Our Client is a science-led global psychedelic platform, led by experts in neurology, neuroscience and drug development and the Company is looking for a knowledgeable, proficient and committed Mycologist to join the team in Lesotho while residing in South Africa.
This position reports to the Company Agronomist and on site you will work with a registered Pharmacist, Lab Technician and Country Manager.
Cultivation takes place under ISO FFSC 22000 food safety conditions led by the QA team under a Registered pharmacist and is audited annually.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology or Horticulture or related tertiary education Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a commercial mushroom growing environment, preferably with exotic mushroom species (Preferable)
- GMP/Food safety environment experience
- Sterile laboratory and growing experience
- Experience in working in a highly regulated environment
- Proficiency in MS Office
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE, BUT WILL NOT BE LIMITED TO:
- Managing staff
- Managing multiple grow and spawn rooms to maximize facility production potential
- Working to ISO standards
- ISO 22000 food safety certificate from the British Standards Institute will be an advantage
- Working to GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) and GMP standards
- Report writing and work scheduling
- Laboratory and growing
- Preparing agar media, Sterilizing media, Agar culture from tissue and spores o Strain selection and isolation from multi-spore cultures
- Grain spawn production
- Preparation of substrate and substrate formulation (not compost making as our target species do not feed on compost)
- Creating and maintaining a culture library held in storage
- Development of productive strains
- Fruiting, drying, and packaging of mushrooms
KEY ATTRIBUTES
- Confident, comfortable and effective in a disruptive and expanding environment
- Attention to detail
- High level of curiosity
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills in order to effectively communicate between departments, staff levels and countries
- Organised with a high level of accountability
- Agility and problem solving skills
- Strong analytical skills
- Ability to follow SOP’s
- Ability to work within a team
- Efficient scheduling management
- Excellent record keeping abilities
- Own transport