QC Microbiologist

BevCo; Brakpan; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food and beverage company in Brakpan is seeking a Microbiologist responsible for conducting microbiological sampling and analysis throughout production processes. The ideal candidate should have a National Diploma in Food, up to 3 years of experience, and strong communication skills. Key duties include ensuring compliance with health standards and maintaining product quality. This full-time position offers a dynamic work environment emphasizing safety and hygiene.

Qualifications

• Up to 3 years experience in Operational Execution within a Technical, FMCG environment.
• Exceptional personal hygiene as per the organization's code.
• Stay updated with relevant business information and enforce compliance with requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct microbiological sampling and analysis throughout production.
• Interpret and report analysis results to maintain quality standards.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety and Health regulations.

Skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Decision Making

Education

National Diploma / NQF 6 in Food

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

Email

Job description

Operations

Accountable for operation of own work area or as a member of a team, as well as for quality, standards and outputs within defined work routines and policies.

Job Purpose

To conduct microbiological sampling and analysis throughout the production process.

Key Accountabilities and Outputs

Aseptic Sampling

Treated water, ingredients, final syrups and final products

Swabs

Air plates

Analysis

Treated water, ingredients, final syrups and final products

Swabs

Air

Product Shelf Life Analysis

Performs secondary confirmation tests

Incubation of analysed samples

Sub culturing of live bacteria cultures

Documentation and Record Keeping

Interpretation of results

Recording of results

Generates Trends for micro results

General Reporting

Raises any out of spec result with QA Supervisor

Issues isolation/ release instructions to the DC in consultation with Quality Manager

Reports any faulty equipment to QC Supervisor

Raises any emerging trends that might have potential food safety risks

Trouble shooting/investigations on ingredients, environmental or processing risk related issues

Enforces Good Lab Practices

Enforce Food Safety Requirements

Adherence to the Quality, Food Safety, Health, Safety and Environmental Standards

Adherence to Standards: Ensure strict adherence to Quality, Food, Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.

Enforcement: Enforce all food safety and health regulations, policies, and requirements at all times to guarantee a secure work environment.

Personal Hygiene: Maintain exceptional personal hygiene as per the organization's code of conduct.

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Contamination Control: Raise awareness about potential physical product contamination and implement control measures to prevent it.

Health and Safety Measures: Take reasonable precautions to prevent health and safety hazards. Follow the prescribed incident reporting procedure in case of accidents.

Knowledge and Compliance: Stay updated with relevant business information, policies, processes, and procedures. Enforce compliance with legislative and statutory requirements, as well as GMP's (Good Manufacturing Practices).

Training: Attend and enforce the implementation of learnings from training sessions related to Quality, Food Safety, and Health and Safety.

Housekeeping: Maintain high levels of cleanliness and orderliness within the work environment.

General

Responsible to ensure housekeeping is performed and ensure that all products and activities are stored and are executed within the demarcated areas according to the housekeeping policy (green red and yellow areas)

Conversant with relevant business information, policies, processes and procedures

Maintains expected performance standards

While Job Descriptions are written up for the purpose of a basic outline of the work and responsibilities associated with the Job, the Company encourages and expects all employees from time to time, to assist with work that may not be a direct part of their job description

Additional Region-Specific Accountabilities And Outputs

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Qualifications And Experience

National Diploma / NQF 6 in Food (Essential)

Upto 3 years experience (Operational Execution) Technical, FMCG

Basic MS Excel; MS Word; E Mail

Key Qualities

Communication

Routine communication in connection with instructions, requests or normal work tasks

Problem Solving

Proactive identification of problems that are concrete and procedural, troubleshoot and apply solutions in line with guidelines provided or escalate more complex problems to superiors, providing information required to solve problems.

Relationships Maintained

Others outside of own work area but inside the organisation

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Behavioural Competencies

Verbal Communication

Able to communicate verbally in a logical manner.

Takes the intended audience into account when communicating verbal information.

Makes use of appropriate business language in verbal communication.

Includes all relevant information in verbal arguments.

Demonstrates proficiency of language in verbal communication.

Interprets complex information to expresses own viewpoint in verbal communication.

Concludes verbal arguments by making reference to relevant facts

Decision Making

Organises information to make it easier to analyse or see trends.

Anticipates consequences and formulates alternatives.

Establishes clear decision criteria for making informed choices.

Seeks relevant information to better understand situations and problems.

Conducts appropriate analysis; neither makes snap decisions or over-analyses.

Sees relationships between various facts, figures or other information.

Continuous Improvement

Increases performance expectations when success has been achieved

Seeks out sources of information, including trade associations, "best practice" companies, customers, peers, subordinates, etc.

Finds ways to fast-adapt improvement ideas to work processes

Proactively seeks out resources, alliances, etc., needed to quickly introduce improvements

Collaboration

Helps others with their work.

Meets commitments to team members or others in the organisation.

Actively contributes to team discussions and the accomplishment of team work plans.

Shares expertise and resources to help others address their needs.

Seeks to include all those who can contribute to the most successful outcome and those who have a stake in the results.

Actively keeps all stakeholders informed.

Attempts to reinvigorate team processes when progress is lagging: stays engaged even when not in full agreement with the team's direction.

Accountability

Accomplishes assigned tasks and goals: takes necessary actions to keep progress against objectives on track and prepares a roadmap for success.

Ensures that all who need to know, are clear about the plan.

Takes full responsibility for own actions and outcomes, including mistakes.

Always acts in the company's best interest, regardless of whether it is difficult or unpopular.

Ensures others are on track for achieving their goals

Microbiologist

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Updated Nov 2023

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Document History

Version Author Date Description of Version Main or important changes since previous version

1

Head of Organisational Effectiveness

October 2023

Job Description Drafted In Consultation With National Quality Manager

2

OE Officer

November 2023

Job Description Document Number Created. Adherence to the Quality, Food Safety, Health, Safety & Environmental Standards.

3

4