Senior Microbiologist

Rich's, also known as Rich Products Corporation, is a family-owned food company dedicated to inspiring possibilities. From cakes and icings to pizza, appetizers and specialty toppings, our products are used in homes, restaurants and bakeries around the world. Beyond great food, our customers also gain insights to help them stay competitive, no matter their size. Our portfolio includes creative solutions geared at helping food industry professionals compete in food service, retail, in-store bakery, deli, and prepared foods, among others.

Working in 100 locations globally, with annual sales exceeding $4 billion, Rich's is a global leader with a focus on everything that family makes possible. Rich's-Infinite Possibilities. One Family.

Purpose Statement

The Senior Food Microbiologist provides expert technical leadership in supporting product development, product testing, food safety troubleshooting, microbiological risk mitigation and innovation initiatives. This role supports internal and external stakeholders through product shelf life studies, challenge studies, evaluating raw materials against microbiological specification, leading microbiological investigations using advanced molecular & analytical tools, validating emerging microbiological technologies, and the maintenance of compliant testing methodologies.

The position manages both internal and external microbiology laboratory networks and ensures that sensitive technical information is accurately interpreted, stored, and communicated to senior Quality Assurance & Food Safety leadership.

The Senior Microbiologist ensures microbiological safety and product quality in alignment with internal standards, customer expectations, and state/federal regulations. The ideal candidate is highly analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable collaborating cross-functionally with RIC, Procurement and Supply Chain.

This role is based in Buffalo, NY, with expected travel of up to 25%.

Key Accountabilities and Outcomes

* Apply advanced knowledge of food microbiology to support food product development, design, execute and interpret microbial shelf life studies for new and existing product.

* Support Product Development with microbial risk assessment and advice on formulation, processing and preservative strategies.

* Plan, organize, and execute moderate scope microbiology projects, including experimental design and method development. Develop and optimize study protocols, sampling plans and analytical approaches ensuring scientific and regulatory compliance.

* Conduct necessary microbiological analyses including culturing, incubation, detection, microscopy, molecular methods, analytical testing, and statistical interpretation.

* Verify and validate microbial control aspects of manufacturing processes.

* Ensure the accuracy and reliability of analytical results and maintain a sanitary, safe, and compliant laboratory environment.

* Troubleshoot moderate complexity technical issues and develop scientifically sound solutions.

* Operate, maintain, and manage microbiology equipment and laboratory spaces, including BSL 2 and BSL 3 environments.

* Maintain inventories, laboratory notebooks, and digital records;
Have experience of utilizing Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).

* Design and execute stability testing, and microbial challenge studies to assess product process, and package stability.

* Investigate product spoilage and support problem solving across business units.

* Collaborate with external laboratories, academic partners, suppliers, and equipment vendors as needed.

* Utilize advanced molecular testing techniques (e.g., PCR, PFGE, MLST, WGS) and platforms such as Illumina and Bio Log.

* Review, evaluate and approve raw material, ensuring supplier compliance with microbiological specifications. Partner with procurement, supply QA to support raw material risk assessment, supplier qualification and corrective action/RCA.

* Audit and qualify microbiological labs and lab material suppliers.

* Support Rich Products business objectives through related responsibilities as assigned.

* Evaluate and verify emerging microbiological technologies to enhance product safety and shelf life.

* Represent Rich Products as a subject matter expert at professional scientific meetings, working groups, and committees.

* Train and monitor new associates or interns, provide technical guidance within the microbiological business partner.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

* B.S. in Microbiology, Food Science, or related field with 6+ years of relevant food industry/Microbiological or Molecular laboratory experience; OR

M.S. in related discipline with 4+ years of experience.

* Hands-on experience with challenge studies, shelf life testing and microbial method development and verification.

* Proficient in advanced microbiological tools, such as WGS, strain typing, PCR, rapid detection methods.

* Deep expertise in food microbiology, food chemistry, food safety systems, manufacturing processes, material…