Founding Plant Manager

Founding Plant Manager

Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt

Location: Leuna Chemical Park (with onboarding time in Hamburg and Lisbon)

About the Role

At MicroHarvest, we are scaling the next generation of bioprocessing. Our first industrial-scale production plant at Leuna Chemical Park is a cornerstone of this journey — a mid eight-figure investment and a start-up targeted for late 2027.

We are hiring a founding Plant Manager who will first lead the investment project — from engineering and procurement through construction and commissioning — and then transition into running the plant, building the team, systems, and culture that will define MicroHarvest operations for years to come.

This role is for a builder at heart: someone who thrives on switching between strategic leadership and hands-on execution, and who wants to shape a facility that will set new standards in sustainable protein production.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the project: Oversee basic and detailed engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of our first industrial production plant.
• Manage partners: Align external contractors and site infrastructure, ensuring timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Build the team: Hire, onboard, and train the first plant operations team.
• Set the standards: Develop and implement SOPs for new processes, ensuring safety and compliance at all times.
• Run the plant: Transition into Plant Manager role to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient operations.
• Continuously improve: Optimize production processes to maximize performance, quality, and yield.
• Transfer culture: Embed MicroHarvest’s entrepreneurial, collaborative culture into the new location.

What We’re Looking For

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in chemical/biotech/process manufacturing in a responsible role.
• Proven track record in investment projects of significant size.
• Strong knowledge of process optimization, troubleshooting, ESHQ, and process safety.
• A natural leader who can balance structure and efficiency with startup agility.