Head of Manufacturing

Epoch BiodesignEpoch Biodesign is a well-funded, venture-backed start-up using biology to make every type of plastic recyclable - starting with Nylon.Using a unique combination of AI, synthetic biology and green chemistry, we are scaling enzymatic recycling processes that transform unrecyclable plastics into new, virgin-quality materials. These processes yield substantial reductions in carbon emissions and prevent waste from entering landfill or the environment. They also generate disruptive unit economics, allowing us to scale our solutions quickly to solve this urgent challenge.With our pilot plant already processing Nylon 6,6 waste at the multi-tonne level, we will imminently complete construction on our larger demo facility. This will produce material that will be used in garments for some of the world’s biggest brands, and also in components for some of the world’s largest car companies.As Head of Manufacturing at Epoch you will:Process Operation sLead daily production at our pilot and demo plant facilitiesDevelop, implement and continuously improve production processes and SOPsPlan, monitor performance, troubleshoot issues and ensure smooth execution for production campaigns against clearly defined timelinesOperational compliance: environmental permitting, waste handling, certification of our outputEstablish a scalable Quality Management System (policies → SOPs → records) that meets our regulatory obligations and brings discipline to how we generate, store, review, and act on dataPerform root-cause investigations for deviations / non-conformances to identify what went wrong and what corrective / preventive actions (CAPA) are neededEstablish feedstock and production traceability from incoming materials through each production run, including documenting batch recordsGeneral reporting on production process performance metricsPlan capacity - including workweek structure and shift patterns - and scale to extended-hour or multi-shift operations when needed, while preserving quality, safety and complianceHealth & SafetyTake direct ownership of health and safety across all production activitiesEnsure compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements and industry best practicesPromote a culture of safety and accountability across the teamFeedstock and Inventory Managemen tIn conjunction with the Feedstock Procurement Manager, oversee feedstock receipt, handling and storage across pilot and demo sitesTrack inventory levels for raw materials, consumables and finished productWork with procurement and operations teams to ensure supply continuity and cost-effectivenessVendor & Stakeholder Managemen tCoordinate with third-party vendors, commercial partners and service providers supporting production activitiesCoordinate with internal R&D teams for tech transfer of modifications to the processAct as a strong Epoch representative, maintaining excellent relationships with commercial partners and suppliersTeam LeadershipManage and develop production team members, providing coaching, training and supportFoster a high-performance, safety-conscious cultureEssential qualifications and experienceDegree in chemical engineering or related field10+ years’ experience in a production, operations or plant management role within a chemical or industrial processing-oriented industryStrong knowledge of process safety, operational best practices and regulatory complianceExperience scaling from pilot/demo plants to commercial operations is highly desirableExcellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple prioritiesFamiliarity with Lean or Six Sigma PM methodologies is a bonusStrong communication skills and the ability to collaborate with team members from across R&D, commercial and operationsBenefitsEpoch Biodesign offers a comprehensive benefits program. At the moment this includes:A generous allowance of 30 days paid holiday (plus the usual 8 bank holidays)Meaningful EMI Share OptionsA non-contributory pension of 9% employer contributionOptional company covered private medical insurance with VitalityGroup Income ProtectionGroup Critical IllnessFlexible working around the core times of 10am to 4pmCycle to work schemeTech schemeThe opportunity to be part of building something remarkableOn-the-job perks:Complementary fresh fruit, coffee, tea and snacksOnsite gymVarious staff social activitiesWe are always in the process of reviewing and implementing further on-the-job perks!