Lead Microbiologist

Gsk; Hertford Heath; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Annual bonus

On-the-job training

Professional development support

Healthcare programmes

Employee recognition

Job summary

GSK Ware site in Hertfordshire is seeking a Lead Microbiologist to perform microbial analyses and support environmental monitoring to ensure compliant products. You will lead testing, batch release, and provide expert analytical services while mentoring the microbiology team.

The role requires strong GMP experience, leadership skills, and a focus on continuous improvement. On-site work at Ware with opportunities for development within a global biopharma network.

Qualifications

• Experience in GMP/quality environments and microbiology testing.
• Ability to lead batch/job approval and provide expert analytical services.
• Experience with environmental and raw material testing is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and check data according to regulatory requirements.
• Verify results meet predefined acceptance criteria.
• Lead batch/job approval process and support CI initiatives.
• Oversee equipment and 5S standards as an expert user.
• Train new starters and microbiologists in areas of expertise.
• Ensure laboratory safety for self and team.
• Carry out testing using aseptic techniques.

Skills

Data Integrity

Detail-Oriented

Digital Fluency

GxP Regulations

Lean Management

Problem Solving

Quality Assurance

Quality Control

Risk Awareness

Testing Operations

Tools

Sapphire

LIFT

M-ERP

Job description

Lead Microbiologist

Locations: UK - Hertfordshire - Ware

Country: United Kingdom

Country code: GB

Work arrangement: On-Site

Time type: Full time

Posting start date (Workday): 2026-09-29

Posting end date (Workday): 2026-10-15

Requisition ID: 448382

Description: The Quality Assurance Department at the GSK Ware Pharma Supply Chain site is responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the manufacture of products is performed in a controlled manner and meets commitments to international regulatory bodies, as well as the requirements of current Good Manufacturing Practice.

The Microbiology Laboratory team works as part of the Site Value Streams to ensure that manufactured products are compliant and fit for purpose. This includes product analysis, laboratory investigations, and trend analysis of microbiological results.

Job Purpose: The purpose of the role is to perform analysis/collection of samples and support process or environmental monitoring (using a range of microbial/chemical techniques). The Lead Microbiologist is skilled / proficient in Microbiological techniques (set up and use). You will support the Laboratory Team Manager by providing expert laboratory analytical services for the site to ensure delivery of compliant products to our customers. This includes trouble-shoot and identify remedial actions in line with procedure and working on specific initiatives aligned to Laboratory strategy. You will work to assist the Laboratory Team Manager in overseeing the execution of batch/job testing and release (for testing groups), as well as providing guidance and support to the wider Microbiology team.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and check data accurately according to company, customer and regulatory requirements.
• Verify the quality and accuracy of results for material to meet pre-defined acceptance criteria.
• Take a lead role in the batch/job approval process.
• Managing site Continuous Improvement (CI) and improvement initiatives.
• Responsible for assigned items of Laboratory equipment and instrumentation or 5S standards (as an expert user, resolving issues and promoting best practice).
• Take a lead role in provision of training for New Starters, and for Microbiologists in areas of expertise.
• Responsible for the safety of self and others within the Laboratory.
• Carry out testing using appropriate aseptic techniques.

About You

This role would suit a motivated person who has strong experience of working in a GMP (Quality) environment. Strong people skills and a proven ability to work in a team (eg; flexible approach, good communication, planning and organizational skills) as well as good report writing skills. You should have knowledge/experience of microbiology laboratory testing techniques, ideally within a GMP environment (eg; knowledge of the microbiological requirements for non-sterile pharmaceutical manufacture). An excellent understanding and appreciation of the testing of raw materials and final product, as well as environmental and water testing is important. You will also have a strong continuous improvement mindset and a willingness to work towards standardised and lean working practices.

About Ware Manufacturing Site

We are co-located with our R&D colleagues and recently opened a new, state-of-the-art oral solid dose facility at Ware. At this location our scientists, technicians and engineers (from R&D and Global Supply Chain – GSC) work collaboratively together (using the latest technologies) to rapidly knowledge transfer and deliver GSK’s most innovative, medicines faster and more efficiently. On site we produce over 60 million respiratory inhalers each year with growing demand in future years. The site also processes Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) for use both on site and other manufacturing sites in our network.

CLOSING DATE for applications

Wednesday 14 th of October May 2026 (COB).

Basic Qualifications

• Relevant qualifications and / or experience (laboratory / microbiological testing and experience of managing and planning day to day activities for a team)
• Good understanding of key microbiological methodologies
• Knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and understanding of its impact on own role (and the implications of not following cGMP)

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to perform microbial identification utilising Gram staining, biochemical techniques and full speciation using MALDI-TOF
• Working with aseptic technique, and experience with laboratory investigations, CAPA, root-cause analysis tools and problem solving
• Knowledgeable in the use of laboratory software, such as Sapphire/ LIFT and M-ERP
• Document authoring ability / experience

Benefits

• Competitive base Salary
• Annual bonus based on company performance
• Opportunities to partake in on-the-job training courses
• Opportunities for support for professional development and chartership (accreditations and professional bodies)
• Access to healthcare and wellbeing programmes
• Employee recognition programmes

If you would like to learn more about our company wide benefits and life at GSK we would suggest looking at our webpage Life at GSK | GSK.

Skills

Data Integrity, Detail-Oriented, Digital Fluency, GxP Regulations, Lean Management, Problem Solving, Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), Risk Awareness, Testing Operations

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale.

People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us at [e-mail] where you can also request a call.

Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels. However, we have created a Recruitment FAQ guide. Click the link where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive