Vice President, Upstream Process Development

Bluestem Biosciences; Omaha (NE); On-site; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotechnology company in Omaha, NE is seeking a Vice President of Upstream Process Development. This role demands expertise in fermentation science to commercialize processes and requires a Ph.D. plus 5+ years in R&D. The candidate will improve fermentation efficiency and communicate effectively within a dynamic environment. Strong leadership skills and a self-starter mindset are vital. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a fermentation R&D role.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience in biochemical engineering.
• Experience running commercial scale fermentations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drive the strategic plan for commercializing the upstream process.
• Direct development of robust analytical methods for fermentations.
• Manage fermentation experiments with external partners.

Skills

Deep knowledge of fermentation science

Strong communication skills

Self-starter mindset

Experience with yeast

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

Statistical software (e.g., JMP, R, Minitab)

Job description

Vice President, Upstream Process Development

MIDWEST OR (Preferably) OMAHA, NE

ABOUT US:

We use American corn and existing bioethanol infrastructure to produce critical chemicals right here at home—powering U.S. competitiveness and securing our nation’s supply chains - while reinvesting in agricultural America. Bluestem Biosciences has engineered a breakthrough in American manufacturing. Our proprietary biomanufacturing process represents a new, cost-effective, and advantaged way to produce platform chemicals domestically. With the foundation of existing infrastructure, we convert abundant, renewable American corn into high‑value chemicals at scale. JOIN US AS WE ACCELERATE TO COMMERCIALIZATION

ROLE SUMMARY:

We are seeking an exceptional Vice President of Upstream Fermentation to join our top‑talented scientific team. This role is central to our mission, and you will be the expert driving our fermentation process from the bench to commercial scale. You will work at the intersection of strain development and downstream processing, collaborating with our internal teams and external partners to pioneer a continually optimized, scalable approach to biomanufacturing. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of quantitative physiology and a passion for turning biology into real‑world products.

R ESPONSIBILITIES:

• Drive the strategic plan for commercializing our upstream process, building and executing the roadmap to get us to demonstration and commercial scales
• Improve and develop scale‑down processes that are directly informed by our commercial‑scale goals (‘end in mind’ thinking)
• Direct the development of robust analytical and process monitoring methods for repeatable, high‑quality fermentations
• Independently but collaboratively design and manage critical fermentation experiments with our external partners to maximize our understanding of strain physiology
• Lead process characterization (CPPs), optimization, and control (QbD) to enable seamless scale‑up and technology transfer
• Leverage your knowledge of bioprocess design to enhance and inform our techno‑economic models
• Provide knowledge and insights to inform utility, system, or equipment upgrades or expansions.
• Evaluate and audit external partners for their fermentation capabilities at bench, pilot, and demonstration scales
• Lead the design requirements and ultimately manage on‑site implementation of the upstream process at Bluestem’s demonstration facility

REQUIREMENTS:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Fermentation Science, Microbiology Physiology, or a related field plus 5+ years in a fermentation R&D role. (Differing combinations of experience and education will be considered)
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience and deep knowledge of fermentation science, biochemical engineering, and cellular physiology
• Hands‑on experience with media optimization, process design, and dynamic control strategies at laboratory and pilot/demo scales
• Experience running commercial scale fermentations without all the “bells and whistles” of bench or pilot‑scale bioreactors is preferred
• Strong communication skills and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast‑paced startup environment.
• A self‑starter mindset with the ability to lead projects, build relationships, and own the mission
• Possess a Growth Mindset and open mind that seeks continuous learning from feedback, setbacks and failure on the journey to achieving results

Preferred Qualifications:

• Commercial‑scale fermentation experience (making money at scale) is a major plus!
• Experience with yeast
• Expertise with statistical software for analyzing large datasets (e.g., JMP, R, Minitab, etc.).
• Experience ‘promoting’ strains from small‑scale screening (flasks, microtiter plates) to bioreactors

Bluestem is an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.