Microbiologist III

Job Title: Microbiologist III, Albuquerque, NM

Curia provides global contract research and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

The Job title is an integral part of the Curia team, contributing to our success.

Join our talented workforce, where a commitment to excellence and a customer focused attitude is everything. We pursue excellence because our work has the power to improve patients’ lives with the pharmaceuticals we develop and manufacture.

We proudly offer

Generous benefit options (eligible first day of employment) 
Paid training, vacation and holidays (vacation accrual begins on first day of employment)
Career advancement opportunities 
Education reimbursement
401k program
Learning platform
And more!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Perform microbiological testing (endotoxin, sterility, and bioburden) for raw materials, in-process 
materials, intermediates, and final products.
• Conduct microbiological testing (endotoxin, bioburden) for utilities such as water, steam, 
nitrogen, etc.
• Perform environmental monitoring of cleanrooms in compliance with USP and EU specifications.
• Review, trend, and report results for environmental, personnel, in-process, raw material, finished 
product, and utilities testing.
• Conduct microbial characterization (gram stain, catalase, oxidase, and coagulase tests) and 
prepare and send out samples for microbiological identification.
• Maintain historical files for organisms found in classified areas, including microbial identification 
and trending.
• Perform line clearances and line start verifications, as well as inspections of media fills.
• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for microbiological assays such as sterility (including 
biological indicator testing) and growth promotion testing for all incoming media used in the 
microbiology laboratory.
• Perform microbial limits/enumeration testing and handle QC microbiological sample receipt, 
including internal testing, logging, processing, tracking, distribution of test results, and closure.
• Author and revise controlled documents, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), 
Investigational Protocols, Risk Assessments, and others as needed.
• Initiate Out of Specification (OOS) or Environmental Monitoring Excursion investigations, 
recommend appropriate Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPAs), and complete effectiveness 
checks.
• Oversee equipment cleaning and maintenance, including managing supplies and inventory.
• Act as a liaison with vendors for maintenance, preventive maintenance (PM), and calibration of 
equipment.
• Ensure general laboratory housekeeping and maintain a clean, organized workspace.
• Facilitate the revision and release of all controlled documents in a timely manner.
• Coordinate mandatory reviews of SOPs and month-end reports, ensuring they are completed on 
schedule.
• Read/interpret SOPs to ensure compliance
• Maintain up to date trainings
• Other duties as assigned

Education and/or Experience: 
• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline, preferably microbiology or related field 
• Minimum of five (5) years related work experience
• Minimum of three (3) years industry experience in a GMP or GLP environment, preferred
• Previous experience with pharmaceutical cleanroom environments, preferred
• Knowledgeable in FDA cGMPs (21 CFR 211); ISO 9001, 13485, and 17025, preferred
• Experienced and proficient in the validation/qualification of lab microbiological techniques,
preferred

Supervisory Responsibilities: 
This role does not have supervisory responsibilities, yet it may involve mentoring, guiding, and 
advising.

Language Skills: 
The ideal candidate should have the ability to read and interpret various documents, such as safety 
instructions, standard operating procedures, technical procedures, and governmental regulations. 
Additionally, they should possess strong written and verbal communication skills, along with effective 
presentation skills.

Mathematical Skills: 
Proficient in executing arithmetic operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and 
division across various units of measurement, employing whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and 
percentages. Candidates must possess a strong grasp of algebraic and geometric principles.

Reasoning Ability: 
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret 
an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several 
abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills: 
The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical foundation and proven capability in effectively 
utilizing diverse software tools to streamline the organization's daily functions. Essential skills 
encompass adeptness in manufacturing and internet software, alongside proficiency in Microsoft 
Office tools including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Other Skills and Abilities: 
• Provides guidance and mentorship to team members
• Fosters a collaborative and positive work environment
• Champions change
• Promotes a safe and healthy work environment by actively identifying and addressing potential 
hazards, following established safety protocols, participating in safety training programs, and 
fostering a culture of awareness and responsibility among team members.
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail
• Proficient in the validation/qualification of lab microbiological techniques
• Strong GDP acumen
• Provide oversight for projects to update/maintain official document templates. Direct and manage 
the Change Control System 
• Proficient in using spreadsheets for data entry, basic calculations, and organizing microbiological 
data

Other Qualifications:
Must pass a background check
Must pass a drug screen
May be required to pass Occupational Health Screening
Must be able to obtain and maintain gowning certification
Must be able to obtain and maintain media qualification
Must be able to wear a respirator

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to 
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to 
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The essential physical demands will vary for each Curia position. 
All positions may require regular or occasional lifting, pushing and pulling up to 10 pounds, frequently; 
up to 25 pounds occasionally; and up to 50 pounds infrequently. Additionally, all positions entail 
regular sitting, standing and reaching, with some roles requiring prolonged periods of time for each 
activity. Visual acuity, both close and distant, along with depth perception is necessary in each role, 
with or without corrective lenses. Please note that employees are prohibited from wearing contact 
lenses in work areas with exposure to cleaning agents. Hand and finger dexterity are integral to all 
positions, with specific activities varying from typing to manipulating maintenance tools or operating 
keypads, switches, and buttons. Occasional stooping, kneeling, twisting, crouching, crawling and 
balancing are also part of each position’s physical requirements. Certain roles may involve climbing 
and working at elevated heights as well.

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics, described below, are representative of those an employee 
encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be 
made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The working environments will vary for each Curia position. The employee may be required to work in 
an office, manufacturing, or warehouse environment. The office environment is designed for comfort and productivity, with room temperature settings maintained for optimal working conditions. It is common to hear conversational noise in the background.

The pharmaceutical manufacturing environment is sterile. Therefore, aseptic gowning is required. 
Personal protective equipment (nitrile gloves, clean room socks, face-shields, safety glasses, aprons, 
steel-toed shoes and powered air purifying respirators) is necessary, depending upon the task at hand. 
The employee may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, confined areas, and refrigerator or 
freezer temperatures when working in a sterile environment. 
The warehouse environment is typically set at a controlled temperature but the employee may be 
exposed to refrigerator or freezer temperatures when retrieving materials. 
Some positions may occasionally be exposed to moving mechanical parts, elevated heights, airborne 
particles, electrical activities and vibration. In addition, some positions may work with or be exposed to, 
compressed gases and must wear ear protection.

All environments may be subject to working with or being exposed to cleaning agents.

We do not accept unsolicited assistance from any headhunters or recruitment firms for any of our job openings. All resumes or profiles submitted by search firms to any employee at Curia, in any form without a valid, signed search agreement by an authorized signatory in place for the specific position, approved by Talent Acquisition, will be deemed the sole property of Curia. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Curia because of the unsolicited referral.

All interested applicants must apply online. Please be aware of scammers. Curia will only send offer letters and requests for sensitive personal information from a curiaglobal.com email address. Curia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Curia is an E-Verify.