policy will be provided prior to screening.

Job Benefits

BioMADE provides a comprehensive suite of health insurances, supplemental benefits, and paid time off to all regular full-time employees as outlined below. Additional benefits include:

• 100% employer-paid options for medical, dental, and vision
• Paid time off that accrues from your hire date
• 13 paid holidays, including a winter closure between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
• Hybrid work policy for most positions; stipend for internet and personal phone use
• 401(k) retirement plan with up to 6% match on compensation (no vesting period!)
• Discretionary Incentive Plan based on organizational and individual performance
• 100% employer-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Section 125 Flexible Spending Plan for medical and dependent care
• Commuter pre-tax benefit
• Full access to LinkedIn Learning’s suite for professional development
• Free parking, casual dress code, free snacks and beverages, and on-site gym access at both offices
• Fun on and off-site employee activities sponsored by the Employee Engagement Committee
• And much more

We nurture merit, talent, and achievement by supporting equal opportunity and welcome people of all backgrounds and beliefs to join us in our mission to enable domestic bioindustrial manufacturing at all scales. Come join our team!