Microbiologist

Apex Systems; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Everforth Apex in Richmond, VA is seeking an experienced Microbiologist to support a laboratory focused on food safety, environmental testing, and outbreak response. This hands-on role requires working in a regulated, high-impact lab environment, performing surveillance and testing to protect public health.

You will analyze food and environmental samples, ensure chain-of-custody and regulatory compliance, and collaborate with a team of scientists in a fast-paced public health setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Medical Technology, Life Sciences, or related.
• 2–5 years of hands-on lab experience in food microbiology and/or environmental microbiology.
• Experience with MALDI, PCR-based testing, and standard microbiology plating and organism identification.
• Comfort working in a state/public health lab with strong safety and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform microbiological testing on food and environmental samples.
• Process and analyze samples 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 safety and ISO 17025 QA/QC standards.
• Collaborate with a team of scientists in a fast-paced public health lab.
• Perform emergency response and routine surveillance testing for characterization of pathogens.
• Validate and verify new methods, monitor QA/QC procedures.

Skills

MALDI

PCR testing

Plating

Lab safety

Education

Bachelor's degree in Microbiology

Job description

Job #: 3047505

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.

Company Culture and Benefits

Everforth Apex is a world‑class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Everforth Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRateds Best of Staffing® in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work® in the United Kingdom and Mexico.

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. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our ‘Welcome Packet’ as well, which an Everforth Apex team member can provide.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

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 [email protected] or 804-523-8228.