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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

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● 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.

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● 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.