Microbiologist

Job Details

Shifts: Day

Location: Anaheim, CA

Hourly : $27.00 - $31.00 DOE

**Incumbent eligible for a $500 signing bonus payable after 6 months of continuous service **

Medical benefits eligible first of the month following 28 days of employment. All other benefits eligible first of the month following 90 days of employment.

Benefits:

401(k) with generous Company match

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Employee Referral Program

Vision insurance

Summary :

The Microbiologist is responsible for monitoring and qualitative/quantitative testing of process and product attributes to ensure food safety and food quality. Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and all applicable standards such as FSSC 22000, ISO 9001:2015, Third party audits, Kosher, GMO, Gluten Free, and Organic requirements. Interpretation of testing results to release product and ingredients that have met specifications. Process documentation for non-conforming product and communicate information to plant management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Follow all safety procedures and work as safe as possible at all times.
• Maintain Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s).
• Maintain Good Laboratory Practices (GLP’s).

• Daily operation of equipment which includes Autoclave, Air Sampler, and all other related equipment.
• Responsible for microbiological testing/documentation of finished product, water, swabs, ingredient and or other material as needed.
• Interpret the results and retest/report abnormalities as needed; Generate standard report of results.
• Standardizes equipment prior to use, ensures reagents and other materials are available.
• Performs analysis on products to ensure compliance to customer and regulatory agency guidelines.
• Ensure that all products not meeting microbiological specification is communicated to Quality Assurance Manager for further review.
• Ensure that all-pertinent analytical results are documented on a timely basis, immediately informs supervision of any deviations.
• Review, creates, maintains, files, and scan logs, charts, finished goods/ingredients/packaging microbiological results and other reports.
• Adheres to laboratory operations procedures, maintains lab equipment and supplies.
• Maintain lab equipment and order supplies.
• Perform work processes with the use of chemicals. Evaluate the physical properties of ingredients and products.
• Train Analytical Technician and QA Lead, on plating, reading, documenting, filing, and scanning microbiological sampling and results.
• Provide management with microbiological expertise as needed.
• Create Certificate of Analysis (COA) and submit microbiological results to customers.
• Other duties as assigned at discretion of management.
• General
  • Maintain a positive work atmosphere and interaction with customers, co-workers, and management.

  • Regular and punctual attendance.

• Work scheduled shift, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as required.
• To perform this job successfully, must be able to perform each fundamental task listed above satisfactorily.

Competencies :

• Must be accurate and precise in testing procedures.
• Must possess strong oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to read, write and interpret documents such as procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers and employees of the organization.
• Must be able to speak, write, and understand English fluently.
• Must have the ability to apply understanding to carry out detailed and involved written or oral instructions.
• Must have the ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, averages, and ratios.
• Must have the ability to prioritize and organize.
• Must demonstrate superb decision-making ability to determine best course of action in assessing test results.
• Must possess strong computer skills.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology Biology, or Food Science, required.
• Two years of laboratory with microbiology and chemistry experience required.

• Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• At least 1 year in a food or beverage production environment preferred.
• Experienced with MS Office (Word and Excel) required.

Language Skills : English is required. Spanish is a plus.

Supervisory Responsibilities : None.

Amount of Travel Involved : None.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch or squat. The employee must regularly lift, pull and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift, pull and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift, pull and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may be exposed to loud noises from production equipment. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold and extreme heat.