Duties & Responsibilities

• Pilot Plant Specialist • Supervise and perform the day-to-day research, operations, and safety oversight of the FSHN-PPP pilot plant, kitchen, and laboratory. Prepare for classes and research trials with students, faculty, and outside researchers. • Serve within a team of research specialists and direct reports with overall responsibility for operating and maintaining all food and bioprocessing research equipment and projects in facility. Ensure equipment is available and ready for use. • Provide expertise to faculty, students, and outside users performing research to ensure safe and successful use of facility equipment, including coordinating with outside contractors as necessary. • Perform certain business functions including but not limited to: managing allocated budgets/resources and projecting future needs, recording facility use by individual projects, consumable supplies ordering, and inventory tracking and property accounting. • Develop and implement technical training in the areas of equipment operation, safety, and research methodology/data analysis as it pertains to FSHN-PPP scale-up and testing. • Maintain FSHN-PPP to GMP standards including food safety records (FDA, HACCP, Process Records, etc.) Oversee creation of and enforce written operating and safety procedures for FSHN-PPP. Participate in any inspections or audits as required. • Pursue ongoing professional development. Stay abreast of developing processing technologies, industry product trends, and safety programs. • Represent FSHN-PPP at conferences, meetings, and other related activities as requested. • Other duties as assigned.
• Regulatory • Develop & improve a food safety program for FHSN-PPP research projects that adheres to required regulatory review (IDPH, FDA, USDA, and 3rd party requirements). • Coordinate with management team to implement regulatory program on research projects. • Develop tools and relationships to build regulatory knowledge for research programs.
• Teaching & Instruction • Teach PSM Seminar (597) for FSHN PSM, FSHN-PPP, and IBRL students. • Coordinate research & industry seminar opportunities with FASTER undergraduate interns. • Develop webinars to promote research and regulatory topics relevant to students, industry startups, and others interested in food production.
• PSM Programming, Recruitment, and Coordination • Manage extension and outreach relationships with stakeholders globally. • Present research findings and update FSHN PSM materials for recruitment (pamphlets, website). • Participate in recruitment efforts as needed (including IBRL and FSHN-PPP). • Collaborate with faculty program advisors as needed. • Advise current Illinois students interested in FSHN PSM to support improvement of the program, recommend new courses or student experiences, develop internships, etc.

Position Requirements and Qualifications

Education:

Required:

· Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Technical Systems Management, Food Science, or closely related field

· Knowledge and understanding of common food, chemical, and bioenergy industry processing techniques, GMPs, plant safety, and pilot scale processing equipment

Preferred:

· Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Technical Systems Management, Food Science, or closely related field

Experience:

Required:

· 3+ years of work experience operating food, bioprocessing, or related equipment in a regulated environment

· 3+ years of experience supervising and training others in an educational or production environment

· Experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing processing equipment

· Knowledge of/experience with research principles, research methodology, and analyzing/interpreting research data

· Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred:

· 4+ years of experience working in a food or bioprocessing pilot-scale or production facility

· 2+ years of experience operating pasteurization, retort, spray drying, or extrusion equipment

Training, Licenses or Certifications:

Required:

• Currently hold or ability to obtain a Certificate of Food Service Sanitation from the State of Illinois
• Driver’s License

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge and understanding of common food, chemical, and bioenergy industry processing techniques, GMPs, plant safety, and pilot scale processing equipment.
• Strong communication skills.

Environmental Demands:

Ability to lift 50lbs

Ability to work in hot, cold, or wet environments or with equipment that is heated

Ability to stand, climb, or interact with equipment at various heights

Appointment Information:
This is a full-time (100%, 12-month) visiting Academic Professional appointment. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. The budgeted salary range for this position is $62,400 to $75,400. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position. This position may become non-visiting at a later time. The proposed start is as soon as possible after the closing date. Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CDT) on May 15, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Beth Conerty at bconerty@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1030304
Job Category: Research
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu