Corporate Microbiologist

Primary Location :

Bolingbrook, Illinois, United States of America

At Solina, our community of close to 5,000 people share a passion for food and live our entrepreneurial culture.

We design customised savoury solutions for our clients operating in the food industry, food service, butchery and nutrition markets. With sustainability at the heart of our business model, we aim to produce food that is good in every sense of the word: delicious, nourishing, affordable, sustainable and convenient.

Solina is a fast-growing business, with around 50 production sites and R&D laboratories present in more than 19 countries mainly in Europe and North America.

By constantly rethinking culinary solutions,
we make food matter for people and the planet
.

If you're ready for a new adventure in a dynamic, expanding, passionate, international company,
join us !

Solina USA, is a proud Solina Group company, specializing in the creation of customized seasonings and sauces. We take pride in our four strategically located production facilities across the United States which empower us to deliver high-quality, innovative flavor solutions efficiently to our customers. Our focus is on catering to Quick Service Restaurants, Fast casual, Casual dining, and food manufacturers, where our commitment lies in providing exceptional flavor solutions tailored to their unique needs.

Solina USA has a proven national reputation of providing an exceptional customer experience by providing a high-quality product at a cost-competitive price point. We create dynamic relationships where our creativity can be visible through our customers culinary vision making "Food Matter."

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Corporate Microbiologist is a key technical leader responsible for ensuring the microbiological safety, quality, and regulatory compliance of the company's portfolio of dressings, sauces, and spice blends. This role serves as the company's Process Authority for acidified foods, providing expert review, validation, and oversight of thermal and acidification processes in accordance with FDA requirements.

In addition, the Corporate Microbiologist partners closely with R&D, Technical Services, Regulatory Affairs, Operations, and Quality teams to guide food safety decisions throughout the product lifecycle-from concept development to commercialization. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in food microbiology, strong communication skills, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

This document in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying the position.

• Provide and apply technical knowledge (data, literature, etc.) and leadership to assure that the manufacturing processes and environments are microbiologically safe for the production of food products.

• Evaluate and provide guidance on proper design of food processing equipment to world-class RTE standards.

• Conduct and document data based risk assessments using technical, scientific, regulatory, and industry inputs. This include active review, interpretation, and communication of recommendations for food safety assessments or investigations.

• Interpret sensitive food safety related technical information and provide objective science based recommendations.

• Process Authority & Regulatory Compliance (Acidified Foods)

o Serve as the company's designated Process Authority for acidified food products, ensuring compliance with appropriate FDA regulations.

o Review, validate, and approve acidified product formulations, pH targets, critical factors, and thermal/hold processes.

o Create, verify, and maintain process filings and scheduled processes for the FDA.

o Conduct or oversee validation studies, challenge studies, and hazard assessments to support product safety.

• Food Microbiology & Safety Expertise

o Provide subject-matter expertise on microbiological hazards, shelf-life, and preservation strategies for new and existing products.

o Support the design and interpretation of microbiological testing plans, challenge studies, and environmental monitoring programs.

o Evaluate ingredient and process changes for microbiological impact…