R&D Scientist II, Food Safety in Basingstoke

Work Schedule: Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions: Laboratory Setting

As a Food Safety Specialist (Scientist II) within our Microbiology Division, you’ll be working in our R&D Team on the development of food safety products and workflows. You’ll work in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidance by senior team members/R&D Manager, to ensure work is carried out within schedule. You’ll be part of a team of employees who share a common set of values - Integrity, Intensity, Innovation and Involvement. Our ability to grow year after year is driven by our ability to attract, develop and retain world-class people who will thrive in our environment and share in our desire to improve mankind by enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.

Responsibilities:

• Contributing to and leading aspects of Food Safety development projects, including:
• Collaboratively planning projects in agreement with internal stakeholders to agreed specifications
• Compiling necessary project design control documentation
• Planning and performing food safety development project experiments in accordance with plan
• Proactively seeking solutions to mitigate risks that may impact project work/timelines
• Executing project work in accordance with agreed schedules and budgets
• Producing and delivering progress reports in accordance with project timescale

The role is responsible for completing project and feasibility activities including but not limited to:

• Leading implementation of new technologies within the food safety laboratory
• Planning and conducting competitor benchmarking and post-market surveillance studies
• Writing product IFUs and reviewing technical documents with an eye for detail
• Rapidly identifying risks and mitigating effectively, seeking input from senior team members or manager appropriately
• Co-ordinating validation (e.g. AOAC-RI PTM) of protocols for molecular products against ISO/USDA-FSIS/FDA-BAM standard methods and assisting remote troubleshooting wherever required
• Demonstrating the ability to interpret large, complex datasets and make technical decisions, recognizing where support is required
• Utilizing strong communication skills, including customer-facing technical writing, to present R&D project information to a range of audiences
• Developing and demonstrating a clear understanding of the processes involved in food safety workflow development
• Developing and demonstrating a clear understanding of product design and suitability for end users
• Initiating ideas for new or improved products or processes with a customer-centric mindset
• Providing support to existing product portfolio through understanding of scientific principles, workflow optimization, and examination of new processes
• Understanding the performance metrics, safety metrics and practices for the team/department
• Maintaining laboratory notebooks to the appropriate standard
• Providing product training to internal and external customers, and advanced technical training to peers and technical stakeholders
• Actively engaging in regular performance and development conversations and acting on feedback as appropriate
• Fulfilling the responsibilities of the position as defined in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Health, Safety and Environmental policies and associated Codes of Practice and actively promoting Health and Safety awareness

Minimum Qualifications:

• Microbiology (or another biological science related) degree or significant experience in microbiology laboratory setting
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software is required
• Experience with diverse techniques and procedures in microbiology
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Knowledge of food safety workflows/techniques is preferred but not essential

Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.