Senior Microbiologist

Title: Sr. Microbiologist

Location: SLC, UT

Duration: 12 Months

Job Description:

• Responsibilities associated with this Sr. Microbiologist position include working with corporate and various Client's sites interpreting microbiological testing data, monitoring, and providing remediation support for the sterility assurance program used in medical device manufacturing.
• The candidate must have experience interpreting and applying standards and regulations to medical device microbiological and sterility assurance programs for the purposes of interpreting data, tactical planning daily, implementing procedures, and remediation projects.
• The candidate must be a senior-level professional/team player with advanced knowledge and experience who thrives in a team environment but also can work alone to research and investigate.
• An understanding of clean room practice/cGMP and laboratory/GLP environments is required.
• The qualified candidate must understand the concepts of risk management as it relates to microbial monitoring and sterility assurance in a medical device manufacturing environment.
• Controlled environment monitoring
• Water system monitoring
• Bacterial endotoxin test method validation and monitoring
• Bioburden test method validation and monitoring
• Radiation sterilization validation and dose audit management
• Ethylene oxide sterilization validation and requalification
• Reprocessible device cleaning and sterilization validation

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily:

• Generation and execution of microbial method validation protocols and reports including the writing, routing, and approval of summary documentation.
• Design experimental plans to address specific microbiological quality issues as needed.
• Manage sample/testing processing with onsite and third-party labs, ensure timely testing and result reporting.
• Ensure compliance of microbiology procedures, validations, and records with all company policies and procedures and appropriate regulations, including, but not limited to, FDA and ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AAMI ST72, ISO 11737, ISO 14644, ISO 14698, ISO 11137, ISO 11135, AAMI ST98, ISO 17664, CMDR, Medical Device Directive, and USP.
• Interpret microbiological data in order to identify trends and issues that require investigation and/or remediation.
• Contribute to risk management activities including PFMEA generation and gap assessments.
• Scheduling coordination, material allocation, and alignment of personnel in order to successfully complete project assignments.
• Create site procedures for microbiological testing and sampling in alignment with global procedures, validations, and in compliance with applicable regulations.
• Serve as Microbiology representative on cross-functional teams for transfer, NPI, and other projects as necessary, including supervision of contract resources.
• Work in controlled environment monitoring, water system monitoring, compressed air monitoring, bacterial endotoxin test method validation and monitoring, bioburden test method validation and monitoring, ethylene oxide sterilization, radiation sterilization and dose audit management, and repressible device cleaning and sterilization validation is strongly preferred.
• Ensure that all projects follow cGMP, cGLP, QSR (including Design Controls), ISO or other applicable requirements.
• Support and address comments and suggestions associated with sterilization and microbiological test method validations and monitoring procedures.
• Change control, non-conformance, and CAPA support as a microbiology and sterility assurance subject matter expert.
• Support the department manager with coordinating workflow and providing guidance in the resolution of problems or areas of concern.

Minimum required education and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 7 years of experience, Master’s degree with 4 years of experience, Doctoral degree with 2 years of experience.
• Bachelor’s, or preferably Master of Science degree, in Microbiology or similar discipline.
• Demonstrates excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Results-oriented with a strong focus on quality principles.
• Excellent technical writing skills with an understanding of good documentation practice.
• Experience conducting microbial test method validations and managing projects independently.
• Experience creating and changing procedures used in operations for microbiological monitoring of the environment and products.
• Working knowledge of applicable microbiology standards including, but not limited to, AAMI ST72, ISO 11737, ISO 14644, ISO 14698, ISO 11137, ISO 11135, AAMI ST98, ISO 176647, and USP.
• Ability to track milestones and manage projects.
• Working knowledge of applicable regulations and their interpretation within industry.
• Ability to travel 25%.