Supervisor(a) de Bioprocessos e Fermentação

Who are we?
Mykor is an award-winning biotechnology company developing carbon-negative materials for
the construction industry. The company’s proprietary custom-engineered insulation products
perform like foam but, unlike polystyrene, they are renewable and circular with no
compromise on thermal performance and fire resistance. Mykor’s flagship product, the
MykoSIP, is an insulating and acoustic panel system manufactured with cellulosic waste and
fungi-based binders. Our mission is to decarbonise the construction industry by
manufacturing carbon-negative materials made from waste resources.
Location: Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal
Job Type: On-site, Full-time
We are looking for a Bioprocess & Fermentation Supervisor:
The Bioprocess & Fermentation Supervisor is responsible for overseeing mycelium
fermentation and bioprocess operations end-to-end. From substrate media preparation and
inoculation through incubation, growth monitoring, and harvest, ensuring processes are
scientifically sound, reproducible, and effectively scaled from lab/pilot stage to industrial
production. This role bridges hands-on bioprocess supervision with technical oversight,
leading a team while driving process optimization and scale-up of mycelium-based materials.
Key Responsibilities
1. Bioprocess & Scale-Up
● Oversee liquid fermentation operations for mycelium biomass, meeting output,
quality, and consistency targets, and translate lab/pilot protocols into reproducible
industrial-scale processes.
● Monitor and control critical parameters (temperature, CO2/O2, pH, airflow, agitation),
and respond quickly to deviations, contamination, or substrate issues to minimize
batch loss.
2. Team Leadership
● Supervise, train, and mentor fermentation operators and technicians, embedding
aseptic technique and biosafety practices.
● Plan shifts and resources for continuous coverage across inoculation, incubation,
and harvest, and manage performance and onboarding.
3. Quality, Compliance & Documentation
● Ensure activities meet GMP, biosafety, and internal quality standards, and maintain
accurate batch records and traceability for regulators, investors, and customers.
● Run in-process quality checkpoints and lead root cause analysis and CAPA for
contamination, failed batches, or off-spec biomass.
4. Health, Safety & Sanitation

● Enforce hygiene, sterilisation, and biosafety protocols (CIP/SIP or manual) across
vessels, growth rooms, and equipment to prevent cross-contamination between
strains and batches.
5. Equipment & Maintenance
● Work with engineering to keep bioreactors, incubation chambers, climate controls,
and sensors calibrated and reliable, owning the preventive maintenance plan to limit
downtime.
6. Continuous Improvement
● Drive optimisation of cycle times, yield, and substrate efficiency, and partner with
R&D on strain, substrate, and growth-condition trials while applying Lean principles.
7. Reporting & Collaboration
● Track and report KPIs (yield, batch success, contamination rate, cycle time, substrate
use) to the Plant Manager.
● Coordinate with R&D, QA, Downstream, Engineering, and Logistics on smooth
cultivation-to-post-processing handoffs, scheduling, and capacity planning.
Qualifications & Requirements
● Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mycology, Microbiology, Biotechnology,
Bioprocess/Chemical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical
experience).
● Proven experience in fermentation or biomanufacturing (industrial, pilot-scale, or
GMP-regulated environments).
● Strong technical understanding of fungal biology, aseptic technique, substrate
preparation, and controlled-environment cultivation at scale.
● Prior supervisory or team-lead experience required.
● Familiarity with GMP, biosafety regulations, and quality systems relevant to
biobased/biotech manufacturing.
● Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and data interpretation skills.
● Excellent communication skills, able to translate technical issues for both operational
teams and senior leadership.
● Comfortable operating in a scale-up/startup environment where processes and
protocols continue to evolve.
● Flexibility to work shifts and be on-call aligned with incubation and harvest cycles.
What We Offer
At Mykor, we provide an engaging and hands-on role in a pleasant and flexible work
environment. The tasks are diverse, offering the opportunity to acquire various practical
skills. As a dynamic and youthful company, our production methods and Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) mirror this energy, allowing space for personal and professional growth
within the organisation.
You'll be part of a welcoming team atmosphere. Our culture holds significant importance,
defined by the pillars of "Innovation. Transparency. Sustainable Growth." These principles
form the bedrock of our operations, rooted in our values of ambition, responsibility, integrity,
and efficiency.

● Salary up to €2000 pcm (depending on experience) + equity options.
● Subsídio de alimentação (€10.20/day).
● 22 days holiday + bank holidays.
● Permanent contract.
● Private health insurance (Allianz).
● Annual self-development budget (€500+).
● Yearly team retreat abroad + monthly team events.
● A chance to shape the future of construction with meaningful climate impact.
Diverse and Inclusive Culture
Mykor values equal opportunities and strongly encourages applicants from traditionally
underrepresented backgrounds. We aspire to ensure that every member of our team feels
esteemed, respected, included, and heard. We actively promote diversity and stand against
any form of discrimination. As a small company with limited resources, we regretfully cannot
provide feedback to unsuccessful candidates. Nevertheless, we sincerely appreciate your
interest and thank you for considering us. If you think you can make a real impact on the
success of Mykor, we would love to hear from you.
Application Process
● Stage 1: Email CV + cover letter to ines@mykor.co.uk
● Stage 2: Video interview
● Stage 3: In-person interview with Plant Manager + HR Technician
● Stage 4: References (post-offer)

Location: Montemor-O-Novo, Portugal
Start Date: September 2026.