Microbiologist

Tempe, AZ

Full Time

Quality Assurance

Entry Level

ABOUT UDA:

UDA is a local, family-owned, dairy cooperative committed to serve the needs of our members, community, and customers by providing high quality milk and dairy products. As the only milk marketing co-op in the state, UDA oversees the production, processing, and marketing of Arizona’s finest milk products from farm to Retail in 48 hours or less. From sweet cream and butter to non-fat dry milk, UDA provides milk products to manufactures and supermarket chains throughout the Grand Canyon State.

Our motto at UDA is “United in Excellence.” The dairy industry’s success isn’t built on one dairy or brand, it’s built on the community as a whole - this includes our amazing employees. When you join UDA, you’re not just joining a business, you’re joining a family. Since 1960 UDA has been headquartered, operated, and managed in Arizona. We strive to provide our employees with rewarding career opportunities aimed at long-term stability, growth, and advancement. We put our heart and soul into our products and value our team who show up, every day and do the work.

Job Summary:

The Microbiologist is responsible for conducting both qualitative and quantitative testing on finished products, in process, water and environmental samples using aseptic techniques. The Microbiologist follows all GLP/GDP guidelines and ensures that test results are accurate and in compliance with company policies.

MICROBIOLOGIST PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Apply aseptic/microbiological techniques in daily workload and prepare and analyze samples for indicator organisms and pathogens according to acceptable methods.
Keep accurate and legible records and understand GDP.
Independently pursue an assigned series of processes, procedures, or techniques in accordance with the Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products, Quality Manual, Chemical Hygiene Plan, Safety Manual, and approved laboratory procedures.
Accurately perform and read test results and notify QA management of deviations.
Prepare media and reagents as needed for daily microbiological testing.
Maintain a high degree of technical competence by attending professional workshops and being aware of food industry issues and trends
Report inventory and expendable supplies/materials needed for testing requirements.
Assist in quality control duties to by taking incubator temperatures, inoculating control organisms, running media controls etc., and other laboratory quality control procedures including quality control documentation.
Assist with the coordination of sample collection, transport, and receiving.
Maintain a clean and sanitary work area at all times.
Adhere to all SOP’s and HACCP guidelines
Always maintain food safety and quality standards, resolving and/or reporting compliance issues immediately

MICROBIOLOGIST - QUALIFICATIONS:

Skills & Abilities:

Excellent Aseptic technique and use of biological hood
Versed in GMP/GLP, FDA, SMEDP, ADPI, AOAC and other method reference sources
Ability to work a variety of 12-hour shifts, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays.
Competent in the use of Microsoft Office, Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams.
Detail orientated and the ability to conduct laboratory testing in a precise and accurate manner.
Able to prioritize daily workload and meet laboratory deadlines as expected.
Must have good verbal and written communication skills.
Requires ability to read, hear, speak, and comprehend and carry out verbal and written instructions & Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

Experience: (required)

1-4 years related experience in similar function or industry, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience: (preferred)

Experience that includes working in a GMP regulated industry preferred.
1-2 years of Microbiology experience preferred

Education/Certifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology, or related field of study, or equivalent work experience in microbiology in related field.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable differently abled individuals to satisfactorily perform the essential functions.

Requires ability to walk and stand for 12 or more hours at a time.
Requires ability to safely operate equipment.
Requires ability to work safely within the laboratory environment.
Requires ability to visually observe the condition of surroundings.
Requires ability to stoop, bend, reach, lift and carry items up to 55lbs often.
Requires ability to push and pull items frequently up to 55lbs.
Requires ability to hear and speak and frequently hear and speak in very noisy environments.
Requires ability to work in confined spaces occasionally.
Requires ability to work safely with hazardous chemicals.

BENEFITS:

Medical, Dental & Vision plans
401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match
Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Health & Wellness Programs
Paid Time Off
Shift Pay Differential
Education Assistance
On-site Fitness Center
On-Site Health Clinic

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list; employees may be subject to additional, or altered, tasks and the scope of the role may change as necessitated by business demands. UDA will not consider any application submissions from unauthorized third-parties, consulting, or external staffing firms and will not be held subject, or liable, to any terms, fees, or penalties associated with a submission.

UDA is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

Apply for this position

Required*

Apply with Indeed

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Phone*

Address*

Resume*

We've received your resume. Click here to update it.

Attach resume or Paste resume

Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

Cover Letter

What's your citizenship / employment eligibility?*

Are you 18 years of age or older?*

Desired salary*

Earliest start date?

Can you work weekends?

Can you work evenings?

Can you work overtime?

Are you a current UDA employee?*

If yes, what is your current position and department/plant?

If you were referred by an employee of UDA, please provide their name.*

Have you ever been employed by UDA, an Arizona dairy, known UDA customer, or affiliate?*

If yes, please provide dates of employment and name of company.

Do you have any family members who are currently employed/have been employed by UDA?*

If "yes" to the question above, please provide the name of the current/former UDA employee.

The following questions are entirely optional.

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.

Gender

Race/Ethnicity

Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran

A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
- a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
- a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Veteran status

I IDENTIFY AS ONE OR MORE OF THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF PROTECTED VETERAN LISTED ABOVE
I AM NOT A PROTECTED VETERAN
I DON’T WISH TO ANSWER

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury

Please check one of the boxes below:

YES, I HAVE A DISABILITY, OR HAVE HAD ONE IN THE PAST NO, I DO NOT HAVE A DISABILITY AND HAVE NOT HAD ONE IN THE PAST I DO NOT WANT TO ANSWER

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Name	Date

Human Check*

Submit Application