Associate Principal Scientist, Microbiologist

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make It Happen at Mondelēz International?

Join our Mission to Lead the Future of Snacking. Make It With Pride.

You deploy technical programs in your area of expertise (microbiology, toxicology, allergens, physical hazards).

How you will contribute

Act as the scientific authority for food microbiology across the MEU region. Own execution of the global scientific strategy, technical frameworks and decision models for:
(1) the microbiology laboratory network,
(2) microbiological Food Safety risk assessment,
(3) thermal process validation, and
(4) innovation and Test & Learn microbiological risk management.
Elevate organizational capability to facilitate the translation of emerging science, external expertise and internal learnings into practical standards, tools and learning experiences that strengthen microbiological risk management, enable safe business experimentation and prevent recurrence.

Key Responsibilities

Microbiological Food Safety Risk Assessment & Decision Models

• Assess pathogen presence, survival, growth and inactivation considering product formulation, water activity, pH, process, packaging, temperature, storage, shelf life and other intrinsic/extrinsic factors.

• Characterize hazards and severity considering pathogen characteristics, health consequences, susceptible populations and relevant scientific evidence.

• Lead and document risk assessments for Food Safety Special Situations, providing the scientific basis for product disposition and risk-management decisions.

• Ensure consistency of risk-assessment decisions across sites and business units.

• Translate complex microbiological science into concise recommendations that Operations and business leaders can understand and act upon.

Thermal Process Validation

• Map and prioritize thermal validation needs across sites, categories and technologies based on risk and business priorities in the region.

• Design validation studies including required lethality, target/surrogate organisms, worst-case conditions, critical process parameters. Deployment of thermal process validation study to comply with MDLZ models.

• Support our manufacture site to performance practical thermal process validation sturdy and interpretation of results. Define requirements for temperature measurement, data acquisition, sensor positioning, calibration and data quality. Identify technologies that improve accuracy, reproducibility and efficiency of validation studies. Build measurement capability within manufacturing sites.

• Provide scientific oversight of validation studies; review and approve protocols, data and reports. Conduct or support on-site validation when complexity or risk requires it. Resolve technical deviations or unexpected results.

• Ensure validated conditions are translated into manufacturing controls and verification requirements. Maintain consistency across plants, categories and technologies.

• Train FSS members on validation principles, critical process parameters and data interpretation.

Microbiology Laboratory Strategy & Governance

• Deployment and maintenance of the laboratory network strategy — including laboratory mapping, primary/backup laboratories and contingency plans — based on business needs and risk.

• Anticipate network vulnerabilities (capacity, capability, method availability, performance, business continuity) and establish proactive mitigation plans.

• Approval and re-approval of laboratories, including strategic backups.

• Drive analytical method optimization and innovation; identify faster, more effective methodologies and influence laboratories to implement them.

• Deployment new technology methods to support business (accurate/sensitive results, faster turnaround time, more accurate confirmation) and protect consumer/customer.

• Lead technical escalation and corrective-action expectations when laboratory performance does not meet required standards.

Innovation & Test & Learn Microbiological Risk Management

• Early Food Safety Integration: Engage early in innovation/novel projects to identify microbiological hazards associated with ingredients, formulation, process, technology, packaging and intended use. Define Food Safety requirements, identify constraints early enough to influence design, and determine when additional studies or validation are required. Partner with R&D, Process Engineering, Quality and Operations to incorporate Food Safety by Design.

• Test & Learn: Perform rapid risk assessments where standard requirements or complete evidence are not yet available. Explicitly identify what is known, unknown, key assumptions and uncertainties. Assess hazards for the specific ingredient product process technology intended-use combination. Define proportionate interim mitigation measures; establish clear boundaries and stop criteria. Document the scientific rationale.

• Proportionate Risk Management: Define controls proportionate to scale, consumer exposure, distribution, duration and hazard.

• Design, lead and interpretation of result of the challenge test (food pathogens and spoilage).

Scientific Leadership, External Intelligence & Capability Building & Ecosystem

• Maintain an active network of external experts, laboratories, scientific organizations and industry networks.

• Design and deliver masterclasses, workshops, technical forums, adapting depth to audience maturity.

• Convert significant incidents into organizational learning. Use recurring patterns to identify systemic gaps.

• Member of microbiology Communities of Practice and expert networks.

What you will bring

• Food Microbiology & Pathogen Science: MSc Food Safety and control BSc Life Sciences or Food Technology, food microbiology PhD.
• Microbiological Risk Assessment
• Microbiological Methods & Laboratory Management
• Years experience in ISO17025 Laboratory management or equivalent accreditation bodies e.g. CLAS, DKKAS etc.
• Laboratory Assessor to audit microbiology laboratory
• Familiar with ISO microbiology methods including pathogen testing e.g. Salmonella.
• Familiar with food industry processing and pathogen/spoilage risks management skills
• Influence and coaching skills to work with different departments (e.g. R&D, QA, Marketing, Procurement, Supplier Quality) for innovation projects to provide "Quality by Design" approach for formula design (e.g. predictor models, spoilage/pathogen challenge testing protocols, interpretation of results) to support business.
• Strong communication skills to deal with Regional/Global Micro. SMEs during Early warning/Special situation to support Regional BU Group Leaders
• Familiar with EU regulation and legislation requirements
• PCR knowledge
• Ability to ‘audit’ laboratories
• Thermal Process Validation
• Challenge test design & interpretation
• Innovation & Experimental Evidence
• Scientific Leadership & Communication
• Capability Building

More about this role

In return for your commitment, drive and enthusiasm, we offer an attractive benefits package within a highly successful international business that offers financial rewards and resources, including:

• Opportunities to learn and develop
• Performance Related Bonus scheme
• Contributory pension (between 8% to 11% employer contribution)
• Life assurance
• Medical insurance (self)
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• A flexible benefits programme (Gym discounts, private health insurance, restaurant discounts, etc).

The responsibilities of this position are performed within the framework of a regional business model that is defined and managed by Mondelēz Europe GmbH, Switzerland.

No Relocation support available

Business Unit Summary

Mondelēz International, Inc. empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. We are leading the future of snacking with mouth-watering iconic brands such as Oreo , belVita , LU and Ritz biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk , Green & Blacks , Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Philadelphia and Dairylea cheese; and Maynards Bassetts , Trebor and Trident gums. Our more than 80,000 colleagues around the world are key to the success of our business. Great people and great brands. That’s who we are. Join us on our journey to continue leading the future of snacking around the world by offering the right snack, for the right moment, made the right way.

Mondelēz International is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Type

RegularFood safetyProduct Quality, Safety and Compliance

Summary

• Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom; Wroclaw, Poland
• Type: Full time