Senior Microbiology Leader - Food Safety & Quality

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

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