Microbiology Laboratory Manager

The Microbiology Laboratory Manager ensures consistent production of safe, compliant food products by leading all microbiological testing activities for the Liverpool plant. The role safeguards product integrity and consumer safety by guaranteeing accurate, timely, and reliable laboratory results to support process control, product release, and regulatory compliance. The position provides strategic leadership over microbiological risk management, laboratory quality systems (including ISO 17025 principles), method implementation, staff capability, digitalization, and continuous improvement. The manager ensures adherence to Danone’s Analytical Excellence standards and local legal requirements while maintaining a safe, contamination‑controlled laboratory environment.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Quality Assurance in lab: Lead implementation of testing methods aligned with Global AE (KARMA) and ISO 17025 principles. Ensure a robust Quality Management System, including document control, method verification/validation, uncertainty of measurement, internal audits, and corrective actions. Maintain and update all laboratory procedures, SOPs, risk assessments, and quality records. Ensure readiness for regulatory and internal audits; maintain accreditation‑level standards. Drive continuous improvement of quality systems in collaboration with QFS and AE.
• Laboratory Operations Management: Oversee daily lab activities, ensure compliance with control plans, test protocols, and manage equipment calibration and maintenance. Manage finished product release according to predefined requirements. Ensure raw materials, semi‑finished products, and packaging are analysed per control plans and released for production when quality requirements are met. Interpret test results and signal quality non‑conformities related to materials and products. Ensure analytical performance of the laboratory. Define and manage KPIs for laboratory performance aligned with customer requirements. Ensure proper layout and workflow to avoid cross‑contamination risks. Lead lab continuous improvement initiatives (non‑conformities management, internal audits). Analyse, review, and approve lab results, communicating reports to internal and external stakeholders. Provide data and calculate KPIs for Quality Control. Develop and implement digitalization and automation solutions.
• Team Leadership and Capability Development: Lead, develop, coach, and evaluate the laboratory team, ensuring technical competence and engagement. Manage staffing levels, scheduling, workload distribution, and succession planning. Ensure all analysts maintain up‑to‑date training records and competency assessments. Promote a culture of safety, accountability, continuous learning, and scientific excellence.
• Budget and Resource Management: Develop and manage the laboratory budget, including labor, consumables, external testing, and equipment; optimise resource allocation while ensuring compliance and quality performance. Identify investment needs to support digitalization, automation, and method improvements.
• Crises and Incident Management: Support crisis management activities defined by the QFS Plant Quality Leader; ensure rapid, clear, evidence‑based communication to stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Management: Partner with Operations, QFS, Engineering, and other functions to align testing with production needs; manage external laboratory relationships; represent the laboratory in internal forums, audits, and governance. Serve as owner of designated IWS Quality Pillar systems, contributing to loss elimination and standard execution.

About You Competencies

• Strong leadership, team motivation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic thinking and project management.
• Structured problem‑solving and analytical mindset.
• Risk‑based decision‑making and prioritisation.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage complexity.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and change leadership.

Qualification, Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biology, Food Science, or related scientific discipline (advanced degree preferred).
• 5–10 years in microbiology laboratory operations, ideally in food, dairy, or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• 2–5 years of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong understanding of ISO 17025 principles and method validation/verification.
• Experience with pathogen detection methods (Salmonella, Cronobacter, Listeria, etc.), PCR technologies (e.g., GDS), and ISO reference methods.
• Familiarity with LIMS, digital lab tools, and data integrity principles.
• Internal auditor or Six Sigma training preferred.

Specific Complexities Within the Role

• Managing impartiality of the lab.
• Managing continuous improvement of the lab under pressure of day‑to‑day release testing.

Personal Characteristics & Behaviour Traits

• Demonstrates integrity, impartiality, and scientific rigor.
• Acts independently in the interest of product safety.
• Leads with humanism, openness, and empathy.
• Builds capability and develops others.
• Maintains composure under pressure and during escalation.
• Pragmatic and disciplined, able to simplify complexity.
• Holds self and others accountable; walks the talk.
• Encourages collaboration and fosters resilience within the team.

Leadership Behaviours

• Lead with right values: humanism, openness, proximity, and enthusiasm.
• Put Danone First – act and work as one team across countries and functions; understand stakeholders and anticipate their needs.
• Lead with People – grow as a leader by developing others; value diverse talents and collaboration.
• We keep it simple – deal with complexity by focusing and simplifying.
• Be Accountable – decisive, fact‑based; demonstrate agility in critical thinking and risk assessment; test to learn and improve; foster excellence in execution; deliver short‑term results and secure the long‑term.
• Walk the Talk – act as a role model.
• Demonstrate courage and empathy – nurture resilience and act with conviction; engage positively and respectfully.
• Resilience is key to handle changing priorities and escalations from the factory.

About Us

The role operates within a Specialized Nutrition manufacturing environment with heightened microbiological risk and strict regulatory expectations. The microbiology laboratory is undergoing transformation to strengthen compliance, capability, and digital maturity. Key priorities include ISO 17025 alignment, method enhancement, contamination‑control reinforcement, and continuous improvement in analytical reliability. Strong collaboration with Operations, QFS, and Global AE is essential to support the plant’s quality strategy and business continuity.