Senior Manager, Scale-up and Technology

SV Labs Corporation•Prescott, WI

About The Position

SV Labs is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented scale-up chemist or chemical engineer to join its R&D and Operations teams. The role bridges benchtop R&D formulation and full-scale commercial manufacturing, translating laboratory formulations for cosmetic and health care products into repeatable, robust, and cost-effective production batches. The position leads scale-up activities across four SV Labs manufacturing sites and leads the Scale-Up team, including two managers at other sites. It reports to the VP Quality and is classified as a full-time, non-exempt role. The work includes scaling formulations from laboratory bench scale through pilot and commercial manufacturing, establishing process parameters, preparing manufacturing instructions tailored to plant equipment, and providing hands-on support during pilot and initial commercial runs. The role also troubleshoots production issues and supports root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions for out-of-specification batches. Occasional evening or weekend overtime may be required, and flexible availability beyond daytime hours is required to support projects and customer needs.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or a related scientific discipline.
At least 5 years of direct experience in process development, scale-up, or tech transfer within personal care, cosmetics, OTC, or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Hands-on experience with pilot plant and laboratory equipment and procedures.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make quick, data-driven decisions.
Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills, with ability to follow established procedures.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional collaboration and customer technical communications.
Ability to handle multiple projects concurrently.
Ability to balance daily challenges with longer-term strategic projects.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment and under pressure.
Flexible availability beyond daytime hours to support projects and customer needs.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Experience working in a GMP environment.
Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Scale formulations from laboratory bench scale (1–5 kg) to pilot scale (50–100 kg) and full commercial manufacturing scale (500–5,000+ kg).
Establish process parameters, including addition orders, mixing speeds, shear rates, heating and cooling rates, vacuum pressures, and holding times.
Author and review clear, detailed Manufacturing Compounding Instructions tailored to specific plant processing equipment.
Provide hands-on support during pilot and initial commercial production runs.
Troubleshoot pilot and production issues, including phase separation, viscosity out of specification, aeration, emulsion instability, and filling issues.
Support root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) for out-of-specification batches.
Partner with R&D chemists to identify potential scale-up risks early in the development lifecycle.
Follow applicable work instructions, standard operating procedures, and documentation requirements.
Provide complete, reliable, and prompt information to managers and other team members.
Drive improvements and upgrades to methods and procedures.
Assist with co-worker, supervisor, and management projects as they arise.
Lead the Scale-Up team for SV Labs, including two managers located at other SV Labs sites.
Participate in daily and weekly team meetings and Site Daily Direction Setting meetings as needed.
Perform additional tasks as requested by site and company leadership.