Description
Our client is a global leader within nutrition, health and beauty. For their facility in Lexington, MA they are looking to hire an Associate Principal Scientist, Fermentation. This role will be responsible for fermentation science on a global basis. As head of the bioprocess team, you will link activities in fermentation and downstream recovery technologies.
The role will manage a team of scientists in the bioprocess sciences team, as well as lead close interactions with the microbiome team and other global R&D and pilot plants.
The Role
- Drive continuous improvement of methods, experimental setups, and workflows across R&D teams.
- Mentor, coach, and empower a diverse team of Scientists and Engineers, fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are values. Serve as a problem-solving consultant to internal and external project team members, including laboratory and biomanufacturing personnel.
- Lead communications with internal collaborators, third parties, and strategic partners.
- Work closely with the Lexington Strain Engineering Team and Microbiome Team to direct the development and implementation of (an)aerobic fermentation protocols to identify improved organisms and develop novel processes. Coordinate cross‑site experiments and knowledge transfer; clearly communicate progress and risks to stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance to quality, environmental, occupational health & safety procedures; uphold aseptic techniques and contamination control. Promote a positive, safe and compliant work environment.
- Work setting: Lab‑based leadership role with hands‑on experimentation and on‑the‑shopfloor coaching.
The Requirements
- PhD plus 8 years of experience or MSc plus 12 years of experience in Fermentation Science, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Metabolic Engineering, Microbiology, or related field - or equivalent industry experience.
- Extensive experience with bench scale (10 ml to 10 L) anaerobic and aerobic microbial fermentation equipment and technology leveraging yeast, fungi, and bacteria.
- Understanding of scale-up / scale-down of fermentation and downstream recovery operations.
- Broad microbial physiology and gut microbiome research expertise is a strong plus.
- Previous industry and direct team leadership experience with excellent project management and organizational skills (Minimum 5 years of team leadership required).
- Background collaborating with strain engineering and analytical chemistry teams (omics, modelling, protein engineering) to translate strain capabilities into bioprocess wins.
