Microbiology Lab Technician

**UNILEVER IS LOOKING FOR A MICROBIOLOGY LAB TECHNICIAN - FOODS**

Location: Wageningen, Hive, The Netherlands

Full-time

Local conditions apply

Travel: 5%

Salary indication: Euro 3100 - Euro 4000 per month (without holiday allowance)

**JOB PURPOSE**:
The Science & Technology (S&T) team in the Foods business group is an agile team of enthusiastic world-class scientists who deliver business relevant solutions underpinning brand innovation programs, based on scientific and technological capabilities. One such key capability is Microbiology, accountable for the delivery of microbiological solutions across R&D and Supply Chain (SC). The strength of the team lies in the integration of microbiological and processing knowledge for R&D to develop safe/stable formulation & process designs to deliver winning products.

As a Microbiology Lab Technician, you will work in the microbiology team delivering up-front solutions and security across our R&D innovation portfolio and business operations, supporting iconic brands such as Lipton, Hellmann’s and Knorr. Science-driven microbiological support is a critical business need as it: (1) provides the unlock for faster and sustainable innovation, incident prevention and mitigation (2) provides a solid basis to perform microbiological risk assessments and (3) enables the business to deliver better for you and better for the planet products.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**

Working as an integral member of our enthusiastic team of microbiologists, you will play a key role in supporting the team with maintaining the culture collection, supporting sample clearance and practical lab studies for new products and processes development projects in R&D. You ensure end-to-end quality in microbiology science-based support, including data analysis and visualization, interpretation & presentation, and reporting to the team.

Main responsibilities include:

- Daily start-up of laboratory equipment, setting up and performing lab analyses (e.g. melting/preparing media, diluents, autoclaving).
- Support Microbiological Clearance of pilot plant samples prepared at Hive.
- Ordering Microbiological media and consumables.
- Assisting with the confirmation, recording, and reporting of results.
- Preparing cultures of microorganisms required for experiments and for the maintenance of the Culture Collection.
- Arranging microbiological stain identifications with external suppliers.
- Assist Microbiologists on performing microbiological laboratory experiments to ensure correct and reliable data are provided for microbiological risk assessment and incident support.
- Teamwork in maintaining a high-quality laboratory environment and efficient working practices.
- Keeping the laboratories and workspaces clean and organized, supporting the activities required to maintain a high-quality standard of the analyses and work.

**ALL ABOUT YOU**
- MLO or HBO (intermediate
- or higher laboratory education, Microbiology), preference for previous experience supporting a Microbiology lab in a food industry context.
- Good working knowledge and experience of microbiological procedures including:

- aseptic techniques
- culturing bacteria and/or fungi
- classical microbiology (e.g. dilutions, pour plate, spread plate, enrichments),
- use of single and multichannel pipettes, safety cabinets, autoclave, etc.
- preparation of basic laboratory reagents and culture media
- following standard scientific procedures, international standards (ISO) and associated safe handling
- Ability to work independently under the guidance of a Microbiologist.
- Ability to learn and adapt to the different tasks where appropriate, demonstrating an ability to problem-solving where necessary.
- Basic working knowledge and experience of using Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and LIMS. More extensive digital skills would be a plus.
- Good communication skills, both written and oral.

**WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?**

Unilever is the place where you can be yourself and bring your purpose to life with the work that you do - creating a better business and a better world. We offer an exciting & dynamic work environment where you can make things happen. Furthermore, we offer some great reward and benefits
- Attractive total remuneration package; excellent company pension, bonus, share scheme.
- Flexible cross-disciplinary career opportunities and a wealth of training opportunities & wellbeing resources whenever and wherever.
- Plenty of company-paid holidays to further ensure your work-life balance is maintained.
- We encourage an inclusive culture, which comes to life with interchangeable public holidays, paid paternity leave of 6 weeks and our transgender policy.
- Under the Hybrid Working principles, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 40%-60% in the office or at customers, suppliers or partners to connect and collaborate. For the time you work from home, we will ensure you are well equipped. When you are at the office