Microbiology Analyst

Curia provides global contract research and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We have a fantastic opportunity to come and join our growing Microbiology team here in Glasgow. If you are looking for your first role after your degree or in the early stages of your career within a successful, growing, fast paced global organisation, then we would love to hear from you and have you join our talented workforce, where a commitment to excellence and a customer focused attitude is everything.

We pursue excellence because our work has the power to improve patients’ lives with the pharmaceuticals we develop and manufacture.

Our Microbiology Department operates as a support function for the facility, ensuring that all samples (API, excipients, in-process samples, finished product samples, stability samples and water testing) are sampled, received, controlled and tested in a timely fashion. As part of production support, effective environmental monitoring, staff gown monitoring and overall direction regarding maintenance of effective microbial control is performed. All work is performed within the Glasgow facility and operates to ensure that sterile products are manufactured to GMP in a consistent manner.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Enumeration of microbial growth from environmental monitoring plates and other microbial samples
• Microbial identification via Gram stain, spore stain & Vitek
• Sampling of process water and Total Viable Count (TVC), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and pH testing of process water sample
• Downloading and assessment of particle counts
• Perform ‘at rest’ environmental monitoring
• Perform training and gowning monitoring of cleanroom operators and maintain gown qualification personally
• Inspection and growth promotion of pre-prepared and PST media
• Perform relevant checks including airflow, temperature checks of incubators, fridges and freezers, prodigy checks and trending and equipment calibration checks (e.g. pipettes, water bath etc)
• Identifying system failures and report to more senior members of department and line management in a timely manner and following departmental SOPs.
• Reporting of OOS / atypicals to key personnel
• Perform cleanroom disinfectant testing
• Bioburden validation
• Ensuring correct receipt, labelling & storage of samples within the laboratory
• Performs routine testing in accordance with designated specifications, protocols and relevant SOPs.
• Ensures completion and filing of relevant certificates/documentation/reports is performed in adherence with GMP and departmental procedures
• Archiving of documentation (onsite and offsite)
• Ensures laboratory equipment is appropriately used in accordance with internal SOPs
• Lab housekeeping and maintenance of stock levels
• Product and water endotoxin testing by kinetic turbidometric method
• Sterility testing & validation using membrane filtration (e.g. Steritest)

Qualifications:

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent, in a Science related discipline, preferably Biology or Microbiology
• Experience of operating laboratory equipment.
• Good practical skills in Microbiology and it is an advantage to have knowledge and/or experience in a GMP environment, understanding of regulatory commitments, e.g. GMP, ICH, COSHH etc.
• Learning and Development is a key focus at Curia therefore, we would like an ongoing commitment to training and development in Microbiology or related field.

The role involves a high throughput of samples and therefore the Analyst must be able to:

• Effectively organise their own workload with guidance from your line manager.
• Adapt to changing priorities in workload without compromising quality.
• Remain aware of workload levels and priorities within the lab and communicate these to line management where necessary.
• Ensure good levels of documentation; legible writing; clear structure.
• Adopt right first time culture

This position will be well-suited to a recent graduate, at the early stages of their career. A full, extensive training program will be provided with the expectation to progress and develop quickly within an expanding team.

Excellent Benefits including: up to 9% contributed to pension, private healthcare, dental scheme, 4 x salary death in service, 34 rising to 39 holidays, holiday purchase scheme, gym contribution, cycle to work and much more

You must hold right to work in UK as sponsorship is unavailable at this time.

Job: Microbiology permanent contract

Primary Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom

Schedule: Full-time perm

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent, Graduate

Pay: From £21,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Bereavement leave
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee mentoring programme
• Free parking
• Gym membership
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Private dental insurance
• Private medical insurance
• Referral programme
• Sick pay
• Wellness programme

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Overtime

Licence/Certification:

• Right to work in the UK (required)

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: SW/BK0205