Lead Microbiologist

Convatec; Rhymney; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working (1–2 days/week)

Job summary

Convatec is seeking a Lead Microbiologist to act as Site Microbiology Expert for Deeside and Rhymney sites, providing technical leadership for microbiology and sterilisation activities in a regulated manufacturing environment.

You will lead a small laboratory team and ensure compliance with regulatory, quality, and procedural requirements, overseeing sterilisation validation for terminally sterilised products.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in microbiology within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Practical experience working within a Quality Management System (QMS) in a complex and regulated manufacturing environment
• Understanding of GMP requirements within a regulated environment
• Exposure to data management and interpretation of data sets
• Excellent written communication skills, with experience authoring technical reports and quality documentation
• Ability to lead initiatives that improve team performance and processes
• Knowledge of ISO standards relevant to microbiology and regulatory requirements
• Coaching and mentoring of laboratory technicians

Responsibilities

• Ensure facilities, processes, personnel, materials and products are microbiologically tested in line with cGMP and procedural requirements
• Provide microbiological support to Operations
• Manage out-of-specification (OOS), facilitate laboratory investigation reports and involve the laboratory manager where applicable
• Collect and trend data, react to trends and report findings to manager
• Maintain laboratory metrics
• Ensure compliance is maintained as directed by Notified Bodies regulations
• Maintain compliance with GMP and EHS requirements
• Perform environmental monitoring and routine product monitoring; bioburden, VDmax25
• Seek and deliver continuous improvement opportunities across the site
• Perform method validations
• Adhere to legal, corporate and site legislation
• Maintain validation of Microbiology test methods
• Ensure maintenance of the operational equipment within the lab
• Maintain operational equipment within a validated state

Skills

Microbiology expertise

QMS experience

GMP knowledge

Data analysis

Technical reporting

Team leadership

ISO standards

Coaching/mentoring

Education

Degree in Microbiology

Job description

The Lead Microbiologist acts as the Site Microbiology Expert for the Deeside and Rhymney sites, providing technical leadership for microbiology and sterilisation activities. The role is responsible for leading a small laboratory team, ensuring compliance with regulatory, quality, and procedural requirements, and overseeing sterilisation validation test methods for terminally sterilised products manufactured at the Deeside site. The position supports continuous improvement, maintains compliance within controlled environments, and champions ConvaTec's mission, values, and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure facilities, processes, personnel, materials and products are microbiologically tested in line with cGMP and procedural requirements
• Provide microbiological support to Operations
• Manage out-of-specification (OOS), facilitate laboratory investigation reports and involve the laboratory manager where applicable.
• Collect and trend data, react to trends and report findings to manager
• Maintain laboratory metrics
• Ensure compliance is maintained as directed by Notified Bodies regulations
• Maintain compliance with GMP and EHS requirements and uphold these standards.
• Perform environmental monitoring and routine product monitoring; bioburden, VDmax25
• Seek and deliver continuous improvement opportunities across the site
• Perform method validations
• Adhere to legal, corporate and site legislation
• Maintain validation of Microbiology test methods
• Ensure maintenance of the operational equipment within the lab.
• Maintain operational equipment within a validated state

Skills & Experience

• Demonstrated experience in microbiology within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Practical experience working within a Quality Management System (QMS) in a complex and regulated manufacturing environment
• Understanding of GMP requirements within a regulated environment.
• Exposure to data management and interpretation of data sets.
• Excellent written communication skills, with experience authoring technical reports and quality documentation (specification and procedural based).
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, embracing change and proactively leading initiatives that improve team performance, ways of working, and the overall working environments.
• Knowledge of relevant ISO standards (e.g., ISO 11737, ISO 11135, ISO 11135, ISO 17665), pharmacopoeia references, and FDA regulations.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement and quality assurance methods and techniques.
• Coaching and mentoring of laboratory technicians.

Qualifications/Education

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent, within a Microbiological discipline.

Travel Requirements

• Position involves occasional travel to our Rhymney site.

Working Conditions

• Full-time on-site at our Deeside site.
• Opportunity for hybrid working (up to 1–2 days per week from home) for the right candidate.
• site

Equal opportunities

Convatec provides equal employment opportunities for all current employees and applicants for employment. This policy means that no one will be discriminated against because of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, nationality, citizenship, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, genetic predisposing characteristics or any other basis prohibited by law.

About Convatec

Pioneering trusted medical solutions to improve the lives we touch

Convatec is a global medical products and technologies company, focused on solutions for the management of chronic conditions, with leading positions in Advanced Wound Care, Ostomy Care, Continence Care, and Infusion Care. With over 10,000 colleagues, we provide products and services in around 90 countries, united by a promise to be forever caring. Our solutions provide a range of benefits, from infection prevention, treatment for hard to heal wounds, at-risk skin and ulcerated tissue to supporting debilitating conditions, improved patient outcomes and reduced care costs. Convatec's revenues in 2025 were over $2 billion. The company is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index (LSE:CTEC). To learn more please visit: http://www.convatecgroup.com.