Process Engineering & Scaling Manager (ISS 04) Starting in April 2023
About ISS - Inclita Seaweed Solutions ISS is an innovative and sustainable Portuguese marine biotech startup, dedicated to the discovery, development, production and commercialisation of sustainable and innovative ingredients derived from seaweeds, tailored to the needs of customers in cosmetics, nutraceuticals and petceuticals. ISS is a spin-off from CIIMAR and is well funded and supported by a lead investor which is a sizeable independent VC firm in Portugal with proven experience in successfully propelling Iberian startups into international markets.
Role summary This role is for an operations expert able to handle the process engineering and scaling up for seaweed-extraction and bio-refinery processing. You will be leading the ISS - Inclita Seaweed Solutions’s process engineering team, driving the implementation of the pilot plant and ensuring its successful operation. You will work alongside an experienced innovation and product development team, and in close collaboration with the CTO and other founders. You will think and operate strategically building cornerstone technical collaborations and partnerships.
Where you fit in: You will drive the realisation of ISS’s innovation-driven business growth aspirations by guiding the process engineering and scalability of ISS’s extraction and biorefinery processing. You will drive operational excellence with a high level of accountability and autonomy. You will make a measurable contribution to ISS operations strategy through application of project management, process engineering and scaling expertise. You will be responsible for representing ISS and furthering ISS’s interests with a wide range of third parties and the ability to act with integrity and deliver results in this environment will be critical.
What’s the role and responsabilities? Your main responsibilities will be to support the CTO and founders’ team to build a world-class seaweed extraction and biorefinery pilot plant, combining operational excellence, financial performance, sustainability, and customer satisfaction, which include but are not limited to the following: -Drive the extraction and biorefinery processes’ scalability, including process design, evaluation, technical and economic feasibility and sustainability profile. -Process development, including pilot plant design, operation and data interpretation, which will be designed for robustness and sustainability. -Project support including vendor/supplier selection, equipment selection, writing of operating manuals and reports. -Startup support including process validation, cGMP implementation, tuning of process control strategy, process safety and quality assurance. -Pilot plant operation support, including testing of process changes, problem solving, and ensuring proper operations. -Able to write Manufacturing SOPs and enter into ISS workflows and specification systems. -Responsible for foreseen process and pilot plant certification.
What we need from you: To succeed in this role, you will have the following:
Basics: -BSc. or MSc. degree in Engineering from an accredited institution, preferably (Bio)Chemical Engineering. phD is a plus. -Experience working in an early-stage and fast growth startup. -Experience in science driven work in an area of the blue economy, natural cosmetic or nutraceutical ingredients manufacturing industries is a plus. -Proficient oral and written English, Portuguese speaking and writing are a plus. -Candidates with passion, strategic thinking, problem-solving, agile and entrepreneurial skills, team spirit, responsiveness, and self-driven are preferred.
Process engineering and scaling Skills: -Agile and lean startup approach to process engineering and scaling. -5+ years in process engineering and scaling for new B2B natural cosmetic or nutraceutical ingredients, or similar. -Ability to develop, organize and prioritise tasks within assigned projects and work with the CTO to deliver assigned projects. -Ability to build a good relationship internally, with suppliers and customers. Sound understanding of seaweed extraction and biorefinery processes for the development and production of innovative and sustainable solutions (ingredients).
Character: -You are looking for breakthroughs and freedom to express your ideas, act with autonomy and enterprise, and deploy your skills. -You are a value multiplier, making people you work with, and the company you work for, better. -Self-learner of new manufacturing and bio-refinery approaches, methods, and tools, and of new ways of working. -A team player with good character that focuses on actions rather than words. -You are keen with getting things done, and building successful businesses. -Not into jumping between projects. Yes into a long-term effort to build a global, market-leading company (it may take 3-5 years) -Open to new challenges, and stimulated by the challenge of building an innovative business.
What you can expect: -A well-funded startup supported by an independent VC firm in Portugal as lead investor. -Founders of senior and executive level experts where every member raises the team EQ. -Competitive salary and benefits vs. similar startups and SMEs. -On-site work with flexibility. A high-performing young startup relies on a healthy culture, which starts with the people we hire and how they interact. To have a team of people who like each other, are happy with their work, are committed and motivated, and communicate well, we believe that working together, shoulder to shoulder in the office is important. We allow remote days but do not support full remote at this stage.
Location: -Matosinhos, near Porto, Portugal.
Application Process: -Applications must be formalised by e-mail to (Human Resources_ISS) - [email protected]; and must explicitly state the announcement reference: ISS - Process Engineering & Scaling Manager. -Application must include: announcement identification, full name, and contact address, including email address and telephone. -Applications shall include all required documents, namely: a) Curriculum vitae, detailed and structured; b) Motivation letter; c) Certificate or diploma copy; d) Other documentation relevant for the evaluation of qualifications and experience; e) Recommendation letters, as appropriate.
