Microbiologist

Role: Microbiologist

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Contract: 12 month FTC

Closing Date: 11th December 2025

This role operates on a Tuesday-Saturday working pattern (39 hours per week) and may require occasional weekend cover as part of business needs.

About us

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we're the world's leading premium drinks company. Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate, and innovate to build brands consumers love. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you'll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future.

Join us to create a career worth celebrating.

About the Function

Our Supply Chain and Manufacturing team are problem-solvers, sourcing, producing, and delivering our much-loved brands to delight customers around the globe. Over half of Diageo's 30,000+ people work in Supply Chain and Manufacturing. It's an intricate and sophisticated operation that's the product of logistical, manufacturing, and technical collaborations.

Our teams in 100 sites in over 30 countries cover production facilities, supplier relationships, customer collaborations and third-party agreements. We're committed to realising our ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress' goals, to protect the environment and support our farmers and suppliers. Whatever your skills and experience, we'll help you to thrive in our inclusive culture.

About the Role
This is an excellent opportunity to join Diageo's team in Belfast as a Microbiologist, playing a vital role in supporting full compliance with Diageo Way of Brewing Standards, Global Risk Management Standards, and food safety legislation.

Working across all areas of the site, the successful candidate will manage and deliver the site's microbiological programme, carrying out routine and positive-release microbiological analysis and providing timely, accurate data to support production and quality decisions.

Responsibilities include performing a wide range of microbiological techniques-such as aseptic sampling, plating, staining, microscopy, yeast propagation, and product testing-while ensuring GMP standards are consistently met.

The Microbiologist will prepare analytical reagents, maintain laboratory consumable stock levels, participate in microbiological ring schemes, support internal and external audits, and engage with central experts, including weekly micro calls.

In addition, the role supports the delivery of Quality Sample Plans, contributes to food safety and compliance certifications (FSSC 22000, ISO 9000, FEMAS), and assists with commercialisation trials and continuous improvement initiatives, while providing cross-skilled support across the wider Quality function where required.

About You

The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise in microbiology, with experience gained in an analytical, microbiological or FMCG manufacturing environment.

They will hold a qualification in Microbiology or Science, or an equivalent technical qualification supported by relevant laboratory experience.

Skilled in core microbiological methods and comfortable operating within GMP standards, they will demonstrate strong analytical capability, accuracy, and attention to detail.

Effective communication, relationship-building and the ability to influence across multiple levels are essential, along with strong Microsoft Office literacy and an organised, proactive approach to workload management.

The successful applicant will be safety-focused, confident in conducting risk assessments, committed to their own ongoing development, and able to support training of laboratory and production personnel.