Senior Microbiology Program Lead, Food Safety & QA

Meijer Inc.; St. Augustine South (FL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meijer Rewards

Weekly pay

Scheduling flexibility

Paid parental leave

Paid education assistance

Team member discount

Development programs for advancement

Job summary

Meijer is seeking an experienced Microbiology Leader to drive safety, quality, and regulatory compliance across manufacturing facilities. You will develop and standardize microbiological programs and partner with Operations, Regulatory Compliance, and labs to implement robust testing procedures.

You will lead root cause analyses, trend review, and risk assessments for ingredients and finished products, while guiding rapid decisions during incidents and recalls. Travel 25-40% is expected.

Qualifications

• Ph.D or MS in Microbiology, Food Safety, or related fields.
• 8+ years of microbiology experience in Food/Beverage manufacturing.
• FSMA, HACCP, environmental monitoring programs knowledge.
• Experience in multi-site organizations preferred.
• Strong data interpretation and risk assessment skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead microbiology programs for food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Standardize test methods and validation protocols across facilities.
• Oversee environmental monitoring and trend analysis for risk-based decisions.
• Act as SME for microbiological compliance under FDA/USDA regulations.
• Support FSMA validation, regulatory responses, and lab oversight.
• Provide guidance during product disposition and recalls when needed.
• Train staff on sampling, testing, and risk mitigation practices.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Willingness to travel

Education

Ph.D or MS in Microbiology

Job description

Meijer is seeking an experienced Microbiology Leader to drive safety, quality, and regulatory compliance across manufacturing facilities. You will develop and standardize microbiological programs and partner with Operations, Regulatory Compliance, and labs to implement robust testing procedures.

You will lead root cause analyses, trend review, and risk assessments for ingredients and finished products, while guiding rapid decisions during incidents and recalls. Travel 25-40% is expected.