Fermentation Technician – Rapid Upskilling Training Program

About the Program

Are you interested in building an exciting career in an innovative field that contributes to solving the planet’s environmental challenges?

RapidFermTech is a 5-week rapid upskilling program to train Fermentation Technicians, particularly for employment with Industrial Fermentation companies located in Nova Scotia, Canada. Applicants will be reviewed by employers who are in need of Fermentation Technicians and are interested in hiring graduates. The Industrial Fermentation industry is growing in Nova Scotia, and as such, fermentation skills are highly sought after and enable employees to build inspiring and well-compensated careers.

Industrial Fermentation is an emerging and exciting process used to produce a range of sustainable, low-carbon and earth-friendly products. Our innovative local companies are continuously discovering applications for products created through the process of fermentation. Examples of products currently being made here include ingredients for human and animal health and nutrition and compounds used in cosmetics as well as dyes and pigments for the fashion industry.

The RapidFermTech training program will be delivered in partnership with INNOV in Grand Falls, NB, and the Verschuren Centre in Sydney, NS.

The program is set to begin on-site at INNOV in Grand Falls, NB, on November 4, 2024, with 1.5 weeks of hands-on training. This will be followed by an additional 2 weeks of hands-on training at the Verschuren Centre in Sydney, NS. The hands-on component will focus on industry-relevant fermentation equipment. Prior to the program, students will complete 40 hours of guided online content. Travel support is available for the INNOV portion of the hands-on training.

What is a Fermentation Technician?

Fermentation technicians work as part of a team, supporting fermentation process development, optimization, and scale-up and producing the final products. They also support product development to create new products aimed at commercial markets in sustainable biomanufacturing. Additionally, Fermentation Technicians help maintain the equipment and utilities to ensure high levels of safety and efficiency within their facilities.

Duties include:

Production planning
Fermenter operation
Equipment maintenance, repair and cleaning
Support production scale-up planning
Troubleshooting and problem-solving

Who Should Take This Program?

Industrial Fermentation is a novel and emerging field which is suitable for applicants with a wide range of education and experience. There are no minimum requirements for the program; however, some desired qualifications and aptitudes could include:

College diploma or undergraduate degree in STEM fields, particularly bioprocessing, biochemistry or biology, as well as brewing, distilling or related fields.
Transferable skills from other sectors such as brewing, laboratory technicians, power engineers or oil and gas.
Experience working with equipment such as pumps, valves, steam systems, etc.
Experience in process operations such as food or pharmaceutical production.
Laboratory experience.
A history of being able to problem-solve and make improvements/optimizations.
Good mechanical aptitude, able to provide support for maintenance in an industrial or related environment.
Highly detailed and focused, enjoy working on a small team where responsibilities are shared and varied.
Passionate about the environment and contributing to solutions for climate change.

How to Apply

To apply to RapidFermTech, please click the link in this post. This will direct you to TalentSorter, where you will submit your resume and cover letter and complete all questionnaires. Applicants will be contacted if selected to proceed to an interview and further screening.

If selected to enroll, there is a tuition fee of $500 to participate.