Fermentation Manager/Supervisor

Job Description

Job Description

At Houdek , we are pioneering sustainable solutions in agriculture by transforming soybeans into high-value ingredients that support animal health, environmental stewardship, and food system innovation. Based in Volga, South Dakota, we take pride in creating products that are rooted in science, powered by nature, and designed to make a meaningful difference.

We're growing fast and looking for people who want to be part of something bold and impactful. Our team works with purpose and pride, guided by the core values that shape our culture:

• Safety - We are committed to maintaining a safe, responsible, and healthy environment for all.
• Quality - From process to product, we hold ourselves to the highest standards.
• Respect - We foster a workplace where every voice matters and collaboration thrives.
• Transparency - We communicate clearly, honestly, and often with our teams and our partners.
• Innovation - We challenge convention, solve complex problems, and drive new possibilities every day.

If you're ready to join a team working toward a more sustainable future, we invite you to apply today!

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Prairie AquaTech Manufacturing, LLC dba Houdek is a manufacturing company based in Volga South Dakota that is improving animal health and nutrition by providing high-quality feed ingredients. Using patent-pending technologies licensed on a worldwide, exclusive basis from South Dakota State University and developed internally, the Company is upgrading soybean meal to high-quality ingredients used in aquaculture and other animal feeds.

JOB DUTIES

As a key leader within the Manufacturing Fermentation team, this position owns the safe, consistent, and disciplined execution of seed train and production fermentation operations through the people performing the work. The Manager/Supervisor develops employees, reinforces industrial microbiology and fermentation fundamentals, monitors process performance, leads first-line troubleshooting, and ensures the team understands both the procedures and the scientific reasons behind critical process requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead safe, reliable, and consistent day-to-day seed train and production fermentation operations through the fermentation team.
• Plan staffing, work priorities, training, and daily activities to meet production requirements while maintaining quality and process discipline.
• Ensure team members execute SOPs, aseptic practices, sanitation/sterilization requirements, sampling plans, critical checks, and documentation accurately and consistently.
• Develop Leads and Operators through field coaching, technical training, qualification, proficiency checks, and regular performance feedback.
• Build employee understanding of why critical fermentation steps and limits matter, not only how to complete the procedure.
• Review fermentation data, culture condition, operating records, checklists, shift reports, and process trends; identify abnormalities and ensure timely escalation.
• Lead first-line troubleshooting and coordinate complex investigations with the Senior Manager/Director, Fermentation and other technical resources.
• Ensure complete and accurate documentation of process conditions, deviations, corrective actions, equipment issues, and shift-to-shift handoffs.
• Drive adherence to contamination-control practices and immediately address behaviors or conditions that create microbiological risk.
• Coordinate with Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and other manufacturing functions to maintain equipment readiness and resolve process constraints.
• Participate in root cause investigations, corrective actions, SOP revisions, change implementation, and continuous-improvement efforts.
• Monitor department KPIs and recurring losses, communicate performance to the team, and drive actions that improve fermentation reliability and consistency.
• Maintain department training status, supply needs, critical consumables, and other resources necessary for dependable fermentation operations.
• Model Houdek core values and create a team environment built on accountability, learning, respect, and transparent communication.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required.

• Bachelor's degree in microbiology, biology, fermentation science, engineering, or a related technical field preferred; associate degree plus significant relevant industrial experience may be considered.

• Three or more years of fermentation, seed train, industrial microbiology, biomanufacturing, or closely related manufacturing experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading, supervising, or developing employees in an operating environment.

• Working knowledge of aseptic/sterile technique, contamination control, culture health, sterilization, process monitoring, and manufacturing documentation.

• Strong technical and mechanical troubleshooting skills with the ability to make sound decisions under production conditions.

• Ability to interpret process data and trends, recognize abnormal conditions, and escalate appropriately.

• Excellent communication, organization, coaching, and team-building skills.
• Ability to work in an industrial processing environment and attend required meetings, training, or respond to operational needs outside the normal schedule when required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with production-scale microbial or fungal fermentation and seed train operations.
• Experience with microscopy, sampling, analytical testing, process-control systems, or statistical process monitoring.
• Experience developing or delivering technical training and operator qualification programs.

Prairie AquaTech Manufacturing, LLC dba Houdek is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

 

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