Director of Fermentation

About Us: Microbial Discovery Group (MDG) is an R&D-driven product development and Bacillus fermentation company. We apply Real Science to a Trusted Process, yielding Proven Success for our partners. At MDG, we recognize the need for sustainable solutions to the world’s largest problems, and we work to solve them as part of our mission to Feed, Clean, Save the World. As a member of our team, your ideas and innovations are integral to who we are. Come grow with us!

Position Summary:
The Director of Fermentation provides strategic and hands-on leadership for all fermentation manufacturing activities across multiple facilities. This role is accountable for safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality microbial products while building a strong, engaged operations team. The Director partners closely with Engineering, Process Development, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain to enable reliable execution, successful scale-up, and continuous improvement aligned with business growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Direct and oversee daily fermentation operations to consistently meet production schedules, quality specifications, and cost targets.
• Own fermentation scheduling and execution, including tank and dryer utilization, campaign sequencing, staffing models, and shift coverage.
• Develop, maintain, and optimize fermentation production plans that align with forecasted demand, capacity, and operational constraints.
• Lead, coach, and develop fermentation supervisors, operators, and technical staff to build depth of talent and operational resilience.
• Establish, monitor, and communicate KPIs to drive accountability, visibility, and data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure full compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, including GMP and ISO standards.
• Partner with Quality to maintain quality standards, address deviations, and lead root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Implement and sustain best practices in fermentation operations, including automation, standard work, and Lean/Six Sigma methodologies.
• Optimize plant capacity, reduce operating costs, improve throughput and equipment reliability.
• Lead cross-functional troubleshooting efforts with Engineering and Maintenance to resolve complex operational issues.
• Collaborate with Process Development to support technology transfer, scale-up, and commercialization of new strains and processes.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain to ensure effective shipping coordination and logistics execution.
• Support Engineering on capital projects for fermentation equipment and infrastructure.
• Foster a culture of safety, operational excellence, accountability, and continuous learning across all shifts and facilities.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute succession planning to build future leaders within fermentation operations.
• Establish effective shift handoff, communication, and escalation processes to ensure continuity of operations across all shifts.
• Represent the company during customer audits, regulatory inspections, and relevant industry forums.
• Ensure accurate documentation, recordkeeping, and data integrity in compliance with company and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in annual budget development, forecasting, and ongoing cost management for fermentation operations.
• Contribute to long-range planning for capacity, workforce, and infrastructure to support company growth objectives.

Typical Work Environment:

• Manufacturing plant and office environments.
• Occasional travel between facilities.
• Exposure to biohazardous materials, chemicals, and loud equipment (PPE provided).

Minimum Qualifications:

Education & Training:

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biochemical Engineering, Fermentation Science, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.

Relevant Experience:

• 8 years of industrial fermentation or manufacturing experience, including 3 years in a people leadership role.
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale fermentation operations (20,000 L preferred).
• Experience operating in GMP, ISO, or similarly regulated manufacturing environments.

Technical Skills:

• Strong working knowledge of fermentation equipment, utilities, and manufacturing systems.
• Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma principles, process automation, and digital manufacturing tools (MES) preferred.
• Proficiency with MS Office and manufacturing management software.

Non-Technical Skills:

• Proven experience leading multi-shift operations with both salaried and hourly teams.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to set priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to ethical leadership.

Licenses/Certifications:

• Lean Six Sigma certification preferred, but not required.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work in manufacturing environments, including standing, walking, and occasional lifting (up to 25 lbs.).
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.

Safety Requirements:

• Adherence to all food safety procedures as per FDA regulations, including the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) or any other applicable federal, state, or local food safety regulations.
• Adhere to all company safety policies while actively championing a strong safety culture and participating in safety training and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to respond to emergencies and participate in incident investigations as needed.