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Associate Director, Bioprocess Development

Vacaville, CA

About Oath

Oath is a leading microbial sciences company that leverages the soil microbiome to offer innovative solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing our planet - the climate crisis and the shift to sustainable agriculture. We imagine a world where these crises are not just alleviated, but reversed, replenishing Earth's microbiomes. By leveraging the latest science-based insights, Oath provides a natural soil inoculant solution that fosters a healthier and more sustainable world for future generations.

When you join Oath, you become part of a collaborative network that prioritizes conducting high-quality scientific research and developing transformative microbial products. You will have access to a team of highly trained scientists, study directors, and a wide network of collaborators, enabling you to integrate and enhance your existing skill set.

Position Summary

The Associate Director, Bioprocess Development will lead the development and optimization of microbial fermentation and downstream processing technologies to support the company's product pipeline and technology platforms. This role is responsible for advancing solid-state fermentation (SSF), submerged fermentation, and downstream processing capabilities through internally executed experimental programs and externally managed development activities. The scope includes development and optimization of upstream and downstream processes for producing live microbial dried powders for products that improve soil and plant health.

The successful candidate will lead a team of scientists and research associates while providing scientific and technical leadership to external CROs, CDMOs, and development partners. This individual will establish development strategies, oversee experimental execution, analyze data, coach and manage team members, and drive innovation across the bioprocess development portfolio.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in microbial fermentation and downstream processing with strong leadership, communication, collaboration, people management, and project management skills.

Key Responsibilities

Bioprocess Development Strategy

  • Develop and execute the company's bioprocess development roadmap across solid-state fermentation, submerged fermentation, and downstream processing (i.e., formulation, drying, milling of live microbes).
  • Establish technical priorities aligned with product development needs and business objectives.
  • Identify opportunities to improve process performance, robustness, reproducibility, and cost efficiency.
  • Drive scientific excellence and data-driven decision-making across all development programs.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and innovative approaches to advance the company's fermentation platforms.

Fermentation Process Development

  • Lead the development and optimization of solid-state fermentation (SSF) technologies.
  • Provide scientific leadership for submerged fermentation development programs conducted internally and through external partners.
  • Design and oversee experimental programs to improve microbial growth, sporulation, viability, productivity, consistency, and process performance.
  • Identify critical process parameters and define development strategies for key microbial products and platforms.
  • Analyze experimental results and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

Downstream Processing Development

  • Lead development and optimization of downstream processing operations, including biomass recovery, drying, stabilization, and related unit operations.
  • Design and execute laboratory-scale DSP experiments.
  • Evaluate alternative process technologies and recovery strategies.
  • Generate technical recommendations to support future manufacturing and product development activities.

Team Leadership

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists, research associates, and contractors.
  • Establish project priorities, development objectives, and performance expectations.
  • Foster a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
  • Support recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and professional development of team members.
  • Ensure effective resource allocation across multiple development programs.

External Partner Management

  • Serve as the primary technical lead for CROs, academic collaborators, and other external development partners.
  • Develop experimental plans, review study designs, analyse partner datasets, and provide scientific guidance to external teams.
  • Manage project timelines, budgets, deliverables, and technical performance.
  • Review technical reports, data packages, and development outcomes to ensure high-quality execution.
  • Support identification, evaluation, and selection of external development partners.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Collaborate closely with R&D, Product Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Agronomy, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to ensure alignment between process development activities, product requirements, and business objectives.
  • Communicate technical findings and recommendations to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Support strategic planning and portfolio prioritization activities.
  • Contribute technical expertise to product, manufacturing, and business decision-making.

Qualifications

Required

  • Ph.D. in Fermentation Science, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline (M.S. with significant relevant industry experience may be considered).
  • 5+ years of industrial experience in bioprocess development, including microbial fermentation, downstream processing, scale-up, and technology transfer.
  • Demonstrated expertise in microbial fermentation process development, including both submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF).
  • Hands-on experience designing, executing, and analyzing upstream and downstream process development experiments, with strong experimental design, statistical analysis, and data interpretation skills.
  • Proven track record of leading and developing scientific or technical teams while successfully managing multiple cross-functional projects.
  • Experience managing CROs, CDMOs, or other external development and manufacturing partners, including technical oversight, project planning, and technology transfer.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, collaboration, and project management skills, with the ability to translate complex technical findings into clear recommendations for R&D, Manufacturing, Commercial, and Operations teams.
  • Proficiency with common scientific and business software, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, project management tools (e.g., Jira or Asana), LIMS (e.g., Benchling or R2DIO), collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack or Teams), statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP, Spotfire, or R), and AI productivity tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini).

Preferred

  • Experience developing microbial products for agriculture, environmental, industrial biotechnology, food, or other life science applications.
  • Experience working with Bacillus, Streptomyces, co-cultures, or other soil- and environmental-derived microorganisms.
  • Experience developing sporulation processes, formulation strategies, and microbial stabilization technologies for live microbial products.
  • Experience supporting manufacturing scale-up, commercial process implementation, and continuous process improvement in a fast-paced biotechnology environment.
  • Experience contributing to intellectual property development, invention disclosures, and technology strategy.
  • Familiarity with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), such as Benchling, R2DIO, or equivalent platforms.

 

Location: Vacaville, CA

Compensation: $105,000-130,000 base salary. 

 

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