Operator Foreman - Demonstration Facility

ABOUT US: We use American corn and existing bioethanol infrastructure to produce critical chemicals right here at home—powering U.S. competitiveness and securing our nation's supply chains - while reinvesting in agricultural America. Bluestem Biosciences has engineered a breakthrough in American manufacturing. Our proprietary biomanufacturing process represents a new, cost-effective, and advantaged way to produce platform chemicals domestically. With the foundation of existing infrastructure, we convert abundant, renewable American corn into high-value chemicals at scale. 🌽 JOIN US AS WE ACCELERATE TO COMMERCIALIZATION Job Title: Operator Foreman - Demonstration Facility Location: Jackson / South Sioux City, NE area (On-site - Relocation assistance offered) Role Type: Full-Time Role Summary We are seeking a highly versatile and hands-on Operator Foreman to lead our first demonstration-scale biochemical production facility. As our first critical hire for this site, you will initially spearhead the transition from construction completion through commissioning and start-up. Ultimately, your primary focus will be managing long-term, full-scale commercial operations. This is a dynamic leadership role that requires a "boots-on-the-ground" mentality. Reporting directly to the VP of Engineering, you will be responsible for building out the operational team, establishing a culture of safety and technical excellence, and serving as the primary liaison between site operations and the executive leadership team. If you excel at turning strategic goals into daily operational success, we want you on our team. Key Responsibilities Ongoing Operations & Site Leadership (Long-Term Focus) Direct all daily plant operations, ensuring production meets mass, energy, and yield targets against original design specifications. Author, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions, and Site Safety Protocols (including LOTO, confined space entry, and PSM). Identify and rectify process bottlenecks, utilizing Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to solve equipment failures, yield deviations, or process inefficiencies. Synthesize site performance data into high-level reports for upper management, highlighting critical path risks, budget tracking, and production milestones. Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering and R&D teams to troubleshoot complex biochemical systems (including fermentation and downstream processes). Team Building & Management Lead the recruiting, hiring, and onboarding of the initial plant operations team (an estimated team of 8-12 shift operators, technicians, and maintenance staff). Supervise, mentor, and schedule this multi-disciplinary team, fostering a culture of ownership, technical excellence, and strict safety compliance. Commissioning & Start-Up (Initial Phase) Partner with construction and engineering teams to direct the transition from Mechanical Completion to formal…