Safety Scientist - Microbiology

Job Title: Safety Scientist - Microbiology

Location: Colworth R&D, Sharnbrook UK – hybrid

JOB PURPOSE

At Unilever, we are committed to developing safe & sustainable products for our consumers. As a Microbiology Safety Scientist in our Safety, Environmental & Regulatory (SERS) team, you will provide microbiology expertise through the application of both traditional microbiological safety risk assessment and more complex approaches/frameworks to assure the microbiological safety of Unilever’s innovations and products (Personal Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, Home Care & Foods).

You will be joining a team of safety scientists, where you will be supported in your own development and learn new risk assessment approaches. You will also have the opportunity to play a role in leading the development of these novel approaches, bringing robust, new science to our microbiological safety assessments, supporting both current and future needs of Unilever.

In this exciting role, you will work in multidisciplinary teams and collaborate with a diverse range of internal and external partners and scientists, working for a successful global company that is focussed on providing superior brands and products to brighten everyday life for all.

The role is based in the dynamic environment of our SERS team at Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook located near Bedford.

Please note: this is not a lab-based role.

RESPONSIBILITIES

We are looking for a talented and experienced Microbiological Safety Risk Assessor to join our SERS team to:

• Deliver transparent, well-documented microbiological risk assessments to SERS project teams to enable robust decision-making and communicate the outcomes internally and to business partners, providing guidance on risk management where necessary.
• Apply more complex risk assessment approaches/frameworks to ensure the safety of novel technologies with regard, for example, to antimicrobial resistance or changes in the human microbiome.
• Use digital tools and systems to support the microbiological risk assessments and for their capture.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders internal and external to Unilever, e.g. business partners, academic partners.
• Lead the development of microbiological safety science through internal work or external collaborations, delivering to the current and future needs of Unilever’s business.

ALL ABOUT YOU

You’ll need to be able to work effectively and with impact in cross-disciplinary teams and in multi-cultural environments, be flexible and willing to adapt within a fast-changing business environment.

We would expect the successful candidate to have:

• Minimum of BSc graduate qualification (or equivalent) in Microbiology (or similar relevant subject, if combined with microbiology-specific modules or experience)
• Knowledge of microbiological risk assessment and proven experience of its application in an industrial context (for Personal Care/Beauty & Wellbeing, Home Care and Foods).
• Proven experience in leading scientific research projects/sub-projects, with good evidence of leadership and delivery through partnerships
• Knowledge of microbial ecology, host-microbe interactions, microbial physiology and clinical features of pathogenic microorganisms (relevant to Personal Care/Beauty & Wellbeing, Home Care and Foods)
• Knowledge of mechanisms of action of antimicrobials and issues around antimicrobial resistance
• An understanding of the human microbiome (including gut, skin, oral) and methods used to study it
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex ideas to technical and non-technical audiences
• Evidence of a creative, problem-solving mindset
• An ability to use digital tools and systems
• High self-motivation, with the ability to collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams

Desirable

• Ability to analyse and interpret complex microbiome data.
• Post graduate experience or a higher degree/qualification (e.g., PhD)

Location

Colworth is a vibrant scientific community with around 500 Unilever employees from 33 nationalities, with 88 PhDs, 8 Professors, and 40 apprentices. On site there are various facilities including a restaurant, gym, and a nursery. There are many social and recreational activities to take part in such as going for a lunchtime walk or run in the beautiful surrounding countryside, the Colworth Striders, and Colworth Cats netball team to name just a few. London with all its attractions is a short 40-minute train ride from Bedford.

NOTES

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’ 

Location

In June 2020 we announced our plan to consolidate a number of Unilever’s offices across the South East of England into a new Unilever campus in Kingston-upon-Thames in or around early 2025. However, on the 08 August 2024 we announced to our existing staff our proposal to retain our central Head Office in London, 100 Victoria Embankment (“100VE”) until our lease expires in 2027. As a result of this new proposal, we will be consulting with our existing staff, and new joiners who join during this period of consultation at 100VE, on the proposal made in August 2024. During consultation we will clarify the future location of each team and function. This means your role will either be based in 100VE until 2027 or in Kingston-Upon-Thames from early 2025. As we are yet to commence consultation on the proposal you agree, until such a time when consultation has concluded, your normal place of work as set out in the enclosed Statement of Terms & Conditions will be 100VE. You agree that on the conclusion of the consultation your place of work will be 100VE or 100VE until early 2025 and then Kingston-upon-Thames ("the locations") and you will be notified of which of the locations will be your place of work after that consultation ends.

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unilever.

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How is Unilever tackling this?

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