Site Manager

Site Manager

Piper Maddox is partnering with an innovative biotechnology and renewable fuels company to appoint a Site Manager to lead operations at its pilot facility near Calipatria, California.

The company is developing a next-generation approach to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), using engineered microalgae to produce low-carbon oils. With its technology validated and plans to scale toward commercial production, the business is restarting its pilot facility and expanding its operational team.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Site Manager to take ownership of the Calipatria pilot facility, overseeing day-to-day operations, production, engineering, facilities, safety, and team development.

Reporting to the VP of Deployment and Development, you will lead a cross-functional team, manage the facility restart, and work closely with R&D and senior leadership to support operational performance and future scale-up.

This is a hands-on leadership opportunity with the potential to progress into a Site General Manager position as the company expands.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the facility restart, overseeing operational readiness, commissioning, staffing, and SOP development.
• Take ownership of site operations, including production performance, equipment uptime, laboratory activities, and safety.
• Manage and develop teams across algae production, process engineering, facilities, and project development.
• Oversee site budgets, operating schedules, resource allocation, and production priorities.
• Work closely with engineering and R&D teams to support process development, equipment installation, troubleshooting, and scale-up.
• Establish and maintain a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with applicable environmental and regulatory requirements.
• Lead hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management across the site.
• Communicate operational performance and challenges to senior leadership and represent the facility externally.
• Provide hands-on leadership during commissioning, production campaigns, and periods of increased operational demand.

Requirements and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Biology, Agronomy, Agriculture, or a related discipline. A Master's degree is preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in industrial operations, production management, plant leadership, or facility management.
• 5+ years of direct site, plant, or facility leadership experience with operational ownership.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional teams and managing site operations.
• Experience with facility restarts, commissioning, operational scale-up, or new production environments.
• Strong understanding of site safety, operational procedures, budgeting, and resource management.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to work across technical teams and senior leadership.
• Authorization to work in the United States is required.

Preferred Experience

• Background in bioprocessing, biotechnology, algae cultivation, fermentation, agricultural production, or comparable manufacturing environments.
• Engineering experience across downstream processing, including dewatering, centrifugation, filtration, or extraction.
• Capital project experience involving equipment installation, contractor management, commissioning, or construction.
• Experience scaling processes from pilot or development environments into larger-scale production.
• English/Spanish bilingual communication skills.

Location and Relocation

• Location: On-site near Calipatria, California.
• Schedule: Standard operating schedule with flexibility to support commissioning and continuous operations, including occasional evenings, weekends, and on-call coverage.
• Relocation: Assistance available for qualified candidates relocating to the Calipatria area.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a developing production facility within an innovative renewable fuels business.

The successful candidate will play a key role in bringing the pilot operation online, building the site team, establishing operational standards, and supporting the company's transition toward demonstration-scale production.

The position offers significant responsibility, direct involvement in technical and operational development, and the opportunity to progress into broader site leadership as the business grows.