Bioprocess Engineer

Summary: In this position, you will be responsible for providing scientific expertise, leadership, and support in the areas of microbiology, yeast, and fermentation across 10 bioprocessing facilities while supporting the policies, goals and objectives of Green Plains. You will work with cross-functional team members from Operations, Research, Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) teams to drive improvements in all aspects of fermentation. Your responsibilities will also include analyzing data to aid the leadership teams at the Corporate and at the plants to make data-driven decisions. As the BioProcess Engineer, you will report directly to the Director of Quality Management.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide expertise in the facilities regarding optimization of yeast propagation, yeast handling, yeast storage practices, plant hygiene, and microbiology initiatives.
• Analyze and develop systems that allow for high-yield manufacturing of bioprocess products, including ethanol, distiller’s grains, and corn-fermented protein.
• Utilize knowledge of chemical and microbiology processes to help drive continuous improvement for that will result in improved fermentation yields, and reduce fermentation costs.
• Establish optimized fermentation conditions for each production facility and maintain the recipes for all facilities.
• Assist with vendor relationships by overseeing plant trials of new products, commercial product usage forecasts, logistical opportunities, etc.
• Partner with business colleagues to identify, troubleshoot and evaluate new technologies while maintaining awareness of the external landscape for biotechnology R&D.
• Ensure the Management of Change process is followed for the approval of recipe changes.
• Work with the R&D business partners in the Innovation Center at York to plan lab-scale experiments of fermentation recipes with an elevated level of excellence to ensure precise and accurate data collection; Process, analyze and interpret complex data to support sound conclusions that can be transferred to the production facilities for plant trials.
• Communicate experimental outcomes in reports and presentations, to provide recommendations for future work.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as requested by the Director of Quality.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) in microbiology, chemistry, or related field is required; in addition, three or more years of relevant experience is preferred.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills with basic proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Possess strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to make strong data-based decision-making skills.
• Ability to embrace change in the workplace.
• Ability to collaborate between multiple business units.
• Ability to understand technical and day-to-day operations of a bioprocessing facility.
• Flexibility to learn new techniques and adapt to new company directives.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• This position operates in an office environment working at a personal computer where you may sit or stand.
• Specific physical requirements may include:
• Climbing several flights of stairs and ladders.
• Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Traveling 30-50% of the time.
• Ability to work after hours/weekends and on-call as needed.
• Ability to meet physical demands of the job includes but is not limited to: frequent sitting, standing, frequent computer usage, frequent telephone usage, some lifting or moving up to 10 lbs.

Green Plains Inc. offers competitive pay: a generous benefit package including business casual work environment, health, dental, vision, life insurance, paid holidays, Paid Time Off (PTO) and a 401(k) retirement plan with immediate vesting and company safe harbor matching. All potential employees of Green Plains Inc. will be required to successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening and background check prior to employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.

Company Description:

Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a leading biorefining company focused on the development and utilization of fermentation, agricultural and biological technologies in the processing of annually renewable crops into sustainable value-added ingredients. This includes the production of cleaner low carbon biofuels, renewable feedstocks for advanced biofuels and high purity alcohols for use in cleaners and disinfectants. Green Plains is an innovative producer of Ultra-High Protein and novel ingredients for animal and aquaculture diets to help satisfy a growing global appetite for sustainable protein. The Company also owns a 48.8% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners LP.

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