The Microbiology Laboratory Manager is responsible for ensuring the consistent production of safe, compliant food products by leading all microbiological testing activities for the Liverpool plant.

This 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 full adherence to Danone’s global Analytical Excellence (AE) standards and local legal requirements, while maintaining a safe, contamination‑controlled laboratory environment.

This role is critical in a high‑risk, Specialized Nutrition manufacturing context, requiring strong technical expertise, sound risk‑based decision‑making, and leadership under pressure.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY 

1. Quality Assurance in lab:

• Lead the implementation of testing methods in alignment with Global AE (KARMA) and ISO 17025 principles.
• Ensure a robust Quality Management System (QMS), 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.

2. Laboratory Operations Management:

• Oversee daily lab activities, ensure compliance with control plan, test protocols, and manage equipment calibration and maintenance.   
• Manage finished product release according to predefined requirements.  
• Ensure raw materials, materials, semi-finished products and packaging are analyzed according to current control plans and released for production if they meet quality requirements. 
• Interpret test results and signaling quality non-conformities related to raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished products. 
• Ensure analytical performance of the laboratory  
• Define and manage KPIs for laboratory performance management in line with customer (factory, …) requirements. 
• Ensure proper layout and workflow to avoid risks of cross-contamination. 
• Lead lab continuous improvement (non-conformities management, internal audits).  
• Analyze, review and approve lab results, and communicate reports to internal and external stakeholders. 
• Provide data/calculate KPIs defined for Quality Control. 
• Ensure the laboratory is developing and implementing digitalization and automation solutions.

3. Team Leadership and Capability Development

• Lead, develop, coach, and evaluate the laboratory team, ensuring high levels of technical competence and engagement.
• Manage staffing levels, scheduling, workload distribution, and succession planning.
• Ensure all analysts (including those outside QFS performing testing) maintain up‑to‑date training records and competency assessments.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, continuous learning, and scientific excellence.

4. Budget and Resource Management:

• Develop and manage the laboratory budget, including labor, consumables, external testing, and equipment.
• Optimize resource allocation while ensuring compliance and quality performance.
• Identify investment needs to support digitalization, automation, and method improvements.

5. Crises and Incident Management:

• Support crisis management activities defined by the QFS Plant Quality Leader.
• Ensure rapid, clear, evidence‑based communication to stakeholders.

6. Stakeholder management:

• Partner with Operations, QFS, Engineering, and other functions to ensure testing supports production needs.
• Manage the relationship and performance of external laboratories.
• Represent the laboratory in internal forums, IWS pillar activities, audits, and governance routines.
• Serve as owner of designated IWS Quality Pillar systems, contributing to loss elimination and standard execution.

Competencies:

• Strong leadership, team motivation, and interpersonal skills
• Strategic thinking and project management
• Structured problem-solving and analytical mindset
• Risk-based decision-making and prioritization
• 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 i.e. humanism, openness, proximity and enthusiasm 
• Put Danone First - you act and work as one team, across countries and functions. Deep understanding of internal and external stakeholders, from Zone/CBU QFS to consumers and patients. Anticipate and answer their needs 
• Lead with People - you grow as leader by developing others; value diverse talents and collaboration to foster collective performance 
• We keep it simple - you deal with complexity by bringing focus and a pragmatic approach 
• Be Accountable - you are decisive, and fact based; demonstrate agility in critical thinking and risk assessment, test to learn and improve, foster excellence in execution, able to deliver short term results and secure the long term 
• Walk the Talk - you do what you say, acting as role model 
• Demonstrate courage and empathy – nurture resilience and act with conviction. Engage positively and respectfully
• Resilience is key in this position to be able to deal with changing prioritization, dealing with the pressure coming from escalations from the factory 

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.