Microbiology Supervisor – Dairy and Beverage

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Abu Dhabi
Food Technology and Food Safety Jobs in Abu Dhabi
Full-time

A leading food and beverage manufacturing company in Abu Dhabi is seeking an experienced Microbiology Supervisor to lead the day-to-day operations of its microbiology laboratory. The successful candidate will oversee microbiological testing of incoming raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products to ensure compliance with food safety standards, product quality specifications, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Food and Beverage Manufacturing – Dairy Products
Experience: Minimum 5 years of relevant experience
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Microbiology or Food Microbiology

The role involves supervising laboratory personnel, maintaining testing accuracy, implementing ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, validating analytical methods, and conducting shelf-life and challenge studies. The ideal candidate will have strong technical expertise in food microbiology, preferably within the dairy or fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturing industry, along with proven laboratory management and team leadership skills.

Job Responsibilities

  • Supervise and coordinate daily microbiology laboratory operations, ensuring timely and accurate testing of raw materials, ingredients, in-process samples, and finished dairy and beverage products.
  • Develop, review, and implement microbiological sampling plans and testing schedules to monitor product safety and quality throughout the manufacturing process.
  • Establish, maintain, and update microbiological testing methods, protocols, and procedures in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, industry standards, internal specifications, and ISO/IEC 17025.
  • Review and interpret microbiological test results, identify deviations from established specifications, determine the need for retesting in accordance with approved procedures, and escalate abnormal or out-of-specification results to the Quality Manager.
  • Investigate microbiological quality issues, support root cause analysis, and collaborate with Quality Assurance and Production teams to implement appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
  • Ensure all microbiological test results, observations, and laboratory activities are accurately recorded in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) or other approved laboratory information systems.
  • Monitor the accuracy, reliability, and consistency of laboratory testing by implementing appropriate quality control measures, reviewing test records, and verifying compliance with approved sampling and testing procedures.
  • Ensure laboratory activities comply with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, internal quality procedures, product specifications, and applicable food safety regulations.
  • Prepare, review, and maintain laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs), testing protocols, work instructions, and laboratory procedure manuals.
  • Coordinate the validation and verification of microbiological testing methods, new technologies, and laboratory process improvements to enhance testing efficiency and reliability.
  • Plan and conduct shelf-life studies, microbiological challenge studies, and other specialized investigations to evaluate product stability, microbiological safety, and quality throughout the product’s intended shelf life.
  • Supervise the preparation, handling, storage, and quality control of culture media, reagents, and other laboratory consumables to ensure their suitability for microbiological testing.
  • Ensure laboratory equipment is properly maintained, calibrated, verified, and fit for use, with complete documentation of calibration, maintenance, and performance checks.
  • Conduct periodic laboratory risk assessments and ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental (HSE) requirements.
  • Ensure laboratory personnel receive appropriate health and safety training and that all training activities and competency records are properly documented.
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  • Maintain laboratory cleanliness, housekeeping, personal hygiene, and workplace safety standards in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and applicable biosafety procedures.
  • Lead, train, and evaluate microbiology laboratory personnel, including QC technicians, to ensure technical competence, effective teamwork, and consistent laboratory performance.
  • Prepare technical reports, review laboratory performance indicators, maintain accurate records, and communicate microbiological findings and quality concerns to management.
  • Collaborate with Production, Quality Assurance, and other relevant departments to strengthen microbiological controls, prevent contamination, and support continuous improvement across manufacturing operations.

Job Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Microbiology, Food Microbiology, or a closely related scientific discipline.
  • Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in microbiology laboratory operations, preferably in dairy, beverage, food processing, or FMCG manufacturing.
  • Previous experience supervising a microbiology laboratory and managing laboratory technicians is highly desirable.
  • Strong practical knowledge of microbiological testing methods for raw materials, in-process samples, and finished food and beverage products.
  • Hands-on experience in culture media preparation, media quality control, microbial enumeration, and relevant microbiological identification techniques.
  • Sound understanding of ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory competence requirements, including method validation, equipment calibration, quality control, documentation, and result traceability.
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  • Good knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP principles, food safety requirements, and laboratory hygiene procedures.
  • Experience in developing sampling plans, interpreting microbiological results, investigating deviations, and supporting corrective and preventive actions.
  • Familiarity with shelf-life testing, challenge studies, microbiological method validation, and product quality investigations.
  • Ability to manage laboratory equipment maintenance, calibration schedules, testing records, and laboratory documentation.
  • Strong leadership, team management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret laboratory data and prepare clear, accurate technical reports.
  • Ability to coordinate effectively with Quality Assurance, Production, and other cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment.

Key Skills

  • Food and Dairy Microbiology
  • Microbiology Laboratory Management
  • ISO/IEC 17025 Compliance
  • Microbiological Testing and Analysis
  • Culture Media Preparation and Quality Control
  • Sampling Plans and Testing Protocols
  • Laboratory Equipment Calibration
  • Method Validation and Verification
  • Shelf-Life and Challenge Studies
  • GMP and HACCP
  • Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Actions
  • Laboratory Documentation and Technical Reporting
  • Team Leadership and Staff Training

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