Corporate Microbiologist

About this role

As a family company, we serve people and communities. When you work at Meijer, you’re provided with career and community opportunities centered around leadership, personal growth and development. Consider joining our family – take care of your career and your community!   Meijer Rewards • Weekly pay

• Scheduling flexibility

• Paid parental leave  

• Paid education assistance

• Team member discount

• Development programs for advancement and career growth

  Please review the job profile below and apply today!

Reporting to Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance, this position provides scientific leadership in microbiology as relates to food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. This position will support all Meijer Manufacturing facilities. This role is responsible for developing, standardizing, and validating microbiological programs to ensure product safety and quality, regulatory compliance, and brand protection. This position partners cross functionally with Operations, Product Development, Regulatory Compliance, Supply Chain, Food Safety, and external laboratories to implement best in class sampling and testing procedures.   What You'll Be Doing :  

• Partner with   site Quality Managers and Operations Leaders to ensure   each   site   food safety program is   current, effective, and managed at the site level.  

• Develop and   maintain   corporate microbiological standards, policies, and procedures.  

• Establish enterprise-wide environmental monitoring programs (EMP)   aligned with regulatory expectations and industry   best practices.  

• Lead root cause investigations and troubleshooting for presumptive positive pathogen   findings and recommend corrective actions.  

• Oversee trend analysis of microbiological data and drive   risk based   decision making.  

• Lead microbial risk assessments for ingredients, processes, and finished products.  

• Standardize test methods, specifications, and validation protocols across all facilities.  

• Serve   as subject   matter expert (SME) for microbiological compliance   under applicable regulations (FDA, USDA , as applicable).  

• Support FSMA preventive controls validation and verification activities.  

• Assist   with   regulatory responses related  to spoilage or microbial activity.

• Provide technical oversight to internal and   third party   laboratories.  

• Evaluate and approve laboratory methods, validation studies, and rapid testing techniques.  

• Review and interpret  

• Lead microbiological investigations   where applicable during food safety incidents or recalls.  

• Provide   sc ientific guidance during product disposition decisions when necessary.  

• Identify   emerging microbiological risks and industry trends.  

• Implement   new technologies   and methods to enhance detection and prevention .  

• Train manufacturing team members on microbiological   related best practices and risk mitigation (sampling   and testing).  

• Partner with   site Quality Managers in troubleshooting microbial   issues.  

What You Bring with You (Qualifications):  

• Ph.D   or M.S.   degree in   Microb iology , Food Safety, or related fields   

• Experience - functional/industry/commercial knowledge:  

• 8 +   years of relevant   microbiology   experience   in   the Food/ Bever age   manufacturing facilities   

• Experience in multi-site   organizations preferred.  

• Strong working knowledge of FSMA, HACCP, environmental monitoring programs, and pathogen control.  

• Expertise   in foodborne pathogens ( e.g.   Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes ,   E.coli ).  

• Proficiency   in microbiological testing methods (culture - based ,   OCR, rapids methods).  

• Strong data interpretation and statistical trend analysis capabilities.  

• Risk assessment and validation   expertise  

• Strong communication   skills  

• Ability to   collaborate and communicate with cross-functional stakeholders  

• Preferred    experience   in ready to eat foods (RTE) and   high risk   categories.  

• PCQI   and HACCP   Certification   preferred.  

• Travel   25-40 %

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