Research Scientist – Quality System Specialist

Fast-paced, early-stage biotech company is seeking a Quality Control Scientist for our state-of-the-art bio-manufacturing and research headquarters in Green Island, NY.

Ideal candidates will have the skills and experience necessary to spearhead the development and implementation of quality control measures to support the commercialization and ongoing production of mycelial-based biopolymers.   This role will be embedded in the scale research team and will work closely with numerous stakeholders and cross-functional teams across the company.   This role will be responsible for developing and performing quality measures to ensure the biopolymer meets both the biological and  physical requirements of the product, and for monitoring and reporting out on these measures.  

Ecovative is an exciting biotech company based in New York.  Our founders are TED talk alumni and have been recognized as innovative entrepreneurs on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Our work has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, Wired, Forbes and on CNN.

We operate a 40,000 sqft headquarters in Green Island, NY, with mixed usage, including office space, engineering and wood shops, agricultural processing space, mushroom substrate pretreatment equipment, a secure food manufacturing zone, a 2000 sqft Bio-Foundry, and numerous state-of-the-art solid-state fermentation chambers.

ECOVATIVE’S QUALITY SYSTEM SPECIALIST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND MANAGING THE QUALITY MEASURES TO SUPPORT BIOPOLYMER PRODUCTION, INCLUDING:

• Identify and address key quality risk points within the biopolymer pipeline

• Develop a historical understanding of the key bacterial and fungal crop pathogens, and control and mitigation strategies

• Standardize sampling systems and develop related SOPs and training documentation 

• Lead the development and implementation of non-biological quality metrics to characterize biopolymer material

• Collaborate closely with Operations, Pilot R&D, the Quality and Safety Manager, the Foundry, and Engineering teams on continuous improvements to Ecovative’s quality systems

• Ensure that products adhere to quality standards

• Prepare reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data

• Train and oversee the production team members in quality assessment of goods

• Track products through the manufacturing process to guarantee that each part of the process is correct

• Perform detailed and recorded inspections of final products so the products are up to industry and company standards

• Eliminate products that are not up to standards and finding the reasons for product problems

• Develop and maintain a dashboard that allows trends to be understood and corrective actions implemented before out of spec product is produced

MINIMUM EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Bachelors of Science in biology, quality, or related field

• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in a biotech, agriculture, or manufacturing environment where aseptic is critical

• Collaborative and proactive, are comfortable being the one to take action and get things taken care of

• Strong aseptic technique and experience performing statistically-based sampling techniques 

• Strong attention to detail. 

• Analysis, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to review systems, find flaws and pose solutions to those flaws

• exceptional interpersonal skills.

• Ability to handle stress

• Ability to operate under deadlines while still meeting standards

• Experience in defining/developing quality systems for agricultural products

• Experience in direct-to-consumer production agriculture

• Familiarity with quality standards and processes to follow federal, state, and local regulations

• Communication skills to convey information in reports, meetings, and status updates

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Strong leadership skills, with a proven ability to influence processes and outcomes in a highly cross-functional organization. Must be able to lead cross-functional teams to investigate complex issues and drive prioritized action(s) while employing risk-based, data-driven thinking

• A minimum of two (2) years in developing biological-based quality systems

• Experience in industrial Mushroom Farming or controlled environment agriculture

• Exceptional computer / IT skills

• Strong statistical background