Microbiology Manager

Microbiology Manager

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Food Science, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in food microbiology testing, with at least 2 years in a management role.
• Strong knowledge of dairy and pet food microbiology, pathogens, and spoilage organisms.
• Familiarity with ISO accreditation and regulatory requirements (FDA, USDA, AOAC methods).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced laboratory environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of ISO17025 and PCR.
• Experience in people management.
• Skills in food microbiology, PCR, plating, and VIDAS.

Job Description

The Microbiology Department Manager will lead and oversee all microbiological testing operations within our accredited third-party food testing laboratory. This role is responsible for ensuring the accuracy, compliance, and efficiency of testing services for dairy and pet food products. The manager will provide technical leadership, supervise laboratory staff, maintain quality standards, and ensure regulatory compliance with industry and client requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the microbiology department, including scheduling, workflow, and resource allocation.
• Supervise, train, and mentor laboratory technicians and analysts.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure proper execution of microbiological testing methods such as pathogen detection, indicator organisms, and spoilage organisms.
• Review and approve test results, reports, and data integrity.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain compliance with ISO/IEC, FDA, USDA, and other relevant regulatory standards.
• Oversee internal audits, proficiency testing, and corrective/preventive actions.
• Ensure adherence to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Serve as a technical resource for clients, providing guidance on microbiological testing and interpretation of results.
• Collaborate with customer service and business development teams to support client needs.
• Manage special projects, method validations, and new service offerings.
• Monitor departmental KPIs, turnaround times, and productivity metrics.
• Implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Manage departmental budget, equipment procurement, and maintenance.

Work Environment

The laboratory hosts a team of 53 professionals specializing in chemistry and microbiology. The manager will oversee two supervisors who each manage teams of 7-8 individuals. Our facility stands as the showroom for state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation, making it the largest third-party food testing company in the U.S

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Springfield, MO.

The pay range for this position is $85000.00 - $100000.00/yr.

Medical Insurance  Health Savings Account (HSA)  Dental Insurance  Vision Insurance  Contribution Rates  Additional Benefits  Life and Disability  Worksite Accident Critical Illness Hospital Indemnity  Legal and ID Theft  Flexible Spending Account (FSA)  Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  Commuter and Student Loan Assistance  401(k)

This is a fully onsite position in Springfield,MO.

This position is anticipated to close on Dec 31, 2025.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.