Senior Microbiology Team Lead

Viatris; Galway; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension

Bonus scheme

Career progression

Work-life balance

Diversity & Inclusion

Job summary

Viatris in Galway, Ireland is seeking a Senior Microbiology Team Lead to oversee laboratory operations, environmental monitoring, and aseptic processing support, ensuring compliance with GMP/GLP and quality standards.

You will mentor the microbiology team, manage resources, and drive continuous improvement while coordinating method validation and equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) and supporting audits.

Qualifications

• Degree in Microbiology or related science field.
• Experience in GMP microbiology labs, sterile manufacturing, or related environments.
• Proven supervisory experience in a regulated industry.

Responsibilities

• Lead microbiology investigations including environmental monitoring, sterility failures, bioburden and contamination events.
• Drive root cause analysis, CAPAs and effectiveness checks for deviations and quality issues.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, GLP, Data Integrity and regulatory standards across laboratory activities.
• Oversee validation and lifecycle management of microbiological methods and equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ).
• Review and approve microbiology documentation, test results and investigation reports.
• Coach and mentor microbiology team members; manage resource planning and prioritisation.
• Support audits and inspections and drive continuous improvement within the lab.

Skills

GMP compliance

Environmental monitoring

Team leadership

Contamination control

Method validation

Data integrity

Education

Degree in Microbiology or related field

Tools

IQ/OQ/PQ qualification process

Job description

Mylan Teoranta Viatris is a global healthcare company uniquely positioned to bridge the traditional divide between generics and brands, combining the best of both to more holistically address healthcare needs globally. With a mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, we provide access at scale, currently supplying high-quality medicines to approximately 1 billion patients around the world annually and touching all of life's moments, from birth to the end of life, acute conditions to chronic diseases. We have been included on number of award lists that demonstrate the impact we are making. Our global portfolio includes best-in-class, iconic brand-name products as well as global key brands; generics, including branded and complex generics; and other offerings across a wide range of therapeutic areas. We are committed to helping create healthier communities worldwide through education, outreach and better access to treatment. For those driven to live their lives with purpose, Viatris helps employees realise their full potential by creating a collaborative culture that fosters courage and resilience. Viatris is more than just a place to work. This is a place to make a difference in the world.

The Role & What You Will Be Doing

The Senior Microbiology Team Lead is responsible for leading and coordinating microbiology laboratory operations, with primary focus on microbiological investigations, microbial method validation/verification, qualification of new laboratory equipment, contamination control, and support of sterile manufacturing operations. The role ensures all microbiological activities are performed in compliance with current GMP, GLP, regulatory expectations, and company quality standards while driving continuous improvement, technical excellence, and operational efficiency within the microbiology function. Every day, we rise to the challenge to make a difference and here’s how the Senior Microbiology Team Lead role will make an impact:

• Lead microbiology investigations including environmental monitoring, sterility failures, bioburden, endotoxin, and contamination events.
• Drive root cause analysis, risk assessments, CAPAs, and effectiveness checks for microbiological deviations and quality issues.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, GLP, Data Integrity, and regulatory standards across all laboratory activities.
• Oversee validation and lifecycle management of microbiological methods, equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), and method transfers.
• Review and approve microbiology documentation, including test results, environmental monitoring data, and investigation reports.
• Support and continuously improve the Environmental Monitoring (EM) program for manufacturing and aseptic areas.
• Lead and maintain microbiology quality systems, including SOPs, change controls, deviations, and trend reporting.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and training to microbiology team members.
• Manage laboratory operations, including resource planning and prioritisation, to meet business needs.
• Support audits and inspections, representing the microbiology function and ensuring timely follow-up actions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and operational excellence within the laboratory.
• Act as deputy to the Microbiology Laboratory Manager when required.

About Your Skills & Experience

For this role, we’re looking for a candidate who has an effective combination of the following qualifications, skills and experiences:

• Degree in Microbiology, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, or related scientific discipline.
• Significant experience within a GMP microbiology laboratory environment, preferably supporting sterile manufacturing, biologics, or aseptic processing operations.
• Experience in a supervisory, team lead, or people management role within a regulated environment
• Significant experience within a GMP pharmaceutical, sterile manufacturing, biologics, or medical device microbiology laboratory.
• Strong experience in microbiological investigations, contamination control, environmental monitoring, and aseptic processing support.
• Experience in microbial method validation/verification and laboratory equipment qualification.
• Strong knowledge of EU GMP Annex 1, FDA Guidance for Aseptic Processing, USP/EP microbiological requirements, and Data Integrity expectations.
• Experience leading teams and coordinating laboratory operations in a regulated environment.
• Knowledge of Annex I and US and EMA GMP regulations.
• Have working knowledge of isolator technology.
• Have working knowledge of MODA.
• Experience with sterile injectable products, aseptic manufacturing processes and contamination control strategies.

At Viatris, we are dedicated to building a truly diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t fully align with every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Benefits at Viatris

• Some of our benefits include the following on top of a competitive salary:
• Excellent career progression opportunities
• Work-life balance initiatives
• Bonus scheme
• Health insurance
• Pension
• Diversity & Inclusion at Viatris

Diversity & Inclusion at Viatris

At Viatris, diversity and inclusion are essential to our mission. The diversity we foster in all aspects of our business can be one of our greatest strengths in redefining healthcare not as it is, but as it should be. If you would like to know more about what diversity, equity and inclusion means to us, please visit https://www.viatris.com/en/Careers/Diversity-and-Inclusion

Sustainability at Viatris

Corporate social responsibility is fundamental to the Viatris mission. We work to advance responsible and sustainable operations and leverage our collective expertise to empower people to live healthier at every stage of life, recognizing that our actions affect the stakeholders and communities we serve. To learn more about our efforts, please visit https://www.viatris.com/en/about-us/corporate-responsibility

At Viatris, we offer competitive salaries, benefits and an inclusive environment where you can use your experiences, perspectives and skills to help make an impact on the lives of others.

Viatris is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Viatris is a global healthcare company formed in 2020 through the combination of Mylan and Upjohn, a legacy division of Pfizer. By integrating the strengths of these two companies, including our global workforce, we aim to deliver increased access to affordable, quality medicines for patients worldwide, regardless of geography or circumstance. We believe in healthcare as it should be – empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life. Because of our unwavering belief that better access leads to better health, we leverage our best-in-class manufacturing and scientific expertise and proven commercial capabilities to bring quality medicines to patients when and where they need them.