Laboratory Technician – Microbiology

Order Number: 1780
Position: Laboratory Technician
Division: Manufacturing
Location: Malbrook
Duration: 4 Months
Hourly Rate: £24.52PAYE or £26.88 Umbrella/Ltd Company

Position Description:
Purpose: To provide a range of microbiological and analytical tests for the Marlbrook site

Skills Required:
Monitor the factory working environment and products for microbiological and analytical activity by taking, analysing and reporting on samples from factory buildings, specific service equipment, ingredients and product.

Skills Preferred:
Report back to the business via the required spreadsheets and databases i.e. SAP Use systems to accumulate data and generate report on fats, moistures, total solids and losses to support internal trending and recipe control. Respond to ad hoc queries when required. Working with hazardous chemicals on a regular basis. Samples are collected from the factory and the effluent plant. High level of attention and precision required throughout shift. Operating seven day cover shift pattern. Saturdays are covered by rota, Sundays covered by overtime if applicable. There is a high degree of unsupervised working in this position, especially at weekends, where site management rely on job holders technical ability to enable the decision making process. It is also the job holders responsibility to initiate remedial measures by raising and processing NCRs and to use knowledge, experience and expertise to determine when tests should be repeated and what confirmation tests are necessary. Internal communication is with site management and employees and with management on other sites. To inform the relevant site management when samples are out of specification and raise the appropriate NCR.

Experience Required:
Monitor the factory working environment and products for microbiological and analytical activity by taking, analysing and reporting on samples from factory buildings, specific service equipment, ingredients and product. Report back to the business via the required spreadsheets and databases i.e. SAP Use systems to accumulate data and generate report on fats, moistures, total solids and losses to support internal trending and recipe control. Respond to ad hoc queries when required. Working with hazardous chemicals on a regular basis. Samples are collected from the factory and the effluent plant. High level of attention and precision required throughout shift. Operating seven day cover shift pattern. Saturdays are covered by rota, Sundays covered by overtime if applicable.

Experience Preferred:
There is a high degree of unsupervised working in this position, especially at weekends, where site management rely on job holders technical ability to enable the decision making process. It is also the job holders responsibility to initiate remedial measures by raising and processing NCRs and to use knowledge, experience and expertise to determine when tests should be repeated and what confirmation tests are necessary. Internal communication is with site management and employees and with management on other sites. To inform the relevant site management when samples are out of specification and raise the appropriate NCR. Where appropriate raise and send COA certificates, after confirming all results are within specification. Interact with other departments to facilitate the positive clearance of process and product. Provide data for Maintenance Managers on the performance of milk density meters, cooling towers, potable water system and the effluent plant. A level of confidentiality is required when discussing issues in view of emotiveness of terms used, i.e. salmonella. The job holder does calibrate test equipment according to ISO 9002 work instructions and commission new laboratory equipment including writing test methods and work instructions where applicable. Record working temperatures of incubators, ovens and water baths and take remedial action if the temperatures are outside the range.

Education Required:
ONC (or equivalent) in Science, including Microbiology, or Laboratory Technician NVQ level 3 (or equivalent). Two years’ experience in using Laboratory Techniques. Understanding of root cause and corrective/preventative action tools such as 5 whys, to actively support the NCR process when reporting OOS results. Good communication skills and is confident using computers and different types of programmes.

Additional Information:
8.30am – 17.00hrs Mon – Friday – Weekend Rotation 3 Days per week Weds, Thurs and Friday then Weds, Thurs and Saturday