Description
A multinational food processing and agricultural company is looking for a Microbiology Officer (Quality).
Job Purpose
The Microbiology Officer (Quality) is responsible for coordinating and evaluating microbiological testing programmes to ensure that all raw materials, in-process products, finished products, water, environmental samples and food contact surfaces comply with company, customer and legislative microbiological standards.
The incumbent interprets microbiological laboratory results, determines product compliance against established specifications and legal limits, assesses food safety risks, and makes recommendations regarding product release, product hold or product disposal. The role supports the Company's Food Safety Management System in accordance with HACCP, ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Microbiological Testing Programme
•Coordinate routine microbiological sampling and testing.
•Ensure samples are collected, labelled and submitted in accordance with approved procedures.
•Monitor testing schedules for raw materials, finished products, environmental swabs, water and air samples.
•Liaise with accredited external laboratories where applicable.
Interpretation of Microbiological Results
•Review and interpret microbiological laboratory reports.
•Compare results against:
•Internal product specifications.
•Customer specifications.
•South African food legislation.
•HACCP critical limits.
•ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 requirements.
•Assess microbiological trends and identify potential food safety risks.
•Determine whether products comply with microbiological acceptance criteria.
•Escalate non-conforming results to the Quality Assurance Manager.
Product Disposition
•Assess microbiological test results to determine whether products are:
•Safe for release.
•Suitable for rework where permitted.
•Required to remain on hold pending investigation.
•Unsafe for human consumption and requiring rejection or destruction.
•Participate in risk assessments relating to product safety.
•Recommend product disposition based on scientific evidence and company
procedures.
Note: Final product release or destruction authority rests with the designated Quality Manager or Responsible Person in accordance with company procedures.
Food Safety Investigations
•Investigate microbiological failures and food safety incidents.
•Conduct root cause analyses.
•Coordinate corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
•Verify effectiveness of implemented actions.
Environmental Monitoring
•Coordinate environmental monitoring programmes.
•Review results from:
•Food contact surfaces.
•Non-food contact surfaces.
•Personnel hygiene monitoring.
•Air quality monitoring.
•Water quality testing.
•Identify trends and recommend corrective actions.
HACCP & Food Safety Systems
•Support implementation and maintenance of HACCP plans.
•Participate in HACCP team meetings.
•Review microbiological hazards within hazard analyses.
•Assist with validation and verification activities.
•Support compliance with ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000.
Audit Support
•Prepare microbiological records for:
•FSSC 22000 audits.
•ISO 22000 audits.
•Customer audits.
•Regulatory inspections.
•Respond to microbiology-related audit findings.
Trend Analysis
•Analyse microbiological data for recurring issues.
•Identify emerging contamination risks.
•Prepare monthly microbiological trend reports.
•Recommend preventive improvements.
Laboratory Liaison
•Coordinate with accredited laboratories.
•Verify testing methodologies.
•Ensure turnaround times are achieved.
•Review Certificates of Analysis.
Documentation
Maintain records relating to:
•Laboratory reports.
•Product testing.
•Environmental monitoring.
•Water testing.
•Trend analyses.
•CAPAs.
•Verification activities.
•Product holds and releases.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
•Microbiological compliance rate.
•Turnaround time for microbiological result review.
•Closure of microbiological CAPAs.
•Environmental monitoring compliance.
•Number of repeat microbiological failures.
•Audit compliance.
•Product release accuracy.
•Trend reporting completion.
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications
•Bachelor's Degree or National Diploma in:
•Microbiology
•Food Science
•Food Technology
•Biotechnology
•Biochemistry
•or a related life science discipline.
Experience
•Minimum 3 years' experience in microbiological quality assurance within a food manufacturing environment.
•Experience interpreting microbiological laboratory reports.
•Experience working within an FSSC 22000 or ISO 22000 certified facility.
•Experience with food safety risk assessments.
Technical Knowledge
The incumbent must demonstrate knowledge of:
•Food microbiology.
•Foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms.
•Sampling techniques.
•Microbiological testing principles.
•South African food legislation and microbiological standards.
•HACCP principles.
•ISO 22000.
•FSSC 22000.
•Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
•Root Cause Analysis.
•Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA).
•Statistical trend analysis.
Ability to Interpret the Following Microbiological Tests
The incumbent must be able to interpret results for:
•Total Plate Count (TPC/Aerobic Plate Count).
•Total Viable Count (TVC).
•Coliforms.
•Escherichia coli (E. coli).
•Enterobacteriaceae.
•Yeasts and Moulds.
•Salmonella spp.
•Listeria monocytogenes.
•Bacillus cereus.
•Staphylococcus aureus.
•Clostridium perfringens.
•Water microbiology.
•Environmental swab results.
•ATP verification results (where used).
Core Competencies
•Scientific and analytical thinking.
•Strong attention to detail.
•Risk assessment and decision-making.
•Problem-solving and root cause analysis.
•Report writing.
•Excellent communication skills.
•Integrity and professional judgement.
•Ability to work under pressure.
•Teamwork and collaboration.
Authority
The Microbiology Officer (Quality) is authorised to:
•Review and interpret microbiological laboratory reports.
•Recommend product release, hold, rework or rejection based on microbiological results and company procedures.
•Escalate food safety risks requiring immediate management action.
•Coordinate investigations into microbiological non-conformances.
•Stop the release of product pending investigation where food safety is in question.
Important Note on Product Safety Decisions
While the Microbiology Officer (Quality) is expected to interpret microbiological test results and assess whether a product meets microbiological acceptance criteria, the final decision to release, reject or destroy product should be made in accordance with the company's documented authority matrix and Food Safety Management System, typically by the Quality Assurance Manager, Technical Manager, or another designated Responsible Person. This ensures compliance with HACCP, ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 requirements and provides appropriate governance for food safety decisions.
Apply online with an up-to-date CV and cover message.