Senior Microbiologist - Virginia
Novo Nordisk
September 04, 2026
On-site
Petersburg, VA
Operations
The Position
Responsible for ensuring sterility and quality of pharmaceutical products by performing microbiological tests on raw materials, manufacturing environments, and finished products to identify microbial contamination and maintain compliance with regulatory standards.
Essential Functions
- Perform/oversee routine and non-routine microbiological assays on raw materials, water, and release samples
- Sample/analyze air, surfaces, and water to monitor microbial contamination
- Author/review/approve test methods and SOPs; author/review/approve protocols and reports
- Perform/oversee validations for new equipment and test methods
- Isolate and identify microorganisms (culture-based, molecular biology, automated systems)
- Maintain GMP/regulatory compliance; ensure data integrity in lab notebooks/electronic systems
- Perform peer review of lab documentation/data
- Train/coach on microbiological techniques; troubleshoot lab instrumentation and methods
- Lead/support lab investigations, deviations, and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)
- Oversee/assign lab duties (cleaning/maintenance); support KPI setting and cLEAN process improvements
Qualifications
- BS in microbiology/science plus 6+ years microbiological assays on raw materials, water, in-process samples, packaging, and finished products
- Or: Associate’s plus 8+ years
- Or: HS/GED plus 10+ years
- Strong microbiology principles; GMP/regulatory and quality control experience
- Proficiency: aseptic technique, microbial enumeration, molecular biology
- Analytical/problem-solving, detail-oriented documentation, teamwork, and communication skills
Benefits
- Leading pay and annual performance bonus; paid time off incl. 14 holidays
- Health/dental/vision (day one); guaranteed 8% 401K plus match option
- 14 weeks paid parental & 6 weeks paid family medical leave; tuition assistance; life/disability; free access to marketed products; employee referral awards
Responsible for ensuring sterility and quality of pharmaceutical products by performing microbiological tests on raw materials, manufacturing environments, and finished products to identify microbial contamination and maintain compliance with regulatory standards.
Essential Functions
- Perform/oversee routine and non-routine microbiological assays on raw materials, water, and release samples
- Sample/analyze air, surfaces, and water to monitor microbial contamination
- Author/review/approve test methods and SOPs; author/review/approve protocols and reports
- Perform/oversee validations for new equipment and test methods
- Isolate and identify microorganisms (culture-based, molecular biology, automated systems)
- Maintain GMP/regulatory compliance; ensure data integrity in lab notebooks/electronic systems
- Perform peer review of lab documentation/data
- Train/coach on microbiological techniques; troubleshoot lab instrumentation and methods
- Lead/support lab investigations, deviations, and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)
- Oversee/assign lab duties (cleaning/maintenance); support KPI setting and cLEAN process improvements
Qualifications
- BS in microbiology/science plus 6+ years microbiological assays on raw materials, water, in-process samples, packaging, and finished products
- Or: Associate’s plus 8+ years
- Or: HS/GED plus 10+ years
- Strong microbiology principles; GMP/regulatory and quality control experience
- Proficiency: aseptic technique, microbial enumeration, molecular biology
- Analytical/problem-solving, detail-oriented documentation, teamwork, and communication skills
Benefits
- Leading pay and annual performance bonus; paid time off incl. 14 holidays
- Health/dental/vision (day one); guaranteed 8% 401K plus match option
- 14 weeks paid parental & 6 weeks paid family medical leave; tuition assistance; life/disability; free access to marketed products; employee referral awards