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A leading honey production and apiculture operation in Sharjah is seeking an experienced Quality Laboratory Consultant – Honey Production & Bee Health to provide senior-level technical expertise across bee health diagnostics, honey quality, laboratory testing, research, regulatory compliance, and product development.
Location: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Employment Type: Full-Time / Consultancy
Experience: 8–15 Years
Education: Master’s Degree or PhD
Vacancy: 1
The role is suitable for a senior professional with a strong background in apiculture, bee health, honey science, food technology, agricultural science, laboratory diagnostics, or related fields. The successful candidate will work closely with apiary, laboratory, processing, quality, and research teams to strengthen scientific monitoring and quality systems throughout the honey production value chain.
Job Responsibilities
Bee Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Management
- Develop and oversee laboratory diagnostic programs for monitoring bee health, colony performance, disease prevalence, and colony losses.
- Establish laboratory testing protocols for investigating colony mortality, abnormal bee behavior, reduced productivity, disease symptoms, and other bee health concerns.
- Coordinate pathological, microbiological, molecular, parasitological, and toxicological testing of bee and environmental samples.
- Support investigations into bee diseases, parasites, pesticide exposure, poisoning, and other potential causes of colony decline.
- Interpret laboratory test results and prepare detailed technical reports with evidence-based corrective and preventive recommendations.
- Develop surveillance programs for early detection of bee pathogens, parasites, diseases, and environmental contaminants.
- Establish DNA testing and genetic identification programs for queen lineage verification and colony genetics assessment.
- Support breeding programs through genetic diversity monitoring, queen selection, lineage verification, and genetic performance analysis.
- Review genetic testing results and provide technical recommendations for queen selection and long-term colony improvement.
- Maintain comprehensive databases covering bee health, disease surveillance, genetic profiles, laboratory results, colony mortality investigations, and quality trends.
- Coordinate technical projects with accredited laboratories, universities, research organizations, and specialist diagnostic facilities.
Honey Quality Management
- Develop and maintain honey quality specifications based on applicable UAE requirements, Codex principles, customer requirements, and relevant international standards.
- Monitor honey quality from harvesting and extraction through processing, storage, filling, and final packaging.
- Review laboratory analysis and investigate deviations from established product specifications.
- Evaluate honey authenticity, purity, moisture content, HMF, sugar profile, pollen characteristics, and other relevant quality parameters.
- Support the development of honey grading and classification systems for premium and specialty honey products.
- Establish appropriate sampling and testing frequencies based on product risk, origin, processing conditions, and quality requirements.
- Monitor trends in analytical results and recommend improvements to harvesting, processing, storage, and handling practices.
Laboratory Management and Testing Programs
- Develop annual laboratory testing plans covering honey and other bee-derived products.
- Define analytical testing requirements for honey, beeswax, propolis, pollen, royal jelly, and bee venom.
- Establish sampling plans and coordinate sample collection from apiaries, processing facilities, storage locations, and finished products.
- Review laboratory reports for technical accuracy, completeness, and compliance with defined specifications.
- Evaluate laboratory test methods and recommend appropriate analytical approaches for different quality and diagnostic requirements.
- Ensure laboratory testing is conducted using appropriate validated or internationally recognized methods.
- Support laboratory quality systems and testing practices aligned with applicable ISO requirements, including ISO/IEC 17025 principles where relevant.
- Maintain appropriate records of samples, test results, certificates, laboratory communications, and technical investigations.
Research and Development
- Lead or support applied research projects related to bee health, honey quality, apiculture, and bee-derived products.
- Evaluate emerging technologies for disease detection, genetic identification, honey authentication, and quality analysis.
- Investigate the functional, nutritional, medicinal, and technological properties of honey and other bee products within applicable scientific and regulatory requirements.
- Support research into new applications for honey, beeswax, propolis, pollen, royal jelly, and other bee-derived materials.
- Collaborate with universities, research institutions, laboratories, and technical experts on scientific projects.
- Prepare technical reports, research documentation, and scientific presentations where appropriate.
- Identify opportunities for innovation that can improve colony health, product quality, laboratory efficiency, and commercial value.
International Laboratory Coordination
- Coordinate sample testing with qualified and accredited laboratories within the UAE and internationally.
