Senior Quality Executive

Mondelez; Pune District; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Mondelez Induri (near Pune) seeks a Senior Executive - Quality (Microbiology) to lead microbiological testing and food safety at the manufacturing site. You will ensure safety across raw materials, in-process samples, finished products and the environment through robust testing and compliance with global standards.

The ideal candidate has deep food microbiology expertise, pathogen testing, EMP, and regulatory compliance, with the ability to make critical release decisions based on analysis.

Qualifications

• M.Sc. in Microbiology required.
• Minimum 5 years in a microbiology lab within Food/FMCG/Dairy sectors.
• Strong expertise in pathogen testing and EMP/ Pem.
• Experience with PCR-based testing and lab equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead microbiological testing of materials, in-process and finished products.
• Review results and make data-driven release or hold decisions.
• Investigate OOS and CAPA investigations with root cause analysis.
• Develop and sustain EMP/PEM and hygienic zoning practices.
• Support audits and maintain regulatory documentation.

Skills

Pathogen testing

Environmental monitoring

Laboratory operations

Regulatory compliance

Food microbiology

Education

M.Sc. in Microbiology

Tools

PCR systems

Autoclaves

Incubators

Milli-Q systems

Job description

Senior Executive Quality (Microbiology)

Location: Induri, Pune

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Executive - Quality (Microbiology) to lead microbiological testing and food safety activities at our manufacturing facility in Induri. This role is responsible for ensuring the microbiological safety of raw materials, in-process samples, finished products, and the manufacturing environment through robust testing, environmental monitoring, and compliance with global food safety standards.

The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in food microbiology, pathogen testing, environmental monitoring, laboratory operations, and regulatory compliance, along with the ability to make critical product release decisions based on microbiological analysis.

Key Responsibilities

Microbiological Testing & Laboratory Operations

• Perform microbiological analysis of raw materials, in-process samples, finished products, water, and environmental samples in accordance with approved laboratory methods and standard operating procedures.
• Conduct routine and pathogen-specific testing, including Salmonella, E. coli, Coliforms, Aerobic Plate Count (APC), Yeast & Mold, and Staphylococcus aureus.
• Perform advanced microbiological techniques, including PCR-based pathogen detection, and safely handle Class II pathogen cultures in accordance with laboratory biosafety requirements.
• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and ensure proper calibration of laboratory equipment such as PCR systems, autoclaves, incubators, Milli-Q systems, and other microbiology laboratory instruments.

Product Quality & Food Safety

• Review, interpret, and evaluate microbiological test results and make timely, data-driven decisions regarding product acceptance, batch release, or product hold.
• Investigate out-of-specification (OOS) results, contamination incidents, and microbiological deviations, and support root cause analysis and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Ensure all microbiological testing is completed accurately and within defined turnaround timelines to support manufacturing operations.

Environmental Monitoring & Hygiene

• Develop, implement, and sustain the Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP/PEM) and hygienic zoning practices across the manufacturing facility.
• Monitor environmental hygiene through routine sampling and trend analysis to proactively identify contamination risks.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen food safety and microbiological control programs.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with FSSC 22000, FSSAI regulations, ISO standards, GMP, HACCP, and Mondelez Global Quality and Food Safety policies.
• Maintain laboratory documentation, records, and traceability in accordance with regulatory and internal quality management requirements.
• Participate in internal, external, customer, and regulatory audits and provide microbiological expertise during inspections.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead day-to-day microbiology laboratory operations, ensuring timely execution of testing activities and adherence to quality standards.
• Support proficiency testing, competency assessments, and continuous capability development within the laboratory team.
• Drive improvements in laboratory efficiency, testing accuracy, and microbiological risk management.

Qualifications

• M.Sc. in Microbiology (Mandatory)
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a microbiology laboratory within the Food, FMCG, Dairy, Beverage, or Food Processing industry.

Preferred Experience

• Strong hands-on experience in food microbiology and pathogen testing.
• Experience handling PCR-based testing and microbiological laboratory equipment.
• Sound understanding of environmental monitoring programs (EMP/PEM) and hygienic zoning.
• Knowledge of FSSC 22000, FSSAI, ISO 22000, GMP, HACCP, and food safety regulations.
• Ability to independently interpret microbiological results and make critical product quality decisions.
• Experience supporting audits, compliance activities, and laboratory documentation.