Lead Microbiology Lab Tech

Certified Group is committed to partnering with customers to deliver innovative scientific solutions and expertise – So The World Can Trust In What It Consumes™. Our network of 30+ North American and European laboratories serves the food & beverage, dietary supplements, cosmetics, OTC, tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, and hemp industries.
Our Brands
Certified Group is comprised of a set of specialized brands that collectively deliver laboratory testing, regulatory consulting, and certification & audit services across highly regulated industries:
Certified Laboratories – Provides comprehensive analytical and microbiological testing, primarily supporting food, beverage, cosmetics, OTC, and dietary supplement industries.
Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) – A leading network of ISO-accredited laboratories across North America, focused on food safety testing, operational support, and technical services for the food industry.
Labstat – A global leader in contract research and testing for nicotine, tobacco, cannabis, hemp, and next-generation products, with deep expertise in analytical chemistry and toxicology.
EAS Consulting Group – A regulatory consulting firm offering expert guidance, training, and auditing support across FDA, USDA, and other regulated sectors, powered by a large network of independent advisors.
FSNS Certification & Audit – Provides accredited third-party auditing and certification services, including food safety, animal welfare, and GMP programs.
Job Summary
The Lab Lead is responsible for coordinating daily laboratory operations and providing technical leadership to support microbiological testing of food products, ingredients, and environmental samples. This role serves as a lead resource for testing activities, workflow coordination, troubleshooting, quality compliance, and staff support during assigned shifts. The Lab Lead ensures accurate, timely, and compliant laboratory testing while promoting operational efficiency, data integrity, safety, and continuous improvement within a fast-paced food testing laboratory environment.
Technical Leadership & Testing
Perform advanced and non-routine microbiological testing of food products, ingredients, and environmental samples, including pathogen and indicator organism analyses.
Serve as the primary technical resource and escalation point for testing issues, method interpretation, instrumentation concerns, and troubleshooting activities during assigned shifts.
Review and verify test data, calculations, and laboratory documentation for accuracy, completeness, and compliance prior to result release.
Support method implementation, validation, verification, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Ensure laboratory testing activities are conducted in accordance with established SOPs, regulatory requirements, and customer specifications.
Assist with troubleshooting instrumentation, media performance, and testing deviations to minimize operational disruptions.
Training & Staff Support
Train, mentor, and provide technical guidance to Microbiology Lab Technician I–III staff on laboratory procedures, testing methods, documentation practices, and quality expectations.
Reinforce proper aseptic techniques, data integrity practices, and laboratory safety standards.
Support onboarding and cross-training of new laboratory staff during assigned shifts.
Foster a collaborative, team-oriented environment focused on accountability, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
Serve as a resource for laboratory personnel by answering procedural and technical questions in a timely manner.
Workflow & Shift Coordination
Coordinate daily laboratory workflow, sample prioritization, and testing schedules to ensure turnaround time (TAT) commitments are consistently achieved.
Monitor staffing coverage, task assignments, and operational efficiency during assigned shifts; escalate staffing or workflow concerns as appropriate.
Communicate effectively with laboratory leadership and cross-functional departments regarding workload, testing priorities, and operational updates.
Support team productivity and departmental goals through effective organization, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.