Founding Plant Manager

Location

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

At Micro Harvest, 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 Micro Harvest 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.

• 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 Micro Harvest’s entrepreneurial, collaborative culture into the new location.

• 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.
• Hands-on, pragmatic, and team-oriented with strong time management.
• Fluent in English and German.
• Motivated by sustainability and eager to join a fast-growing biotech startup.

At Micro Harvest, you’ll do more than manage a plant — you’ll shape the future of sustainable protein production.

• Impact:
  Your work will directly contribute to solving the global challenge of feeding the world sustainably.
• Ownership:
  Lead one of the most important projects in Micro Harvest’s journey — our first industrial site.
• Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with our founders, engineering partners, and a highly experienced biotech team.
• Culture:
  Join an ambitious, international, and diverse startup where curiosity and teamwork drive everything.

This is a once-in-a-career opportunity: to build and lead a plant from scratch and leave your mark on the future of food.