R&D Microbiology Scientist - Leicester, United Kingdom

PepsiCo R&D is looking for R&D Microbiology Scientist to join in Leicester. 

Job Purpose

Food Safety and Quality Assurance Centre of Excellence defines and governs PepsiCo food safety and quality requirements enabling the manufacture of safe, stable and legal products for Europe. Ensure PepsiCo delivers compliance while enabling innovation, leveraging a risk based approach.

• Work closely with Europe BU cross functional teams in Product Development, FSQA, Quality Control and Regulatory Affairs) to retrieve relevant information for microbiological review of innovation and legacy products and ingredients
• Review and interpret this information into “microbiologically sound language”
• Connect regularly with other region and Global Principle Microbiologists as the Europe representative on latest and updated microbiology standards, methodology and regulatory requirements
• Coordinate with 3rd party microbiology laboratories during lab audits and attend on site laboratory visits when required
• Coordinate with the 3rd party microbiology laboratories on test results when there are additional reviews needed on test results
• Role out PSIP deployment across Europe which includes integration of Mergers and Acquisitions
• Provide subject matter expertise on ingredient and finished product specifications, including Micro Sampling plans and alignment of additional Mergers and Aquisitons to the PepsiCo requirements.
• Provide on the ground PEM support as and when applicable across Europe.
• Execute on Laboratory and methods approvals and other required research studies when needed
• Continue the day-to-day support and troubleshooting as required by plants across Europe
• Subject matter expertise in area of microbiological methods and risk assessments. 

• BS, Btech degree or similar on Microbiology, Food Science, Biotechnology or food safety
• At least 2-3 years hands-on micro lab testing experience
• At least 3-5 years laboratory management
• Detailed microbiology reporting skills (oral and written)
• Familiar with functional computer software skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Drive agendas to meet business timelines
• Monitors progress against goals, identifies issues and takes necessary corrective action
• Self-starter able to work independently and within cross functional teams
• Ability to travel across Europe when required in managing business needs.