Microbiology Lab Lead - Food Safety & QA

Certified Group; Melville (NY); Vor Ort; USD 32.000 - 36.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Certified Group in Melville, NY is seeking a Lab Lead to coordinate daily microbiology testing operations for food products, ingredients, and environmental samples. You will guide testing activities, ensure data integrity, and drive quality compliance in a fast-paced laboratory environment.

The role requires a minimum of 5 years in a regulated microbiology lab, leadership aptitude, and strong knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025, FDA, and USDA standards.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Microbiology, Biology, Food Science, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a microbiology testing laboratory.
• Experience with ISO/IEC 17025, FDA, USDA, or equivalent quality systems.
• Proven ability to lead workflow and train staff in a lead/senior-level capacity without direct supervisory authority.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety microbiology, pathogen testing methodologies.
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) preferred.

Aufgaben

• Perform advanced and non-routine microbiological testing of food products, ingredients, and environmental samples, including pathogen and indicator organism analyses.
• Serve as the primary technical resource and escalation point for testing issues, method interpretation, instrumentation concerns, and troubleshooting activities during assigned shifts.
• Review and verify test data, calculations, and laboratory documentation for accuracy, completeness, and compliance prior to result release.
• Support method implementation, validation, verification, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure laboratory testing activities are conducted in accordance with established SOPs, regulatory requirements, and customer specifications.
• Assist with troubleshooting instrumentation, media performance, and testing deviations to minimize operational disruptions.
• Train, mentor, and provide technical guidance to Microbiology Lab Technician I–III staff on laboratory procedures, testing methods, documentation practices, and quality expectations.
• Reinforce proper aseptic techniques, data integrity practices, and laboratory safety standards.
• Support onboarding and cross-training of new laboratory staff during assigned shifts.
• Foster a collaborative, team-oriented environment focused on accountability, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
• Serve as a resource for laboratory personnel by answering procedural and technical questions in a timely manner.
• Coordinate daily laboratory workflow, sample prioritization, and testing schedules to ensure turnaround time (TAT) commitments are consistently achieved.
• Monitor staffing coverage, task assignments, and operational efficiency during assigned shifts; elevate staffing or workflow concerns as appropriate.
• Communicate effectively with laboratory leadership and cross-functional departments regarding workload, testing priorities, and operational updates.
• Support team productivity and departmental goals through effective organization, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure adherence to laboratory SOPs, food safety requirements, quality systems, and regulatory standards including ISO/IEC 17025, FDA, USDA, and applicable company policies.
• Lead or support investigations involving deviations, nonconformances, out-of-specification (OOS) results, and corrective/preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Support internal and external audits through audit preparation, participation, documentation review, and corrective action follow-up.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records and ensure compliance with data integrity and documentation standards.
• Promote and reinforce a strong culture of safety, quality, compliance, and continuous improvement throughout laboratory operations.
• Identify and recommend opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency, reduce errors, optimize workflows, and enhance testing consistency.
• Provide input on SOP revisions, training materials, quality initiatives, and operational process improvements.
• Partner with laboratory leadership to support operational excellence initiatives, workflow optimization, and continuous improvement projects.
• Support implementation of best practices and standardization efforts across laboratory operations.

Kenntnisse

People leadership

Microbiology testing

SOP compliance

Training & mentoring

Quality systems

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences/Microbiology/Biology/Food Science

Tools

LIMS

Jobbeschreibung

Certified Group in Melville, NY is seeking a Lab Lead to coordinate daily microbiology testing operations for food products, ingredients, and environmental samples. You will guide testing activities, ensure data integrity, and drive quality compliance in a fast-paced laboratory environment.

The role requires a minimum of 5 years in a regulated microbiology lab, leadership aptitude, and strong knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025, FDA, and USDA standards.