- Evaluate laboratory capabilities, analytical scope, accreditation status, testing methods, and technical suitability.
- Recommend appropriate external laboratories for specialized diagnostic and analytical requirements.
- Standardize sampling and testing protocols where multiple laboratories are involved.
- Track sample submission, testing schedules, laboratory communications, and reporting timelines.
- Review and interpret external laboratory findings and communicate relevant technical recommendations to management.
- Support investigations requiring specialized analytical testing that is not available in-house.
Organic and Regulatory Compliance
- Support compliance with applicable UAE organic requirements and relevant international organic certification standards.
- Assist with laboratory testing programs required for organic certification and verification.
- Review residue, contaminant, pesticide, veterinary drug, heavy metal, and other relevant analytical results.
- Monitor testing requirements related to prohibited substances and organic production controls.
- Prepare technical documentation required for certification activities and regulatory inspections.
- Support certification audits by providing laboratory records, analytical reports, specifications, and technical evidence.
- Monitor changes in applicable food, honey, laboratory, organic, and bee-product requirements and advise management accordingly.
Product Development and Quality Innovation
- Provide technical input into the development of new honey and bee-derived products.
- Establish quality specifications and analytical requirements for premium honey product lines.
- Work with processing teams to evaluate product stability, storage conditions, shelf life, and quality characteristics.
- Support development of specialty and functional honey products where scientifically and legally appropriate.
- Evaluate potential applications of bee-derived ingredients in food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and other regulated product categories.
- Participate in technical evaluations of new raw materials, processing technologies, packaging systems, and product concepts.
Training and Technical Support
- Provide technical training to beekeepers, laboratory personnel, quality teams, and honey processing staff.
- Develop SOPs covering bee health monitoring, sampling, laboratory testing, honey quality assessment, and sample handling.
- Train personnel in appropriate sample collection, preservation, documentation, and submission procedures.
- Mentor laboratory and technical staff in the interpretation of analytical and diagnostic results.
- Promote good laboratory practices, scientific decision-making, and continuous technical development.
- Provide technical guidance during disease outbreaks, unusual colony mortality events, quality deviations, and other investigations.
Reporting and Continuous Improvement
- Prepare periodic technical reports covering bee health, laboratory findings, honey quality, testing activities, and emerging risks.
- Analyze laboratory and operational data to identify trends and recurring quality issues.
- Develop and monitor KPIs related to colony health, disease surveillance, laboratory performance, honey quality, and product consistency.
- Recommend corrective and preventive actions based on laboratory findings and trend analysis.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives across apiary operations, laboratory systems, honey processing, and quality management.
- Present technical findings and recommendations to senior management and relevant project teams.
Job Qualifications
- Master’s degree or PhD in Apiculture, Entomology, Veterinary Science, Food Science, Food Technology, Agricultural Science, Biology, Microbiology, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience, with strong exposure to bee health, honey quality, laboratory testing, apiculture research, or related technical operations.
- Practical knowledge of honey chemistry, honey quality parameters, bee diseases, parasites, laboratory diagnostics, and bee-product testing.
- Experience coordinating testing with accredited laboratories and research institutions.
- Knowledge of international laboratory practices and applicable food safety and quality standards.
- Experience with honey authenticity and quality analysis, including moisture, HMF, sugar profile, pollen analysis, and related parameters.
- Knowledge of laboratory sampling, analytical reports, testing specifications, and technical documentation.
- Experience supporting organic certification, residue testing, or regulatory compliance will be an advantage.
- Strong scientific research, analytical, technical writing, and reporting capabilities.
- Ability to interpret complex laboratory data and convert findings into practical technical recommendations.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Willingness to travel between apiaries, laboratories, processing facilities, and other operational locations.
Certifications and Professional Training
The following certifications or specialist training may strengthen a candidate’s suitability for this role:
- ISO/IEC 17025 Laboratory Management Systems
- HACCP Certification
- ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems
- EU Organic Standards Training
- UAE Organic Standards Training
- Advanced Beekeeping or Apiculture Certification
- Laboratory Quality Management Training
- Research Methodology
- Scientific Writing and Publication
- Food Authenticity and Adulteration Testing
- Honey Analysis and Bee Product Quality Testing
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