Corporate Microbiologist

Meijer Inc.; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

Scheduling flexibility

Paid parental leave

Paid education assistance

Team member discount

Development programs for advancement

Job summary

Meijer Inc. is seeking a senior microbiology leader to provide scientific direction for food safety and quality across Meijer Manufacturing facilities.

The role develops, validates, and standardizes microbiological programs, partners with Operations, Product Development, Regulatory Compliance, and external labs to ensure regulatory compliance and brand protection. The incumbent will lead investigations, risk assessments, data interpretation, and vendor coordination while supporting FSMA

Qualifications

• Ph.D or M.S. in Microbiology, Food Safety, or related fields
• 8+ years of microbiology experience in Food/Beverage facilities
• Experience in multi-site organizations preferred
• Strong working knowledge of FSMA, HACCP, environmental monitoring programs, and pathogen control
• Expertise in foodborne pathogens (e.g. Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli)
• Proficiency in microbiological testing methods (culture-based, OCR, rapid methods)
• Strong data interpretation and statistical trend analysis capabilities
• Risk assessment and validation expertise
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Travel 25-40%
• PCQI and HACCP Certification preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead microbiology programs to ensure product safety and quality
• Develop/standardize corporate microbiological standards and procedures
• Establish enterprise environmental monitoring programs and drive corrective actions
• Oversee trend analysis and risk-based decision making
• Conduct microbial risk assessments for ingredients, processes, and finished products
• Standardize test methods and validation protocols across facilities
• Partner with Operations, Regulatory, and labs to implement best practices
• Train teams on sampling and testing, support regulatory responses

Skills

PhD/MS in Microbiology

8+ years microbiology experience

FSMA knowledge

HACCP knowledge

Environmental Monitoring

Pathogen expertise (Salmonella, Lister

Education

PhD or MS in Microbiology or Food Safety

Tools

Microbiological testing methods

Job description

As a family company, we serve people and communities. When you work at Meijer, you’re provided with career and community opportunities centered around leadership, personal growth and development. Consider joining our family – take care of your career and your community!

Meijer Rewards

• Weekly pay

• Scheduling flexibility

• Paid parental leave

• Paid education assistance

• Team member discount

• Development programs for advancement and career growth

Please review the job profile below and apply today!

Reporting to Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance, this position provides scientific leadership in microbiology as relates to food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. This position will support all Meijer Manufacturing facilities. This role is responsible for developing, standardizing, and validating microbiological programs to ensure product safety and quality, regulatory compliance, and brand protection. This position partners cross functionally with Operations, Product Development, Regulatory Compliance, Supply Chain, Food Safety, and external laboratories to implement best in class sampling and testing procedures.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Partner with site Quality Managers and Operations Leaders to ensure each site food safety program is current, effective, and managed at the site level.
• Develop and maintain corporate microbiological standards, policies, and procedures.
• Establish enterprise-wide environmental monitoring programs (EMP) aligned with regulatory expectations and industry best practices.
  • Lead root cause investigations and troubleshooting for presumptive positive pathogen findings and recommend corrective actions.
  • Oversee trend analysis of microbiological data and drive risk based decision making.
• Lead microbial risk assessments for ingredients, processes, and finished products.
• Standardize test methods, specifications, and validation protocols across all facilities.
• Serve as subject matter expert (SME) for microbiological compliance under applicable regulations (FDA, USDA, as applicable).
• Support FSMA preventive controls validation and verification activities.
• Assist with regulatory responses related to spoilage or microbial activity.
• Provide technical oversight to internal and third party laboratories.
• Evaluate and approve laboratory methods, validation studies, and rapid testing techniques.
• Review and interpret routine microbial sampling from manufacturing sites.
• Lead microbiological investigations where applicable during food safety incidents or recalls.
• Provide scientific guidance during product disposition decisions when necessary.
• Identify emerging microbiological risks and industry trends.
• Implement new technologies and methods to enhance detection and prevention.
• Train manufacturing team members on microbiological related best practices and risk mitigation (sampling and testing).
• Partner with site Quality Managers in troubleshooting microbial issues.

What You Bring with You (Qualifications):

· Ph.D or M.S. degree in Microbiology, Food Safety, or related fields

· Experience - functional/industry/commercial knowledge:

· 8+ years of relevant microbiology experience in the Food/Beverage manufacturing facilities

· Experience in multi-site organizations preferred.

· Strong working knowledge of FSMA, HACCP, environmental monitoring programs, and pathogen control.

· Expertise in foodborne pathogens (e.g. Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, E.coli).

· Proficiency in microbiological testing methods (culture- based, OCR, rapids methods).

· Strong data interpretation and statistical trend analysis capabilities.

· Risk assessment and validation expertise

· Strong communication skills

· Ability to collaborate and communicate with cross-functional stakeholders

· Preferred experience in ready to eat foods (RTE) and high risk categories.

· PCQI and HACCP Certification preferred.

· Travel 25-40%