Research Pilot Brewery Manager

OSU Rec Sports - Sport. Leadership. Wellness.; Corvallis (OR); On-site; USD 66,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Oregon State University’s Department of Food Science and Technology seeks a Research Pilot Brewery Manager to lead the OSU Research Pilot Brewery and support the Beverage Center’s applied research and student learning. This full-time, on-site role advances brewing science through teaching, research, and industry collaboration.

The position requires managing production, ensuring safety, coordinating analytical work, and mentoring students while collaborating with faculty and USDA scientists to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in fermentation science, food science, brewing science, microbiology, chemistry, engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with pilot-scale or commercial-scale brewery, beverage, or food manufacturing operations.
• Mechanical aptitude; able to operate, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair brewery/ beverage processing equipment.
• Experience adhering to budgets and basic accounting.
• Ability to collaborate with diverse faculty, students, industry clients, vendors, and university stakeholders.
• Ability to obtain Alcohol Service Permit within 30 days of start and maintain certification.
• Ability to obtain OSU forklift certification within 6 months.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operation of the OSU Research Pilot Brewery with safe, efficient, and development-focused production.
• Support brewing and fermentation research in collaboration with faculty.
• Provide teaching support and student training in brewing science.
• Develop and maintain collaborations with brewing and beverage industry stakeholders.
• Contribute to service mission and dissemination of research findings.

Skills

Pilot-scale brewing experience

Budgeting & basic accounting

Collaboration across departments

Forklift operation readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in fermentation science or related field

Tools

Brewing equipment operation

Job description

Department:

Food Science & Technology

Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

For additional information please contact:

Tom Shellhammer

[e-mail]

Job Summary:

The Department of Food Science & Technology is seeking a Research Pilot Brewery Manager. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position.

Oregon State University’s Department of Food Science and Technology is internationally recognized for excellence in fermentation science, brewing research, and industry engagement. Home to one of the nation’s premier brewing science research programs and one of North America’s leading brewing education programs, OSU combines world-class research with hands-on student training and a strong land-grant mission. The program maintains longstanding partnerships with breweries, hop growers, maltsters, barley producers, and allied suppliers, creating exceptional opportunities for applied research, technology transfer, and industry collaboration.

The Research Pilot Brewery Manager will join a highly collaborative team advancing brewing science through research, education, and innovation. This position manages a modern research brewery that supports externally funded research, industry-sponsored projects, and experiential student learning while working closely with internationally recognized faculty, USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists located on the OSU campus, and partners across the brewing value chain. Learn more about the Department of Food Science and Technology at https://foodsci.oregonstate.edu.

The Research Pilot Brewery Manager advances the research, teaching, and industry engagement mission of Oregon State University’s fermentation science program. In coordination with the Nor’Wester Professor of Fermentation Science and affiliated faculty, the manager oversees the OSU Research Pilot Brewery and supports the OSU Beverage Center as a hub for applied brewing and beverage research, experiential education, industry collaboration, and fee-for-service activities.

The position provides technical leadership for pilot-scale beverage production, brewing operations, fermentation, packaging, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, laboratory and brewery safety, and research data collection. The manager supports faculty-led and industry-sponsored research by coordinating experimental production, analytical activities, research documentation, technical reporting, and dissemination of research findings. The position also contributes to brewing education through hands-on instruction, student mentoring, and curriculum development in brewing and beverage production.

As a public-facing representative of OSU Brewing Science and the Department of Food Science and Technology, the manager builds relationships with industry partners, prospective students, alumni, and other stakeholders, helping strengthen the department’s research enterprise, enhance student training, and expand collaborations with the brewing and beverage industries.

Key Responsibilities:

• Research Brewery Management & OSU Beverage Center Support: Manage and oversee daily operation of the OSU Research Pilot Brewery ensuring safe, efficient, and research & development-oriented production capabilities.
• Research Support: Support and facilitate the brewing and fermentation research enterprise in collaboration with the Nor’Wester Professor of Fermentation Science.
• Teaching & Student Training: Support instructional activities associated with brewing science and education programs.
• Industry Engagement, Outreach & Fee-for-Service Activities: Develop and maintain productive collaborations with brewing and beverage industry stakeholders.
• Service: Contribute to the service mission of the Department of Food Science and Technology and Oregon State University.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in fermentation science, food science, brewing science, microbiology, chemistry, engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with pilot-scale or commercial-scale brewery, beverage, or food manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and experience operating, troubleshooting, maintaining, and repairing pilot-scale or commercial-scale brewing, fermentation, beverage processing, laboratory, or food processing equipment.
• Experience adhering to budgets and basic accounting.
• Demonstrated ability to cooperate and collaborate effectively with diverse faculty, students, industry clients, vendors, and university stakeholders.
• Must possess, or be able to obtain, a valid Alcohol Service Permit within 30 days of their start date and maintain certification throughout employment.
• Ability to receive OSU forklift certification within 6 months of starting position.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in fermentation science, food science, brewing science, microbiology, chemistry, engineering, sensory science, or a closely related field.
• Three or more years of professional experience with brewery or beverage production operations, including fermentation, cellaring, packaging, sanitation, quality assurance, and equipment troubleshooting.
• Documented experience teaching, training, instructing, or mentoring students, employees, clients, or technical staff in brewing, fermentation, laboratory, production, or technical settings.
• Documented experience collecting, organizing, analyzing, and communicating technical, analytical, sensory, production, or experimental data.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information through written reports, technical briefs, training materials, scientific publications, or public or professional presentations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting applied research, pilot-scale experimentation, product development, process optimization, technical service, or industry-sponsored projects in brewing, fermentation, beverage production, or food science.
• Demonstrated experience bringing beverage innovations, new products, process improvements, or ingredient applications from concept through pilot-scale development and/or commercial implementation.
• Familiarity with food safety principles and operational standards, including microbial, chemical, and physical hazard controls, gained through relevant training, certification, or experience working in a food or beverage production facility.

Working Conditions/Schedule:

Working Conditions/Work Schedule:
This is a hands-on, on-site position that supports teaching, research, industry engagement, and outreach activities in the OSU Research Pilot Brewery, classrooms, and related production or laboratory spaces. Work requires regular activity in brewery and pilot-scale production environments, including standing, walking, bending, reaching, lifting and moving materials or equipment, driving forklift, and working around hot liquids, pressurized systems, cleaning and sanitation chemicals, moving equipment, and wet floors. Use of appropriate safety procedures and personal protective equipment is required. The position generally follows a standard work schedule, but occasional early morning, evening, or weekend work may be required to support brewing, fermentation, packaging, research trials, instruction, industry projects, or equipment maintenance. Occasional travel may be required for industry presentations, outreach activities, site visits, tours, or sample collection related to research and teaching.

Salary Range:

$66,316 - $97,146

Anticipated Start Date:

2026-10-26

Anticipated End Date:

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has critical or security-sensitive responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at [e-mail].