Microbiology Laboratory Analyst

Role Overview

This position carries out microbiological analysis of client samples within a busy, multi-purpose laboratory that operates around the clock, every day of the year. Day to day, the job involves preparing and testing samples against approved methods, capturing raw data as the work progresses, and releasing results that clients depend on for product safety, compliance and release decisions. Its value to the laboratory lies in precision and traceability: results must be accurate, reproducible and fully defensible if the organisation's accreditation and client confidence are to hold.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse submitted samples microbiologically, following standard operating procedures and the relevant national, international, industry or client-specified standard, and selecting the correct method for each request.
• Complete process control forms at every stage of the analysis so the testing record is continuous and auditable from receipt to result.
• Produce raw data that clearly justifies the reported outcome, ensuring results are accurate, reliable and fall within acceptable repeatability and reproducibility limits before they proceed for approval.
• Operate within the laboratory's QA/QC framework, treating ISO/IEC 17025:2017 as the governing standard and observing GLP requirements wherever they apply.
• Meet the agreed turnaround time on every sample and confirm that the client's full testing requirements, including method choice, have been satisfied.
• Handle samples correctly through testing, retention and disposal or destruction, applying the laboratory's health, safety and general hygiene rules throughout.
• Maintain work records, samples and auxiliary documents in an organised state so that any item can be located and processed quickly on request.
• Keep current with developments in microbiological and food testing standards, and contribute to developing, validating and adopting new methods that widen the laboratory's capabilities.
• Adapt working patterns flexibly so staffing matches fluctuating workload, supporting continuous 24-hour, 365-day service without compromising the long-term viability of the operation.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Degree in Microbiology, Food Nutrition, Food Science and Technology, or an equivalent qualification from a recognised institution.
• At least two years of laboratory testing experience, preferably gained in a multi-purpose laboratory handling varied sample types.
• Solid working knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 9001, GLP, HACCP and HSE standards.
• Confident, practical use of core microbiology equipment, including incubators, ovens, autoclaves and biosafety cabinets.
• Proven ability to apply testing protocols correctly and consistently, with satisfactory technical capability assessed against the relevant methods.
• Capacity to work with minimal supervision, paired with strong communication and organisational skills.
• A mindset that fosters innovation, embraces change, thinks strategically and translates strategy into concrete actions.
• Ability to influence colleagues internally and stakeholders externally, and to deliver superior results under pressure.

Why Join

• Join a laboratory running a 24-hour, 365-day operation, where working patterns are arranged flexibly to match workload.
• Gain exposure to a broad method portfolio spanning microbiology and food testing, with scope to develop and validate new methods and bring them into routine use.
• Work inside a formal quality system built on ISO/IEC 17025:2017, where technical rigour and traceability are the everyday standard.