Department: QA

Employment Type: Permanent

Education

- B.Sc / M.Sc Food Technology
- Microbiology / Life Sciences / Fisheries

Skills
- FSMS, HACCP, Audits
- Seafood/Meat Processing
- Food Safety & Manufacturing

Job Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities for QA Executive Microbiologist Factory Role to manage the QA activities as per FSSAI and FSSC 20000 requirements and Microbiology Lab with the QA team.

The Executive Microbiology is responsible for ensuring microbiological safety and quality of raw materials, packaging materials, process water, environmental samples, in-process materials, and finished products through routine laboratory testing and environmental monitoring. The role supports compliance with FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, HACCP, FSSAI regulations, GMP, GHP, and internal Quality Management Systems by conducting microbiological analysis, maintaining laboratory operations, supporting verification and validation activities, and ensuring effective monitoring of food safety controls.

Key Responsibilities

Microbiological Testing

- Perform microbiological analysis of raw materials, packaging materials, work-in-progress, process water, environmental swabs, and finished products
- Conduct routine microbiological tests including but not limited to:
- Total Plate Count (TPC)
- Yeast & Mold
- Coliforms
- Escherichia coli
- Salmonella spp.
- Listeria spp.
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Bacillus cereus (where applicable)
- Enterobacteriaceae

- Ensure all testing is performed using approved methods such as:

- FSSAI Manual of Methods
- ISO Standards
- BIS Standards
- APHA Methods
- AOAC Official Methods

- Interpret microbiological results and promptly report any deviations or out-of-specification (OOS) findings

Laboratory Operations

- Prepare, sterilize, and standardize microbiological media, reagents, buffers, and cultures
- Ensure proper storage, handling, and disposal of microbiological cultures and laboratory waste




- Maintain laboratory cleanliness, biosafety, and housekeeping as per laboratory safety requirements
- Operate, calibrate, verify, and maintain microbiological laboratory equipment including:
- Incubators
- Autoclaves
- Colony counters
- Laminar Air Flow units
- pH meters
- Analytical balances
- Water baths
- Refrigerators and freezers

- Maintain calibration and preventive maintenance records

Food Safety & FSSC 22000 Compliance

- Support implementation and maintenance of the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) in accordance with FSSC 22000 Version 6
- Conduct environmental monitoring programs for food contact and non-food contact surfaces
- Verify sanitation and hygiene effectiveness through environmental swabbing and microbiological trend analysis
- Support verification of prerequisite programs (PRPs), cleaning validation, sanitation validation, and disinfection effectiveness
- Participate in food safety verification activities as required under the FSMS

Documentation & Record Management

- Maintain accurate laboratory records, worksheets, logbooks, and test reports
- Ensure complete traceability of all samples tested
- Review analytical data for completeness and accuracy before release
- Maintain laboratory documentation in accordance with document control

Additional Responsibilities

- Implement, monitor, and improve FSMS, SOPs, SSOPs, Quality Control Plans, HACCP Plan In-line QA documents and related documentation
- Conduct process evaluations, internal audits, and testing to meet food safety and legal requirements
- Review and maintain documents for RM, PM, FG specifications, GMP, COA, and audit reports and support both internal and external audits
- Monitor External microbiology lab testing, sampling, and reporting as per internal procedures

Travel: Some travel will be required within the region and nationally as per requirement

IT Skills: Basic computer skill of MS Office is a must

Language: Regional/English and Hindi proficiency is required

📌 QA Executive microbiologist (Chikkagubbi)
🏢 Cephas Consultancy Services
📍 Chikkagubbi