Microbiology Team Lead - Pharmaceutical/Cosmetics

Job Description

🔬 Ready to lead breakthrough microbiology initiatives while advancing your technical expertise? Join a dynamic team where your leadership directly impacts product safety and regulatory compliance!

The Opportunity Our client is an established mid-size pharmaceutical and cosmetics manufacturer in Ohio known for their collaborative, innovation-driven, and quality-first culture. This facility specializes in FDA OTC drugs, EPA-registered disinfectants, and cosmetic formulations with state-of-the-art laboratory capabilities.

As Microbiology Team Lead, you'll drive both technical excellence and team development while ensuring 100% regulatory compliance across diverse product portfolios. This hybrid leadership role combines hands-on laboratory expertise with strategic oversight of critical quality control operations.

What You'll Accomplish

• Lead cross-functional microbiology initiatives supporting OTC efficacy studies, disinfectant testing, and preservative challenge protocols
• Mentor and develop laboratory analysts while personally conducting complex microbiological investigations and root cause analyses
• Drive compliance excellence through validation protocol development, FDA audit support, and cGMP/GLP standard implementation
• Execute critical testing including USP preservative efficacy, antimicrobial effectiveness, and environmental monitoring programs
• Partner with manufacturing teams to implement contamination prevention strategies and process improvements
• Maintain cryopreserved cultures, prepare specialized media, and perform advanced microbial identification using validated methods

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Biology, or related scientific field
• 5-10 years Quality Control Microbiology experience in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or regulated industries
• 3-5 years hands-on microbiology experience in manufacturing environments
• Expertise in aseptic technique, microbial enumeration, and identification methods
• Strong knowledge of FDA, EPA, and regulatory guidelines
• Proven ability to write and execute microbiological method validations

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in microbiology or related field
• Experience with hygienic manufacturing practices and contamination root cause analysis
• Direct FDA audit experience with OTC drug products
• Leadership experience mentoring technical teams

Why You'll Love This Role Market competitive salary plus performance bonuses, comprehensive benefits from Day 1, and excellent work-life balance in a supportive team environment. This growing company offers clear advancement paths with opportunities to shape laboratory operations and mentor the next generation of microbiologists.

The close-knit scientific team values innovation, continuous learning, and celebrates both individual achievements and collaborative successes. You'll work in modern facilities with cutting-edge equipment while building expertise across multiple regulated product categories.

Ready to make an impact? Apply via LinkedIn and Pave Talent will contact qualified candidates. Confidential search - your application is fully private. Apply now!