Food Microbiologist – QA Executive

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Ajman
Microbiology Jobs
Full-time

Food Microbiologist – QA Executive – Food Microbiologist to join a fresh food manufacturing facility in Ajman, UAE. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in ensuring microbiological safety, regulatory compliance, and product quality across raw materials, packaging materials, production processes, and finished goods.

Food Microbiologist is essential in maintaining food safety standards within a high-risk fresh and chilled food production environment.

Job Responsibilities

1. Raw Material (RM) & Packaging Material (PM) Control

  • Conduct thorough visual, physical, and analytical inspections of incoming raw materials and food-contact packaging materials against approved technical specifications and food safety standards.
  • Perform proper sampling of raw materials and packaging materials upon receipt for microbiological analysis to verify compliance with established safety criteria.
  • Ensure proper documentation of inspection results and maintain traceability records.
  • Coordinate with the procurement and goods-in teams to quarantine non-conforming materials, raise Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), and support supplier corrective action processes.
  • Monitor supplier performance trends related to microbiological compliance.

2. Environmental & Hygiene Monitoring Program

  • Execute a structured and comprehensive Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) in line with food safety standards.
  • Perform microbiological swabbing including:
    • Food Contact Surfaces: Post-cleaning and post-production swabs of equipment, conveyor belts, utensils, and preparation areas.
    • Personnel Hygiene Monitoring: Hand swabs, glove swabs, and overall swabs of production staff to verify GMP compliance.
    • Air Quality Monitoring: Active or passive air sampling to monitor microbial loads in high-risk production zones.
  • Record, analyze, and trend microbiological data to identify recurring issues.
  • Immediately escalate hygiene failures to the QA Manager and ensure corrective actions such as re-cleaning and sanitation validation are implemented.

3. Microbiological Testing & Laboratory Analysis

  • Prepare microbiological media, reagents, and laboratory equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Conduct routine microbiological testing of raw materials, in-process samples, environmental swabs, and finished products for:
    • Total Plate Count (TPC)
    • Coliforms
    • E. coli
    • Yeasts and Moulds
    • Other specified pathogens and indicator organisms
  • Maintain strict adherence to aseptic techniques and laboratory best practices.
  • Monitor incubation temperatures and ensure proper calibration and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
  • Maintain accurate and detailed laboratory records in compliance with local UAE regulatory requirements and internal QA policies.

4. GEMBA Walks & Production Floor Integration

  • Lead and actively participate in weekly GEMBA walks to observe real-time production processes and identify potential microbiological hazards at the source.
  • Prepare and circulate detailed GEMBA reports, ensuring timely closure of identified gaps.
  • Collaborate closely with production, maintenance, and sanitation teams to mitigate risks such as condensation, cross-contamination, temperature abuse, and poor hygienic practices.
  • Provide on-the-spot coaching and guidance to production staff regarding Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and hygiene compliance.

5. In-Process Quality & Critical Control Monitoring

  • Conduct periodic inspections of work-in-progress products to verify compliance with production specifications including temperature, weight, size, and visual quality.
  • Monitor microbiology-related Critical Control Points (CCPs) such as:
    • Cooking temperatures
    • Cooling times
    • Cold chain maintenance
    • Metal detection verification
  • Assist in root cause investigations related to microbiological customer complaints and product deviations.

6. Compliance, Audits & Continuous Improvement

  • Ensure all microbiology laboratory operations comply with Global Standard for Food Safety requirements and internal Food Safety Management System (FSMS).
  • Support cleaning validation activities, including ATP testing where required.
  • Assist in internal audits, supplier audits, and external certification audits.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing microbial risks in fresh and chilled food production.

Job Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Microbiology, Food Science, Biotechnology, or a related biological science discipline.
  • 2–4 years of experience in a food manufacturing laboratory.
  • Prior experience in a fresh, chilled, or ready-to-eat (RTE) food environment is highly preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of microbiological testing methods and pathogen analysis.
  • Proficiency in aseptic techniques and environmental monitoring programs.
  • Understanding of fresh food spoilage organisms and microbial risk management.
  • Familiarity with HACCP, GMP, and food safety regulatory requirements in the UAE.
  • Strong analytical, documentation, and reporting skills.

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