Laboratory Technologist Specialist (Microbiology)

About the function:

Our Supply Chain and Manufacturing team are problem-solvers, sourcing, producing, and delivering our much-loved brands to delight customers around the globe. Over half of Diageo’s 30,000+ people work in Supply Chain and Manufacturing. It’s an intricate and sophisticated operation that’s the product of logistical, manufacturing, and technical collaborations.

Our teams in 100 sites in over 30 countries cover production facilities, supplier relationships, customer collaborations and third-party agreements. We’re committed to realising our ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress’ goals, to protect the environment and support our farmers and suppliers. Whatever your skills and experience, we’ll help you to thrive in our inclusive culture.

Purpose of the role:

This role reports to the Group Microbiologist and sits within the Science & Technology team which is part of Diageo Global Technical. This role is part of the microbiology team who are recognised as the global centre of excellence in microbiology in Diageo.

The purpose of the role is to deliver microbiology analysis and insight in order to improve Diageo’s manufacturing processes and enable new ventures. This role will deliver results and interpretation to drive brewery/ distillery/ site microbiology quality performance, new product development and technical problem solving right across Diageo’s portfolio.

The role will include extensive lab work using classical microbiology and molecular biology tools. The role requires a proactive approach in interpretation of microbiology results, generate insight from data to form an action plan to assist production sites in root cause problem solving, new product manufacturing and improvement projects.

The role is based at the microbiology laboratory at St. James Gate Brewery, Dublin. The role holder will be expected to communicate with sites around the world and occasionally travel.

Key Accountabilities:

• Operate and deliver processes that ensures the Health and Safety of our consumers, customers and employees, in a way that ensures compliance with our Diageo Code of Business conduct.

• Proficient and self-reliant in classical microbiology and molecular biology techniques and results interpretation.

• Ability to understand Diageo Microbiology standards and Diageo Way of Brewing and provide technical recommendations to maintain and update Diageo standards.

• Maintain knowledge of new developments in microbiology methods. Be pro-active in apply developments to solving business problems.

• Ability to manage and deliver small projects to deliver benefits to the business.

• Ownership, pro-activity and judgement to drive solutions to completion.

• Apply technical knowledge and experience to lead solution to problems on production sites.

• Ability to build trusted relationships, communicate and influence effectively with stakeholders outside of technical function, in order to drive the improvements suggested by the scientific data.

• Ability to use the scientific data to drive change in a business context (awareness of business benefits, risks and obstacles).

Capabilities, Skills & Experience required:

• As a minimum at entry level the jobholder should be degree qualified in Microbiology or equivalent.

• Good practical knowledge of classical and molecular microbiology techniques: plating, PCR, QRT-PCR, DNA extractions.

• Experience of Brewing and/ or Distilling and/ or Food Manufacture. Knowledge of the science and technology of brewing and distilling and associated processes.

• Good working knowledge of hygiene standards including HACCP, preservative legislation and water standards.

• Clear thinke