Senior Microbiologist

About the role

The Microbiologist applies advanced microbiology and food safety expertise to ensure that finished meals are produced under safe, compliant conditions within a plant environment. This role leads, develops, and executes microbiological programs and solutions that maintain regulatory and internal food safety standards while driving continuous performance improvement.

Responsibilities

• Manage and continuously improve an effective environmental monitoring program, providing recommendations to enhance quality and food safety within the facility.
• Conduct environmental and finished product sampling using strong aseptic techniques, ensuring accurate and reliable microbiological results.
• Investigate out-of-specification microbiological test results, determine root causes, and report findings to quality management in a timely manner.
• Serve as the primary contact for the plant Pathogen Monitoring Program, including development, implementation, adaptation, and training of program requirements.
• Investigate and resolve microbiology and environmental monitoring issues and deviations, and lead the implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Review and approve microbiology and environmental monitoring test results and reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance laboratory operations, environmental monitoring processes, and overall microbiological control.
• Conduct statistical analysis of large microbiological data sets and develop trend reports for environmental testing programs, communicating findings to relevant stakeholders.
• Provide microbiological expertise in response to regulatory changes, external inquiries, and customer or third-party requests.
• Participate in regulatory and internal inspections and audits as needed, representing microbiology and environmental monitoring programs.
• Assist with risk assessments related to microbiological hazard analysis for ingredients and processes.
• Recommend and update documents such as standard operating procedures, policies, sanitation standard operating procedures, testing standards, methods, and specifications, ensuring alignment with good manufacturing practices.
• Provide recommendations for cleaning standards and reinforce best cleaning practices throughout the facility from a microbiological perspective.
• Collaborate with sanitation personnel to investigate microbiological concerns and support effective sanitation strategies.
• Work with production personnel to address sanitary equipment design considerations for new and existing equipment as they relate to microbiological control.
• Lead and initiate the development of microbiological laboratories within the plant, including helping design, set up, and standardize lab operations.
• Align and collaborate with other plant laboratory personnel and corporate stakeholders to ensure consistency in methods and standards.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the microbiology function, identifying opportunities to enhance methods, technologies, and processes.
• Communicate with external laboratories regarding microbiological results, test methods, and concerns, and coordinate external testing as needed.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor, performing in-plant sampling, swabbing, and troubleshooting when microbiological issues arise on any shift.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biology, Food Science, or a closely related discipline with at least 5 years of combined laboratory and food manufacturing experience, or a Master’s degree in a similar field with at least 2 years of combined laboratory and food manufacturing experience.
• Strong knowledge of microbiology testing methods and techniques, including familiarity with rapid microbiological test methods.
• Hands-on swabbing experience in a production or environmental monitoring context.
• Demonstrated ability to apply aseptic techniques and maintain sterility during sampling and testing.
• Experience in environmental monitoring programs within a food manufacturing or similar regulated environment.
• Proficiency with laboratory practices related to food microbiology, including sterility testing, bioburden assessment, and interpretation of microbiological data.
• Working knowledge of food safety principles and regulatory expectations, including alignment with FDA-related compliance for food manufacturing.
• Ability and willingness to spend significant time on the production floor (“boots on the ground”) to collect samples, perform investigations, and support operations.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to conduct statistical analysis of large data sets and develop meaningful trend reports.
• Excellent communication skills to convey microbiological findings, risks, and recommendations to production, quality, sanitation, and corporate teams.
• Prior experience managing or leading people within a laboratory or quality function is an advantage.
• Knowledge in food science or food safety programs, including environmental monitoring and pathogen control, is beneficial.
• Familiarity with developing, revising, and implementing SOPs, SSOPs, testing standards, and specifications within a GMP framework.
• Experience collaborating with external laboratories on test methods, result interpretation, and troubleshooting.
• Comfort working closely with cross-functional partners, including quality leadership, plant leadership, and corporate teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biology, Food Science, or a closely related discipline with at least 5 years of combined laboratory and food manufacturing experience, or a Master’s degree in a similar field with at least 2 years of combined laboratory and food manufacturing experience.
• Seafood HACCP training or certification is a plus.
• Experience designing, setting up, or managing a new microbiology laboratory is highly desirable.
• Prior experience managing or leading people within a laboratory or quality function is an advantage.
• Knowledge in food science or food safety programs, including environmental monitoring and pathogen control, is beneficial.
• Familiarity with developing, revising, and implementing SOPs, SSOPs, testing standards, and specifications within a GMP framework.
• Experience collaborating with external laboratories on test methods, result interpretation, and troubleshooting.
• Comfort working closely with cross-functional partners, including quality leadership, plant leadership, and corporate teams.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of microbiology testing methods and techniques, including familiarity with rapid microbiological test methods.
• Hands-on swabbing experience in a production or environmental monitoring context.
• Demonstrated ability to apply aseptic techniques and maintain sterility during sampling and testing.
• Experience in environmental monitoring programs within a food manufacturing or similar regulated environment.
• Proficiency with laboratory practices related to food microbiology, including sterility testing, bioburden assessment, and interpretation of microbiological data.
• Working knowledge of food safety principles and regulatory expectations, including alignment with FDA-related compliance for food manufacturing.
• Ability and willingness to spend significant time on the production floor (“boots on the ground”) to collect samples, perform investigations, and support operations.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to conduct statistical analysis of large data sets and develop meaningful trend reports.
• Excellent communication skills to convey microbiological findings, risks, and recommendations to production, quality, sanitation, and corporate teams.
• Prior experience managing or leading people within a laboratory or quality function is an advantage.
• Knowledge in food science or food safety programs, including environmental monitoring and pathogen control, is beneficial.
• Familiarity with developing, revising, and implementing SOPs, SSOPs, testing standards, and specifications within a GMP framework.
• Experience collaborating with external laboratories on test methods, result interpretation, and troubleshooting.
• Comfort working closely with cross-functional partners, including quality leadership, plant leadership, and corporate teams.

Benefits

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $50.00/hr.

Requirements

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.