Senior Research Scientist

Job Location : Hershey, PA

Role Overview :

This position is responsible for providing microbiological SME support to the manufacturing and co-manufacturing plants, supplier quality management (SQM), R&D, and the micro service team.

SME support includes but not limited to advanced micro detection technical support, complex micro issue troubleshooting at manufacturing, supplier, and co-manufacturing plants, using data to assess process control, and advising on micro sampling / specs for low water activity food matrices.

Individual will also be responsible for design, conduct, and report research projects to serve business needs.

Responsibilities :

• Provide technical support for advanced micro detection methodologies. Conduct literature reviews and advise on methods modification and optimization.
• Partner with micro team and / or plant QA staff to troubleshooting complex micro incidents in micro lab, manufacturing environments and / or products.

Coach technicians or other lab team members for development in this area.

• Assist with new project work microbiological evaluation & risk assessments. Conduct microbiological risk assessments of manufacturing lines as needed.
• Review and trend the environmental microbiological monitoring program (EMMP) and product testing results and provide holistically recommendations.

Support in EMMP CAPA processes,

• Conduct Internal & External audits for microbiological control programs and effectiveness.
• Continuously review and improve micro related policies, standards, and procedures based on evolving of food micro landscape, industry directions, and lessons learned internally and externally.
• Responsible for design, conduct, and report research projects to serve business needs.

Qualifications :

• A robust working technical knowledge of food microbiology and food science processes and / or instrumentation to identify and recommend control and / or monitoring techniques for food safety and quality.
• Experience in working with foodborne pathogens related to low water activity foods.
• Experience in conducting failure analysis and root cause investigation.
• Superior working knowledge of regulatory and quality system requirements -HACCP, HARPC, Good Manufacturing Process (GMP), Sanitation principles, etc..
• PCQI certification
• Better Process Control School : Process authority certification preferred.
• Great communication skills in verbal and written form.
• Interprets and evaluates complex information, while identifying defect patterns and quality related issues.

Experience & Education :

• M.S. in Food Microbiology, Food Science, or related science field
• 3+ years of manufacturing plant and microbiology laboratory experience handling microbiological root cause analyses & Environmental Microbiological Monitoring Programs
10 hours ago