QA Senior Analyst Microbiology at The Heineken Company

Purpose of the job

• Act as the microbiological subject matter expert to safeguard food safety and product quality by ensuring effective microbiological and hygiene control across the brewery. 
• Prevent microbiological and hygiene related quality issues by validating and verifying the effectiveness of process controls, sanitation programmes and environmental conditions. 
• Support and enable Production and supporting functions to maintain stable, capable and well controlled processes, using data driven microbiological and hygiene insights.
• Drive continuous improvement of laboratory processes by implementing and sustaining corrective actions across microbiological domains (e.g., ISO 9001, LSS, TPM).
• Provide specialist governance and coordination for hygiene critical activities at site level.

Key Responsibilities

SAFETY, FOOD SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY

• Maintain a safe and compliant working environment within the laboratory and production areas, in line with SHE, food safety and hygiene standards. 
• Identify, assess and escalate microbiological, hygiene and food safety risks, and support timely closure of corrective and preventive actions. 
• Promote food safety and hygiene awareness across Production, Packaging and Utilities. 
• Support compliance with relevant quality, food safety and environmental standards. 

QUALITY OF ANALYSES

• Perform and oversee microbiological analyses in accordance with approved sampling plans, methods and Heineken laboratory standards. 
• Ensure accurate, reliable and timely reporting of microbiological results to support operational decision making. 
• Maintain microbiological QA systems to ensure first time right analysis and trend based risk identification. 
• Interpret microbiological and environmental monitoring data to identify deviations, trends and improvement opportunities. 

MICROBIOLOGICAL PROCESS CONTROL, TPM AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Conduct internal assessments of the plants’ Quality Management System through ICC and HOC evaluations and drive closure of findings.
• Assess process capability related to microbiological and hygiene control and determine the ability of processes to meet defined performance requirements. 
• Identify microbiological risks and systemic failures and drive corrective and preventive actions. 
• Support and contribute to TPM, PQ and UPS improvement teams with microbiological and hygiene expertise. 
• Analyse and trend microbiological and hygiene related data and initiate improvement actions
• Lead or support specific microbiological and hygiene related improvement projects.

EXECUTION OF ANALYSES 

• Perform microbiological analyses, including sampling, preparation and reporting, in accordance with approved laboratory methods and schedules.

HYGIENE GOVERNANCE AND SERVICE PROVIDER MANAGEMENT

Provide site level governance and specialist oversight for hygiene critical service providers, including: 

• Cleaning & Disinfectant (C&D) suppliers
• Pest Control service providers
• Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) supplier
• Define, review and maintain microbiological and hygiene requirements, specifications and standards applicable to service providers. 
• Verify effective implementation of cleaning, sanitation and pest control programmes through audits, inspections, validation and verification activities. 
• Review service provider performance against agreed hygiene critical KPIs and service levels, and drive corrective actions where required. 
• Support trials, optimisation and continuous improvement of cleaning chemicals, sanitation methods and pest control strategies to ensure effective hygiene control. 
• Ensure hygiene critical service providers are appropriately integrated into site food safety and quality management systems, including risk assessments, change management and documentation.

LABORATORY AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT 

• Maintain the microbiological laboratory to a professional standard in line with Heineken requirements. 
• Ensure microbiological equipment and facilities are maintained, calibrated and fit for purpose. 
• Ensure compliance with laboratory best practices, safety standards and calibration schedules.

MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION AND REPORTING

• Maintain microbiological and hygiene related data in relevant laboratory and quality information systems. 
• Analyse, interpret and report microbiological, environmental and hygiene related data. 
• Provide clear, actionable reporting to support food safety, process stability and quality performance. 
• Document trial outcomes, investigations and improvement actions.

PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT AND CAPABILITY BUILDING 

• Support the development of Brewing, Packaging and Utilities teams in microbiological control, basic hygiene and food safety principles. 
• Coach and support operators and technicians in microbiological awareness and hygiene best practices. 
• Participate in performance discussions related to microbiological control and hygiene risks. 
• Facilitate problem solving sessions and provide technical input to support decision making.
• Communicate and support implementation of new standards and removal of redundant practices.
• Promote personal development and continuous improvement in functional and behavioral competencies, including knowledge sharing and reapplication.
• Build own expertise and share knowledge and skills to enhance team performance, consistency and effectiveness

Job Requirements

Education

• Tertiary Qualification: National Diploma, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology or Chemical Engineering.

Experience 

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in microbiological, quality or food safety roles, preferably within the brewing or food manufacturing environment.
• Microbiological process control and environmental monitoring 
• Hygiene and food safety management systems 
• TPM / PQ / Lean / Six Sigma methodologies 
• Supplier and service provider governance related to hygiene and food safety 
• Brewing, Packaging and/or Utilities exposure

Closing date: 12 June 2026