Microbiology Associate II

Vantive: A New Company Built on Our Legacy

Since last year, Baxter has been on a journey to separate our Kidney Care segment into a standalone company. Vantive* will build on our nearly 70-year legacy in acute therapies and home and in-center dialysis to provide best-in-class care to the people we serve. We believe Vantive will not only build our leadership in the kidney care space, it will also offer meaningful work to those who join us.

At Vantive, you will become part of a community of people who are focused, courageous and don’t settle for the mediocre. Each of us are driven to help improve patients’ lives worldwide. Join us as we revolutionize kidney care and other vital organ support.

*Completion of the proposed sale of Vantive to funds managed by the Carlyle Group is subject to receipt of customary regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other closing conditions.

Your Role

The Plymouth Microbiology Laboratory Microbiologist Associate II will report to the Plymouth, MN Microbiology Laboratory Manager and be responsible for the laboratory testing including but not limited to biofilm, rapid microbiology and disinfection testing.

This is a laboratory based position with up to 5 days/week working in the laboratory. Some of the paperwork and non-laboratory based activities can be conducted from home at the Lab Manager’s discretion.

What you'll be doing

• The role will have responsibility for designing and leading testing on biofilms. Designing biofilm experiments (including biofilm controls), operating the biofilm reactors, and evaluating biofilm samples.
• The role will have responsibility for evaluating rapid microbiology technologies, both in identifying which commercially available technologies are applicable for the company as well as designing and leading experiments to determine if they are appropriate for the intended use.
• The role will have responsibility for designing and leading disinfection testing of reusable devices. Evaluating system designs for areas of risk for cleaning and disinfection, designing experiments to evaluate the efficacy of the disinfection and providing recommendations disinfectants and designing disinfection processes.
• Work with product development teams, product design owners, contract testing laboratories and manufacturing QA/QC laboratory personnel to complete required tasks.
• May provide training and supervision to juniors members within the disciplines. Routinely provide advice and assistance to team member regarding unique problems.
• Responsibilities include:
  • Support Laboratory manager to maintain laboratory operations, including, maintaining laboratory safety, improving operations and maintaining equipment.
  • Assure laboratory and documentation is audit ready and team can effectively response to auditor inquiries.
  • Assure appropriate investigations are conducted on laboratory failures and out of specifications.
  • Assure the use of appropriate standards in laboratory testing.
  • Supporting R&D project through input on laboratory testing needs or the use of existing data to support products.
  • Devising new approaches to complex problems through adaptations and modifications of standard technical principles. 
  • Where necessary implement new procedures to support the testing of Baxter products.
  • Assuring all work complies with Baxter’s Quality system and cGDP/cGMP practices.
  • Providing regular updates to Sterility Assurance management.

What you'll bring

• Strong Microbiology background and experience required in the areas of:
  • Experience in biofilm testing including biofilm experimental design, growth methods, biofilm reactors and biofilm sampling techniques.
  • Experience evaluating rapid microbiological equipment including designing experiments to determine applicability for intended use.
  • Experience performing disinfection testing including knowledge of disinfectants, regulatory knowledge and experimental design, to demonstrate the disinfection efficacy for demonstrating product safety for reusable medical devices.
  • Experience performing Bacterial Endotoxin Testing (BET) for new product development.
  • Experience performing Moist heat sterilization of test materials as well as pharmaceutical and medical device test samples.
• Experience managing multiple simultaneous projects and work activities
• Experience leading and coordinating laboratory activities and draw conclusions from laboratory lab data.
• Knowledge of medical device and/or pharmaceutical industry
• Knowledge on renal therapies (Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis)
• Knowledge of GDP/GMP/GLP practices.
• Ability to convince management on courses of action with minimal assistance using both written and verbal methods. 
• Effectively operates in cross-functional teams. 
• Must be able to provide solutions that reflect understanding business objectives and cost implications. 
• Ability to effectively mentor junior level associates
• Degree in Microbiology or related discipline.
  • B.S. with greater than 6 years of related experience. 

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in laboratory methods, including:
  • Bioburden
  • Sterility testing
  • Alternative Rapid Microbiological Methods
  • Bacterial Endotoxin Test (BET)
  • Sterile barrier / Container Closure Integrity (CCI)
  • Antimicrobial testing
• Display a solid understanding of theories/practices utilized by other disciplines outside primary area of expertise. 
• Experience participating in professional and/or standards organizations.

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career.  At Baxter, we are committed to equitable pay for all our employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices.  To that end, this position has a base salary range of $80,000 to $110,000 plus an annual incentive bonus. The above range represents the expected base salary range for this position.  The actual salary may vary based upon several factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills/experience, time in the role, business line, and geographic/office location.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Baxter is an equal opportunity employer. Baxter evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.

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Reasonable Accommodations

Baxter is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please click on the link here and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information.

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