Director of Scale-Up and Manufacturing

About Loam

At Loam, we have the earth in our hands. As a team of scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs, we are on a mission to improve the world’s farmland and address climate change. We are developing microbial technology to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and build carbon in agricultural soils. We help farming businesses prosper by boosting yield and soil health and enabling access to carbon markets.

As a start-up with ambitious founders and investors, our work is fast-paced and multidimensional. We foster a supportive and diverse workplace where every team member is encouraged to learn and grow beyond their area of expertise. Founded in New South Wales, Australia, we have offices across the United States, Canada, and Australia.

While everyone at Loam is working in different roles, we all have one job: to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it stably in farmer’s soils.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer / Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Director of Infrastructure and Manufacturing will work closely with senior team members and external parties to collaboratively design, plan, project manage and deliver key infrastructure whereby Loam is a key stakeholder and transition the manufacturing of the methane abatement product to scale. This will accelerate the timeline to commercialisation of products to the livestock sector that deliver methane abatement outcomes.

Initially, the role will focus upon coordinating and overseeing the transition of the current laboratory and staff located at Charles Sturt University, Orange to a new facility. The new facility will include a dedicated laboratory, office space and a pilot biomanufacturing plant that has the potential to scale to commercial supply. Concurrently, the role encompasses the responsibility for design, construction and installation of unique methane measurement chambers designed for beef cattle (and supporting equipment) to be located at Central Queensland University, Rockhampton. As product development matures, the role will lead the biomanufacturing scale up and assist in the delivery of large scale animal field trials in the field that require infrastructure and adoption of integrated technologies.

About you

You will be a strategic leader with a proven track record in delivering complex infrastructure projects in accordance with agreed deadlines whilst conforming to regulations and design codes. You must have the ability to successfully integrate services and work collaboratively with a range of diverse and geographically dispersed stakeholders and contractors.

The ideal candidate must be a strong communicator, practical and forward thinking, be meticulous in planning but also comfortable with managing continuous change. Experience in the agricultural sector and specifically livestock operations is highly desirable.

The role will be based in Orange or southern Queensland, requiring intermittent both intra and interstate travel.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement strategic plans for infrastructure and manufacturing across multiple global locations of a novel product line.
• Lead and drive scale-up initiatives across the product line.
• Lead and supervise infrastructure design, construction, and maintenance projects for research, development, and manufacturing facilities.
• Ensure compliance with safety, building, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee and optimize manufacturing processes to improve efficiency and quality.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support research, development, and production activities.
• Manage and negotiate contracts with vendors and suppliers.
• Develop and manage budgets for infrastructure and manufacturing operations.
• You will play a significant role in safety management and operation of the labs, along with owning internal safety processes and policies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational performance.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to the infrastructure and manufacturing teams.

Requirements

• Managing the design, construction and establishment of a new laboratory and office space, incorporating a pilot manufacturing plant, which has the capacity to increase in scale

• Project management of construction and installation of open circuit respiratory chambers at Central Queensland University
• Supporting Loam senior scientists with installation, maintenance, and operation of key R&D infrastructure related to biomanufacturing
• Investigate potential scale-up pathways through direct investment in capital equipment or external engagement with Contract Manufacturing Organisations (CMO)
• Supporting larger scale field trials involving capital infrastructure, measurement methods and technology integration
• Ensuring infrastructure and related processes comply with safety and quality standards while performing process simulations and troubleshooting issues
• Create innovative operational solutions
• Develop and maintain oversight of operational budgets for defined projects

Benefits

• Fast-growing start-up with many opportunities for capacity building and career development

• Work alongside leading scientists and innovators in an international organisation
• Enjoy an inclusive and supportive culture
• Competitive salary based on experience

Why you should join us:

As an inclusive, team-first company, our people are at the essence of everything we do. We care profoundly about building a workplace where our team members feel valued, appreciated and empowered.

As Loam continues to evolve and innovate, we encourage our team members to do the same with their careers. As such, we provide ongoing opportunities to grow and make a real difference.