Title: Platform Manager

Department: Allocated R&D

Position Summary

Genomatica develops commercial biobased processes to make widely-used chemicals that enable better, more sustainable everyday products. That enables our partners and leading brands to offer better food packaging, auto parts, clothing, tires, carpets, and more.

We’ve commercialized processes for bio-BDO (for plastics) and for biobased butylene glycol (for cosmetics); and our technology drives the world’s first commercial-scale biobased plant for a major intermediate chemical. We’re working on polyamide intermediates (nylon) and we have more products on the way.

We are looking for an experienced platform manager who can drive and oversee multiple late-stage development programs within a technology platform strategically balancing priorities, resources, and risk to deliver on-time and on-budget across all projects. You’re an excellent multi-tasker. You have strong communication and organization skills, and use these to keep stakeholders focused on their respective priorities, timelines and deliverables. You also have experience looking across projects to identify areas of synergy, opportunities for timeline acceleration, and shared risks. You have technical familiarity with synthetic biology, high throughput screening, and process scale up, both fermentation and downstream processing/purification. In addition, we consider the following qualifications useful for someone in this role:

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Facilitates on-time and on-budget delivery of project milestones across a technology platform through oversight of project management, prioritization and strategic balancing of resources, critical path activities, and risk management.

Develops and executes a communication plan to keep all internal and external stakeholders up to date with respect to platform technical progress, technology readiness level, resource utilization, timeline and risks. . Ensures project managers within the platform are working closely together to integrate project activities to maximize technical progress and minimize timelines and budget.

Works closely with Project Managers, Commercial Leads and R&D Leadership to balance and streamline resource requests to execute critical project tasks ensuring alignment with priorities across the technology platform and overall project portfolio.

Assists in scoping and planning for new development projects within the technology platform.

Assists with activities related to IP including generation of IP and analysis of competitive IP in collaboration with Legal & technical leads.

Challenges the status quo to find creative solutions that enable acceleration of product development and commercialization efforts. Drives accountability within the team and broad organization to ensure timelines are consistent with customer expectations and commitments are met.

Qualifications & Experience

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required in order satisfactorily perform in this role.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in physical or life sciences or engineering, preferably chemical or biological engineering.

Experience

• At least 6 years project management experience in industrial biotechnology, demonstrated success leading complex projects (>10-20 people, >12 – 24 mos in length) .
• Direct people management experience is required.
• PMP certification is a plus.
• Demonstrated success taking biomanufacturing processes to scale.

Knowledge Requirements

• Experienced user of MS Project Professional
• Highly proficient with MS Office suite, especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Experience performing risk assessment of projects
• Understanding of fermentation and common downstream processing unit operations

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to make strategic decisions on a projects and priorities that maximize utilization of resources, increase efficiency, and increase likelihood of success.
• Ability to influence without authority and build strong business relationships in a matrix environment and to clear obstacles for project managers so they can execute efficiently.
• Clearly communicates changing priorities to project managers operating within the platform.
• Builds consensus among team through persuasion and influence.
• Challenges and drives project teams in a positive manner.
• Ensures credit goes to the appropriate team members by monitoring progress across platform.

Work Environment/ Physical Demands

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position will involve working in an office setting and may involve travel to manufacturing sites to support technology transfer, process scale up and commercial manufacturing. In an office setting, this position requires the ability to use computers and office equipment. The position requires communication with other individuals, inside and outside the company, through a variety of methods. There are no specific lifting requirements. This position may require the ability to work outside normal business hours on an as needed basis. Ability to travel to support scale up activities and other business priorities as required. Position requires commitment to prioritize safety and safety of team members whether on site in San Diego or on site at the manufacturing facility.

Genomatica is committed to providing exciting career opportunities in an environment that values safety, trust, respect, openness, teamwork, creativity, enthusiasm, and diligence. We strive to create a culture that enables and encourages everyone to bring their whole selves to work. We are committed to be a company where everyone feels they have equal opportunity to reach their potential. Everyone is accepted and appreciated for who they are and what they bring to Genomatica.

We promote the continued development of an inclusive environment that values diversity through Geno4All, our employee led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. We are looking for innovative, highly motivated, and collaborative people who enjoy the challenges and rewards of a company devoted to commercializing cutting-edge sustainable technology.

Check us out on our LinkedIn Life page. Genomatica is an equal opportunity employer.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.

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