Facilities Manager / Senior Facilities Manager

Company overviewAt Mission Barns, we’re building a cell culture process to ultimately make healthier, tastier, and cheaper animal fat in a more sustainable way without needing to rear and slaughter animals. Over the last 8 years, we’ve set scalable foundations for our first product, our cultivated pork fat, by:Building a novel adherent cell culture bioreactor, poised to be the largest cell-yielding adherent bioreactor in the world, with potential applications in CGT and broader biopharma.Achieving the first regulatory clearance in the world for any cultivated fat product, via FDA and USDA clearance in March 2025.Developing a porcine cell culture system with novel, cost-scalable, and food-grade process reagents and porcine adipogenic cell lines that can proliferate enough to meet global pork fat demand. The roleYou will oversee our Berkeley R&D lab and lead our transition to a new ~25,000 sq ft facility. The new site will house the world's largest adherent cell culture bioreactor alongside our growing R&D and product development teams. Working with our Director of Bioprocess Engineering (BPE), you'll own the buildout from design through commissioning, then run the facility day-to-day. ResponsibilitiesDrive the buildout of Mission Barns’ next facility: work with our R&D and product development teams to set scope and priorities, and manage architects, contractors, and specialty vendors to deliver themLead commissioning and startup of building systems, utilities, and process equipment with BPE, against defined acceptance criteriaPlan and execute the transition of operations from our Berkeley lab, including the safe transfer of critical materials and equipmentOwn and mature our facility risk management program (asset criticality, FMECAs, risk register, and root cause investigations), applying it to the new facility so critical systems are proven before we depend on themOwn critical monitoring and alarm systems, from commissioning through day-to-day response, including after-hours on-call coverageOwn EHS programs, training, and regulatory compliance, including the permits the new facility will requireOversee day-to-day facility operations, including building systems, utilities and gases, and the preventive maintenance, calibration, and inspection programManage the facilities team, budget, vendors, and service contracts, growing the team as operations expand You may be a good fit if you have these qualifications:5+ years of facilities management experience in biotech, pharma, food manufacturing, or a comparable laboratory or manufacturing environment.Demonstrated experience delivering a lab buildout, relocation, or major renovation, including managing contractors, schedules, and budgetsTechnical fluency with laboratory building systems and utilities, and the curiosity to understand our bioprocess and what it needs from the facilityExperience running a preventive maintenance program in a CMMSA proactive approach to risk: you anticipate how systems can fail and put controls in place before they doDemonstrated use of AI to accelerate and improve the quality of facilities work, with the judgment to verify what it producesA self-starter with a bias for action who thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on startup environmentWillingness to obtain required certifications, such as DOT hazmat shipping and hazardous waste manifest signingExcellent organizational and communication skills, and a collaborative approach to working with technical teams Preferred qualifications:Ownership of a biotech or bioprocess facility buildout from design through startupFamiliarity with food-grade (USDA/FDA) or GMP facility requirementsCertifications such as CFM, CMRP, PMP, or OSHA 30Technical fluency with bioprocess equipment and utilities, such as bioreactors, CIP/SIP, plant and clean steam, clean dry air, process gases, purified water, and waste treatment systemsExperience with structured risk management tools such as FMEA/FMECA, asset criticality assessment, risk registers and bow-tie analysis, root cause analysis, and commissioning and qualificationHands-on ownership of EHS programs and regulatory compliance in California, including permitting process facilities (pressure vessels, air emissions, wastewater discharge)Experience managing tenant improvement projects on behalf of a tenant Compensation and benefitsThis role is open at two levels, depending on experience. CompensationFacilities Manager: $135,000 - $170,000 + equitySenior Facilities Manager: $155,000 - $190,000 + equity BenefitsMedical, dental, and vision coverage; flexible holiday and vacation time policy, 401k, commuter benefits, snacks and drinks, lifestyle/health benefits, ample opportunity for career advancement, and a few other perks. --- Mission Barns is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact recruiting@missionbarns.com.