Director of Manufacturing

ManufacturingFull TimeSydney, NSHybrid

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Director of Manufacturing

OVERVIEW 

Dispersa is a start-up specializing in the development of biosurfactants for use across various industries, as part of our greater mission to decarbonize the chemical industry. We are recruiting a Director of Manufacturing to lead the scale-up of our bioprocesses, oversee commercial manufacturing operations, and build a strong, high-performing manufacturing function aligned with our technical and commercial objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

As the Director of Manufacturing at Dispersa, you will be responsible for:

Bioprocess Scale-Up and Engineering

  • Improve the commercial transferability of bioprocesses from pilot-scale to commercial-scale production, including upstream and downstream optimization
  • Lead the scale-up of fermentation processes from approximately 1,000 L to 50,000 L+ reactor volumes
  • Apply deep expertise in submerged (liquid) fermentation


Commercial Manufacturing Operations

  • Oversee commercial manufacturing operations to ensure smooth scale-up and high-quality output
  • Manage or collaborate with external partners for commercial production
  • Ensure product quality and compliance with customer and regulatory requirements


Downstream Processing and Quality

  • Oversee downstream processing and bio-product extraction activities
  • Work cross-functionally to ensure quality standards, traceability, and compliance are met


Leadership and Team Management

  • Build, lead, and mentor a growing team of fermentation specialists and engineers
  • Foster a collaborative, innovative, and performance-driven work environment
  • Act as a technical and operational leader within the organization


Strategic Collaboration and Supply Chain

  • Collaborate closely with R&D, Product Development, Sales, and Operations teams to support company growth
  • Engage with logistics, supply chain, and raw materials procurement to streamline operations
  • Apply business strategy and economic thinking to align engineering efforts with commercial goals


QUALIFICATIONS

We’re looking for a strategic, execution-oriented manufacturing leader with deep expertise in biomanufacturing and fermentation scale-up. The ideal candidate brings strong technical rigor, people leadership, and a clear understanding of commercial and operational constraints in a fast-growing start-up environment.

  • BS, MS, or PhD in Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or a related field
  • 10+ years of experience in biomanufacturing and/or process engineering with demonstrated success in fermentation and scale-up
  • Strong background in submerged (liquid) fermentation
  • Bilingual (English/French); exceptional written and verbal communication skills
  • Excellent problem-solving and communication skills
  • Open-minded, collaborative, and transparent, with high emotional intelligence
  • Strong alignment with Dispersa’s core values: integrity, accountability, transparency, innovation, and collaboration

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 

We continually strive to offer a competitive compensation package along with benefits that include:

  • Fair & market-comparable salaries aligned with the candidate's experience 
  • Group medical/dental/vision insurance
  • Vacation package at 4 weeks paid time off + 5 personal days
  • Personal development fund
  • Hybrid working model 

REQUIREMENTS

  • Working at our Laval, Québec or Sydney, Nova Scotia lab facilities (hybrid model, with frequent travel within Canada and internationally)
  • Only candidates who are currently legally eligible to work in Canada will be considered

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSIVITY

Dispersa is committed to equitable hiring practices. We highly encourage applicants who identify as belonging to underrepresented groups to apply for this position. We are proud to have a diverse team and strive to maintain this core value as we grow the team.

Our hiring process is inclusive and accessible to anyone with unique needs in terms of accessibility and accommodations. We ask that all applicants identify their accommodation needs by sending an email to apply@dispersa.ca so that we can create the necessary conditions so that you can participate fully in the hiring process. All information received in relation to accommodation will remain confidential.

Apply on our website:

https://www.dispersa.ca/about/careers/


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