Microbiology Lab Manager

Position Summary

The Microbiology Lab Manager is responsible for leading the facility’s microbiological testing, environmental monitoring, and pathogen control programs to ensure product safety and regulatory compliance.

This role is critical in protecting Ready-to-Eat (RTE) products by proactively identifying and controlling biological risks , including pathogens such as Listeria spp., Salmonella, and other environmental contaminants .

This role serves as the technical expert on biological contamination risk , providing actionable insights to prevent contamination events and strengthen sanitation and zoning effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) Ownership

Design and manage EMP across: Zones 1–4

Determine: Sampling locations

Frequency

Expansion strategies after positives

Focus on: Listeria spp.

Indicator organisms

Microbiological Testing & Lab Operations

Oversee: Product testing

Environmental swabbing

Water testing

Ensure: Lab accuracy and reliability

Equipment calibration and validation

Maintain proper documentation and compliance

Pathogen Detection & Control Strategy

Identify: Harborage points

Recurring contamination areas

Provide recommendations to: Sanitation

FSQ

Operations

Data Analysis & Risk Identification

Analyze micro data trends

Identify: Hotspots

Recurring risks

Provide actionable insights—not just reports

Response to Environmental Positives

Lead structured response to: Listeria positives

Ensure: Root cause analysis

Deep cleaning and validation

Expanded sampling

Sanitation Validation Support

Validate effectiveness through: Swab data

ATP trends

Identify weaknesses in sanitation execution

Cross-Functional Leadership

Partner with: FSQ RTE Manager → contamination control

FSQ Raw Manager → upstream risk

Operations → implementation of fixes

Key Performance Metrics

Environmental positive rate (e.g., Listeria)

Repeat positives / harborage events

Product microbiological compliance

Time to resolution for positives

EMP compliance rate

Audit performance (micro-related findings)

Experience

5–10+ years in: Food manufacturing microbiology or QA

Strong experience with: RTE food environments (highly preferred)

USDA-regulated facilities

Environmental monitoring programs

Technical Skills

Expertise in: Listeria control strategies

Environmental sampling methods

Pathogen testing protocols

Familiarity with: ATP systems

Rapid micro testing technologies

Understanding of: Hygienic design principles

Sanitation chemistry

Leadership Competencies

Strong analytical and problem-solving ability

Ability to influence across functions (Ops, Sanitation, QA)

Detail-oriented with strong data discipline

High accountability and urgency in risk management

Critical Success Factors

This role will be successful if the individual can:

Identify and eliminate: Hidden contamination sources (especially drains, niches, and traffic flow risks)

Transform the plant from: Reactive testing → proactive risk prevention

Build: A highly effective, data-driven environmental monitoring system

Strengthen: Sanitation validation and zoning discipline

Why This Role Matters

This role is the facility’s primary defense against biological contamination risk

In this environment (RTE + current zoning/sanitation gaps), this position is:

Mission-critical for regulatory compliance

Essential for preventing contamination events

A key partner in stabilizing food safety performance

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to be 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 team member is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel and talk or hear. The team member is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet/slippery floors. However, the vast amount of work is conducted in a climate-controlled building. Limited travel may be required.

Bachelor’s degree in: Microbiology, Food Science, Biology, or related field

Advanced degree (preferred)

The salary range for this role is $90,000- $110,000 (Annually). Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides…