National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Senior Lab Technician - Microbiology, Sterility and Lungworm

Merck & Co., Inc.
Milton Keynes
5 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Microbiogist Lab Technician

Graduate Lab Technician

Lab technician (Battery Startup)

Graduate Chemist

Senior Laboratory Service Engineer

Product Development Technician (Food, Nutrition & Wellbeing)

Job Description

We are a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. Today, we are building a new kind of healthcare company - one that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us. Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity, and teamwork of an individual like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and teamwork. As part of our global team, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.


Position:Senior Lab Technician
Location:Milton Keynes
Department:Quality Control - Microbiological/Sterility Testing Laboratory


Purpose of role:
To provide technical and practical expertise for Microbiology and Sterility test methods to QC labs in the UK and liaise with other sites. To assist different functions on site for investigations, troubleshooting, change and CAPA implementation in relation to aseptic manufacture and monitoring. This role also involves support in testing of finished products and intermediates in accordance with GMP, dossier and relevant pharmacopoeia requirements.


Key Accountabilities and Duties:

  1. To perform and oversee testing of all samples submitted to the micro and sterility department (including EM, water, intermediate and finished products) in accordance with GMP, dossier, quality guidelines and where relevant, as per pharmacopoeia requirements (testing includes Bioburdens, Lungworm, plate reading, sterility testing, growth promotion and Inactivation's).
  2. Training of new staff and ongoing training of staff in new or improved methods. Ensure training documents are kept up to date.
  3. Identifies and facilitates Continuous Improvement opportunities which will improve productivity or result with cost saving.
  4. Drive change management for introduction of new / improved methods and validation of new equipment and validation on new biomaterials.
  5. Chair Environmental monitoring meetings and author Environmental monitoring trend reports.
  6. Release of batches in accordance with LROT and LTA, escalating any potential affect to supply.
  7. Provide the required data for the Product Quality Reviews, as required.
  8. Update SOP's, and Specs ensuring they are current and relevant.
  9. SAP - ensure timely completion of results in SAP and up to date specifications for microbiology lab tests.
  10. Investigations:
    • To be able to lead complex investigations for out of specification and out of trend test results. Finding root causes and raise appropriate CAPA actions. Ability to lead these as cross functional investigations, when required.
    • Assist lab leads to ensure successful CAPA completion and verification including training of staff in new/improved test methods.
  11. Ensure QMS commitments and timelines such as CAPA's, change controls and deviations are adhered to.
  12. Production Support - Offer support to Production for manufacturing issues relating to QC testing.
  13. Health and safety representative for QC:
    • Participate in departmental safety meetings.
    • To qualify as COSHH, Manual handling and Risk Assessor.
  14. Promote safety within the laboratory areas, by carrying out safety observations, ensuring correct signage and maintaining COSHH documentation to prevent or reduce unnecessary exposure to hazardous substances.
  15. Deputise for the team leader to attend capacity and production tier meetings, as required.
  16. Support the team leader to prepare the schedule for the Microbiology/Sterility Lab and laboratory work, including arranging cover for weekends and holidays.
  17. Assist Procurement and QA with changes relating to external suppliers of test materials and other critical consumables used for testing.


Closing date for application:27/01/2025


Qualifications:
Degree in Microbiology or related Biological Sciences - Science Degree


Skills and Ability:
Project management, Proficient in use of Microsoft Office especially Excel and Word. Good Protocol, hypothesis and Report writing skills. Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues. Able to communicate at all levels and across all functions. Ability to communicate concise technical information with clarity. Good Time Management in a high flow through laboratory. Flexible approach to changing priorities. Attention to detail.


Requirements:
Microbiology/Sterility lab experience, GMP Compliance, SAP/LIMS knowledge, Experience with excellent understanding of testing within a laboratory environment, Laboratory investigations, Method and equipment validation, Method Transfers.


Current Employees apply HERE


Current Contingent Workers apply HERE


Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully:
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.


Employee Status:
Regular


Relocation:


VISA Sponsorship:


Travel Requirements:


Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable


Shift:


Valid Driving License:


Hazardous Material(s):


Job Posting End Date:
01/28/2025


*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

National AI Awards 2025

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Biotech Jobs Skills Radar 2026: Emerging Tools, Platforms & Technologies to Learn Now

The UK biotechnology sector is entering a new era—fuelled by AI integration, synthetic biology, and next-gen diagnostics. With biotech investment breaking records and a surge in demand for skilled talent across R&D, biomanufacturing, and regulatory fields, it’s vital for job seekers to future-proof their skillsets. Welcome to the Biotech Jobs Skills Radar 2026—a forward-looking guide to the emerging tools, lab techniques, platforms, and digital skills driving hiring in the UK's biotechnology industry. This radar is updated annually to help students, researchers, and transitioning professionals stay competitive in a fast-changing landscape.

How to Find Hidden Biotechnology Jobs in the UK Using Professional Bodies like the RSB, BIA, BioIndustry Association & More

The UK biotechnology sector is thriving. From cutting-edge gene therapies and synthetic biology to bio-manufacturing and agricultural innovation, the demand for skilled biotech professionals continues to grow. Yet many of the best opportunities—particularly in early-stage companies, startups, and research-intensive roles—are never listed on conventional job boards. So where do these hidden biotech jobs live? Often, they’re shared through word-of-mouth, member networks, or professional communities—especially those associated with leading biotech institutions and associations. Whether you’re a graduate looking for your first role, a research scientist ready to move into industry, or a regulatory professional seeking your next challenge, joining the right professional bodies can give you exclusive access to job leads, collaborations, and insider opportunities. In this article, we’ll show you how to strategically leverage UK-based organisations such as the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), BioIndustry Association (BIA), and Biotech and Life Sciences Networks to uncover hidden jobs and build a long-term, sustainable career in biotechnology.

How to Get a Better Biotechnology Job After a Lay-Off or Redundancy

Being made redundant from a biotechnology role can come as a shock, especially when your work involves complex research, innovation, and long development cycles. Whether due to funding cuts, mergers, shifting priorities in pharma or medtech, or economic turbulence, redundancies in biotech are becoming more common. But this doesn’t have to be the end of your career trajectory. In fact, many professionals go on to find better, more rewarding roles after a redundancy. With the UK’s biotech sector still growing rapidly across life sciences, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biomanufacturing, and synthetic biology, new opportunities are emerging every day. This guide will help you bounce back with purpose. From mental reset and CV refresh to recruiter outreach and sector-specific job search tips, here’s how to turn redundancy into a career upgrade.