Food Microbiologist

Apex Systems; Richmond, Northern (VA, KY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K with company match

ESPP

HSA

EAP with counseling

Discount programs

Job summary

Everforth Apex Systems is seeking a Food Microbiologist in Richmond, VA to join a regulated public health laboratory. This hands-on role focuses on testing food and environmental samples, supporting outbreak response, and ensuring compliance with ISO 17025 standards and safety protocols.

You will collaborate with a team of scientists in a fast-paced setting, apply MALDI and PCR-based methods, document results accurately, and contribute to QA/QC, surveillance, and emergency testing programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Medical Technology, Life Sciences, or related field.
• 2–5 years of hands-on lab experience in food or environmental microbiology.
• Experience with MALDI, PCR-based testing, and standard plating/ID.
• Ability to work in a state/public health lab with strong safety and reliability.

Responsibilities

• Perform microbiological testing on food and environmental samples.
• Process and analyze samples per chain-of-custody and regs.
• Identify microorganisms related to safety, surveillance, and outbreaks.
• Document results and maintain QA/QC under ISO 17025.
• Collaborate with scientists in a fast-paced public health lab.
• Support emergency response and routine surveillance testing.
• Validate new methods and monitor QA/QC processes.

Skills

MALDI

PCR-based testing

Microbiology plating

Lab safety practices

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology or related field

Tools

MALDI

PCR-based testing

Laboratory instrumentation troubleshooting

Job description

Food Microbiologist

Location: Richmond, Virginia (Onsite)

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Microbiologist to support a laboratory focused on food safety, environmental testing, and outbreak response. This is a hands-on laboratory position ideal for microbiologists comfortable working in a regulated, high-impact lab environment. The role involves supporting food surveillance, environmental sample analysis, and outbreak/recall testing to help stabilize the team and protect public health.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform microbiological testing on food and environmental samples.
• Process and analyze samples in accordance with chain-of-custody and regulatory requirements.
• Identify microorganisms related to food safety, surveillance, and outbreak investigations.
• Support routine testing as well as high-priority public health response work.
• Document results accurately and follow all laboratory safety and compliance standards.
• Collaborate with a team of scientists in a fast-paced public health lab setting.
• Perform emergency response and routine surveillance testing for the isolation, characterization, and subtyping of foodborne pathogens.
• Validate and verify new methods, and monitor QA/QC procedures in support of ISO 17025 standards.

Required Qualifications

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Medical Technology, Life Sciences, or a related discipline is required.
• Experience: Candidates must have 2-5 years of hands-on laboratory experience in food microbiology and/or environmental microbiology. Experience with food samples, environmental samples, or evidentiary samples is necessary. Clinical lab experience is acceptable only if paired with environmental or food exposure.
• Technical Skills: Required skills include experience with MALDI, PCR-based testing, and standard microbiology plating and organism identification. Knowledge of laboratory safety practices and the ability to operate and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation are essential.
• Compliance and Soft Skills: Candidates must be comfortable in a state/public health lab environment with strong adherence to lab safety, dress code, and other professional standards. Reliability, punctuality, and the ability to communicate effectively are required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a biosafety level three (BSL-3) environment.
• Experience with toxin detection.
• Experience working in an ISO 17025 accredited quality environment.

Everforth Apex Benefits Overview

• Everforth Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection.
• We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure.
• Everforth Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts.
• In terms of professional development, Everforth Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA.
• Everforth Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Everforth Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Everforth Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.

Accommodation Information

If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in an interview with a virtual recruiter or to use our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at [e-mail] or 804-523-8228. Please note that this contact information is strictly to be used for medical ADA accommodations and that no other inquiries will be answered.

Transparency in Coverage

UnitedHealthcare creates and publishes the Transparency in Coverage Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Everforth Apex Systems.