Pilot Facility Operations Manager

Location: Durham, NC (Onsite)

Position Summary

The Pilot Facility Operations Manager is responsible for leading end-to-end pilot-scale manufacturing operations for advanced materials, serving as the critical bridge between research and development and full-scale production. This role combines production leadership, process engineering, material coordination, and team management to ensure materials are produced safely, efficiently, on specification, and on schedule.

The successful candidate will build and maintain disciplined, scalable operations while partnering closely with engineering, quality, commercial, and environmental health and safety (EHS) teams to support process development, material qualification, and successful production scale-up. This role requires a hands-on leader who thrives in dynamic environments, is comfortable navigating ambiguity, and can drive execution while fostering continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Pilot Production Leadership

• Lead daily pilot manufacturing operations from production planning through material delivery.
• Ensure safe, reliable, and on-time execution of production and testing plans aligned with organizational priorities.
• Monitor operational performance and proactively resolve issues that may impact production goals.

Process Engineering & Scale-Up

• Translate R&D processes into robust, repeatable pilot-scale manufacturing workflows.
• Lead process optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Improve yield, throughput, process stability, and scalability while supporting technology transfer to production environments.

Material Management & Logistics

• Oversee raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods throughout the production lifecycle.
• Coordinate material staging, inventory control, and movement of sensitive materials.
• Align material availability with production schedules, testing requirements, and delivery commitments.

Operational Excellence

• Develop, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and standardized workflows.
• Manage production schedules, resource allocation, staffing needs, and equipment readiness.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) including yield, throughput, quality, and schedule adherence.

Quality, Documentation & Traceability

• Ensure accurate batch records, traveler documentation, and process records.
• Maintain strong process control practices and support material qualification activities.
• Analyze testing results and communicate findings to support data-driven decision-making.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of approximately seven operators and technicians.
• Establish clear expectations regarding safety, quality, documentation, and execution.
• Foster a culture of accountability, operational discipline, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with engineering, development, quality, commercial, and EHS teams.
• Communicate production progress, risks, resource requirements, and scale-up readiness.
• Support customer qualification activities and evolving business priorities.

Safety & Compliance

• Integrate EHS requirements into all aspects of operations.
• Ensure compliance with safety procedures, training requirements, material handling practices, and operational standards.
• Promote a strong shop-floor safety culture and proactive risk management.

Core Areas of Accountability

• Production scheduling and execution
• Process troubleshooting and problem-solving
• Material quality assessment
• Shop-floor safety and compliance
• Operational discipline and adherence to standards
• On-time delivery against production commitments

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in advanced materials, pilot production, manufacturing, or process development environments.
• Experience leading manufacturing, pilot production, or operations teams with responsibility for safety, performance, and execution.
• Demonstrated success supporting process scale-up from development through production.
• Strong background in process engineering, production operations, or technology commercialization.
• Experience implementing SOP-driven operations, production documentation systems, and KPI management programs.
• Proven ability to manage production schedules, material flow, and cross-functional projects.

Preferred

• Background in metallurgy, materials science, specialty materials, or related manufacturing sectors.
• Experience in pilot-scale manufacturing and material qualification environments.
• Strong technical foundation with the ability to understand both scientific and manufacturing challenges.
• Experience working with multiple product lines or manufacturing technologies.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a high-energy, results-oriented operations leader who combines strong technical expertise with exceptional execution skills. They are comfortable working in evolving environments, demonstrate initiative, and have a track record of increasing responsibility and career progression. They thrive in situations requiring adaptability, sound judgment, and collaboration across technical and operational teams.

Key attributes include:

• Strong drive and sense of ownership
• Proven initiative and self-motivation
• Comfort operating in ambiguous or rapidly changing environments
• Flexible and adaptable leadership style
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Technical curiosity and scientific mindset
• Excellent communication and organizational skills

Work Environment

• 100% onsite position.
• Durham, NC will serve as the primary work location and training environment.
• Future expansion opportunities may include supporting operations at additional manufacturing facilities as business needs evolve.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.