Pilot Plant Manager
Chobani
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Norton Shores • Missouri • United States
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Salary
💰 $95,000 - $150,700 per year
About the role
- 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
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
pilot plant operationsbatch executionprocess validationparameter optimizationCIP protocolssanitation proceduresequipment SOPstechnical transfer documentationcapital planningKPI tracking
Soft Skills
leadershipcommunicationcollaborationproblem-solvingrisk assessmenttraining developmentinnovation managementoperational flexibilitydocumentationonboarding
Certifications
Bachelor’s degree in Food ScienceBachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering