Sr Microbiologist - Food Protection

Job Description Summary
Sr Microbiology will directly report to the Sr. Principal Microbiologist. Under the direction of the Sr. Principal Microbiologist, this position functions autonomously to help implement programs within a given functional area(s) of the Food Protection and RQFS group. They will mainly assist with carrying out microbiological validation studies for lethality treatments in consumer and processing applications. They will support management in the implementation of relevant food safety processes and procedures and the daily execution of related activities and will participate on cross functional teams to ensure effective implementation of various quality, food safety (microbiology) and innovation initiatives and processes. The position will own the execution of technical objectives related to assigned responsibilities. This position must also innovate for continuous improvement in the food safety systems.

Job Description

Position Responsibilities:

* Design experiments, challenge studies, shelf-life studies and in plant trials for micriobiological control, reduction, and/or elimination
* Set-up and execute microbiological validation studies at the plant to determine lethality in heat treatments involved in large-scale process applications (i.e. frying, blanching etc.).
* Collects, records, maintan, interpret and communicate validation data.
* Generates and maintains validation study reports.
* Coordinates validation, shelf-life or challenge studies from 3rd party laboratories.
* Research microbiological risk mitigation strategies and approaches.
* Manages environmental monitoring programs, microbiological sampling procedures and other key components of the overall microbiological food safety system.
* Assist facilities in environmental monitoring program validation and review.
* Identifying gaps in processes and facilities and developing plans to address the gaps including internal and external audit support and corrective actions plans.
* Aid in monitoring, tracking and trending micrbiological metrics to determine the health of the food safety systems.
* Conduct portfolio risk assessments and recommend risk mitigation strategies and approaches.
* Work with plants, and other organizations within Lamb Weston on microbiologically sensitive products.
* Conducts portfolio risk assessments and recommend risk mitigation strategies and approaches.

* Supports and assists with other tasks as assigned that help in overall continuous improvement in food safety, innovation and quality.
* Creates and manages microbiological specifications for ingredients and finished products.
* Support Supplier Compliance in areas of microbiology
* Aid Sr. Principal Microbiologist on specialized projects on an as-needed basis that support and help advance priority tasks in microbiological food safety.

Position Requirements:

* B.S. in Microbiology, 10-12 yrs of experience. M.S with 5 yrs experience is strongly preferred.
* Excellent understanding of heat-treatment as a microbiological lethality (kill) step (i.e. thermal processes) and critical factors.
* Superb knowledge of food manufacturing processes and how they relate to food safety.
* Excellent knowledge in using a full range of statistical and analytical tools and fundamentals applied to validation studies and general research.
* Proficient grasp of FSMA and all criteria related to food microbiological safety and risk prevention.
* Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).
* Excellent design of experiment skills with good report writing skills.
* Understanding of ICMSF publications.
* Ability to travel up to 30% of the time.

Physical Requirements:

Incumbent must have the ability to effectively perform all of the following physical demands without assistance
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