Lead Production Biologist

The Pet Care business unit of Spectrum Brands is based in St. Louis, Missouri with distribution, manufacturing and sales offices throughout the US and globe. Owners of dogs, cats, birds, small animals, fish and reptiles rely on our brands for exceptional value and trusted results. Our industry-leading brands include Tetra, Instant Ocean, Marineland, 8-in-1, Dingo, FURminator, Nature's Miracle, GloFish, DreamBone and SmartBones.

Lead Hands-On Biological Production and Quality

Working for a major global brand known for premium quality aquarium products, you will lead an innovative production of filtration products that use live bacteria.

This is a salaried position with a typical schedule of Monday through Thursday, 10-hour days starting at 6:30am. An additional 4-6 hours may be worked on Fridays as needed. Friday hours offer flexibility within normal day shift operating hours.

The salary range for this role is $42,000-$50,000. An employee's pay within the salary range will be based on numerous factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, experience, skills, geographical location, and business needs. This position may also be eligible for annual merit increase and incentive compensation. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, health, dental, vision, and disability benefits. For additional information concerning our benefits visit our Benefits and Career Development page at https://www.spectrumbrands.com/careers.html.

• Lead production activities, including inoculating and shipping live, non-pathogenic bacterial Bio-Wheel filtration products in accordance with established operating standards.
• Perform in-process quality and viability checks to confirm biological materials meet specifications.
• Collect and analyze data and maintain accurate batch records to demonstrate adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Conduct water-quality testing, including pH, salinity, ammonium, and nitrite testing.
• Investigate root causes of production failures and troubleshoot process or equipment issues.
• Analyze production and experimental data, interpret results, and prepare reports and summaries of findings.
• Maintain detailed activity logs and complete required production and laboratory documentation.
• Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment.
• Measure or weigh compounds and prepare chemical solutions for testing and production use.
• Monitor laboratory work and experiments for compliance with established standards; record production and test data for evaluation.
• Regularly evaluate and revise biofarm laboratory SOPs to support Good Laboratory Practices and current Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Cross-train QA personnel to provide coverage for biofarm responsibilities during the Lead's absence.
• Cross-train with Quality Lab Technicians to support laboratory duties and quality production functions.

• Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field.
• Two years of experience in a laboratory setting; related laboratory experience is preferred.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to work with production software such as S4, SAP, Intravis, or SPX.
• Strong time-management skills and the ability to manage work independently and efficiently.
• Familiarity with bacteria is preferred.

Working conditions are typical of a manufacturing environment.