Sr. Manager of Microbiology

Brock11 is currently searching for a Sr. Manager of Microbiology. Our client, a leading food manufacturer, seeks a highly experienced and technically skilled professional to drive food safety and quality initiatives with a focus on microbiological risk management. This role will provide technical leadership, oversee environmental monitoring programs, and support food safety policies to ensure compliance with industry standards. This position offers a base pay range of 100K-120K plus bonus.

Position Description:

The Sr. Manager of Microbiology will manage and drive continuous improvement in food safety and quality programs, particularly those related to microbiological risks. This role is responsible for implementing and improving environmental monitoring programs, food safety preventive controls, and sanitation strategies. The ideal candidate will have expertise in microbiological risk assessment, validation processes, and regulatory compliance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and continuously improve environmental monitoring programs.
• Develop and oversee food safety preventive controls and critical control points to mitigate microbiological risks.
• Conduct ingredient risk assessments and participate in supplier approvals and audits.
• Manage and provide leadership to the Microbiology Team, setting goals and evaluating performance.
• Monitor emerging food safety and microbiological risks, developing mitigation strategies.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing sites for food safety risk reduction and policy implementation.
• Lead validation studies for new products, equipment, and processes to confirm microbiological and food safety compliance.
• Guide sanitary design and operational practices to enhance food safety.
• Lead internal audit programs and collaborate with Sanitation and QA teams to improve environmental controls.
• Partner with Operations, Sanitation, and Innovation teams to drive best practices in sanitation and allergen control.
• Support food safety investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action planning.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies for managing food safety and microbiological risks.

Qualifications for Position:

Knowledge:

• Strong expertise in microbiological methods, food safety, and sanitation protocols.
• Understanding of HACCP, FSMA, and GFSI standards.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements (USDA/FSIS, FDA) and compliance programs.
• Knowledge of food microbiology, microbial risk assessments, and mitigation strategies.
• Advanced understanding of sanitary design, cleaning chemistry, and pest control.
• Experience with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and method validation.

Skills:

• Excellent leadership, team management, and mentoring abilities.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Effective communication and technical writing abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Expertise in data analysis and trend identification to drive continuous improvement.

Abilities:

• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and emerging risks.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive food safety initiatives.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to work in refrigerated and non-refrigerated environments, including:
• Process rooms: 40 to 55°F
• Coolers: 32 to 40°F
• Freezers: -20 to 32°F
• Blast Freezers: -15 to 0°F
• Non-refrigerated areas: 55 to 85°F or higher
• Ability to lift and move items weighing 25 to 50 pounds.
• Frequent standing, walking, and interacting with lab and production environments.

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Microbiology, Biology, or related field (PhD preferred).
• 10+ years of leadership experience in food safety, microbiology, and compliance (5+ years with a PhD).
• Experience with Ready-to-Eat refrigerated products and food manufacturing.
• Experience managing HACCP, FSMA, and GFSI programs and audits.
• PCQI certification is required.