Onsite Pilot Plant Manager

Posted 38 minutes ago

Apply now

About the role

  • Pilot Plant Manager overseeing operations and processes at Chobani's pilot plant facility. Bridging R&D, Operations, Quality, and Engineering to support product development and commercialization.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee daily pilot plant operations, scheduling, and resource allocation
  • Ensure safe, compliant operation of all processing equipment
  • Manage batch execution for product development, scale-up trials, and validation runs
  • Optimize throughput while maintaining flexibility for innovation work
  • Establish and manage hold-time standards, CIP protocols, and sanitation procedures
  • Work with R&D to translate bench formulas into scalable pilot processes
  • Partner with R&D scientists to identify processing risks early
  • Support plant trials and technical transfer documentation
  • Lead process validation and parameter optimization
  • Document learnings to build institutional knowledge
  • Work with Commercial team to make and send sales samples
  • Lead commissioning and qualification of new equipment in the pilot
  • Develop equipment SOPs and training materials
  • Identify capability gaps aligned with 2–3 year innovation roadmap
  • Support capital planning and ROI justification for new technologies
  • Own pilot plant safety culture and compliance standards
  • Ensure GMP compliance and food safety standards
  • Lead risk assessments and mitigation plans
  • Manage pilot plant technologists
  • Develop cross-training programs to increase operational flexibility
  • Create structured onboarding and technical skill development pathways
  • Track KPIs (trial success rate, throughput, cycle time, equipment uptime, safety metrics)

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field
  • 7–10+ years in food/beverage manufacturing or pilot plant operations
  • 3–5+ years of people leadership preferred
  • Experience supporting commercialization and plant trials
  • Strong knowledge of food safety standards and regulatory compliance

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision coverage
  • Disability insurance
  • Health savings account
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • 401k match of 100% on up to 5% of eligible pay
  • Fertility and childcare assistance
  • 12 weeks parental leave at full pay after six months of continuous employment
  • Employee assistance program
  • Fitness discounts
  • Wellness reimbursement
  • On-site gym access (certain locations)
  • Monthly wellness newsletter
  • 120 hours of paid time off
  • 11 holidays
  • Paid volunteer time off

Job title

Pilot Plant Manager

Job type

Experience level

SeniorLead

Salary

$95,000 - $150,700 per year

Degree requirement

Bachelor's Degree

Location requirements

Report this job

See something inaccurate? Let us know and we'll update the listing.

Report job