Almarai Company — the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy and the #1 FMCG brand in the MENA region — is seeking a skilled and dedicated Team Leader for their Microbiology Laboratory at their Alkharj facility in Saudi Arabia. This role is responsible for effectively managing the day-to-day activities of the microbiology laboratory function — ensuring that microbiological tests are conducted consistently and accurately, controlled documents are properly maintained, and analytical data is provided to management in a timely and accurate manner. Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology or Medical Laboratory, be fluent in English, and have a minimum of 2 years of experience in a similar role within a dairy or food factory environment. Almarai offers a competitive salary, generous leave, medical coverage, discretionary bonus, and training and development opportunities.
About Almarai Company — World’s Largest Vertically Integrated Dairy
Market Position: #1 FMCG Brand in the MENA region — market leader across all categories in the GCC
Scale: Over 41,000 employees, 110,000+ retail outlets served, SAR 18.72 Billion in sales (2022)
Headquarters: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — with operations across the GCC and international markets
Expansion: Aggressive expansion programme and acquisitions in new vertical markets creating exciting career opportunities
Website: www.almarai.com — a globally respected, publicly listed multinational food and beverage company
Almarai Employee Benefits Package
Salary: Competitive remuneration package aligned with Almarai’s status as MENA’s #1 FMCG employer
Leave: Generous annual leave entitlement as part of a comprehensive employee welfare programme
Medical: Full medical coverage for employees — healthcare support throughout employment
Bonus: Discretionary annual bonus — rewarding high-performing and committed team members
Development: Structured training and development opportunities to support continuous professional growth
Career Opportunity — Microbiology Leadership at Almarai KSA
Iconic Employer: Join the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy and MENA’s undisputed #1 FMCG brand
Leadership Role: Lead and manage the microbiology lab function with full accountability for testing accuracy and compliance
Global Standards: Work within a multinational team committed to the highest food safety and scientific excellence standards
Career Growth: Strong advancement pathway to Senior Lab Manager, QA Lead, or Food Safety Director within Almarai Group
Position Overview
This Team Leader Micro Lab role at Almarai’s Alkharj facility is a technically demanding and operationally important position responsible for the effective daily management of the microbiology laboratory. The successful candidate will ensure that all microbiological tests are conducted consistently, accurately, and according to the established sampling and testing regime — maintaining the integrity and reliability of all analytical data generated within the lab. The role also carries clear responsibility for ensuring that controlled documents are correctly and promptly updated, and that all analytical data and laboratory reports are provided to management in an accurate and timely manner. This is a leadership role that requires not only strong scientific and technical microbiology knowledge but also the organisational discipline and communication skills to manage a professional laboratory environment within one of the world’s most admired food and beverage companies. With a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology or Medical Laboratory, English fluency, and at least 2 years of relevant dairy or food factory laboratory experience, this is a standout career opportunity with Almarai.
Why This Role Matters: As Team Leader of the Microbiology Laboratory at Almarai’s Alkharj facility, you are the scientific guardian of product safety and microbiological integrity for one of the world’s most trusted and recognised dairy and food brands. Every test you oversee, every result you validate, and every document you maintain contributes directly to the food safety excellence that has made Almarai the #1 FMCG brand across the MENA region — serving over 110,000 retail outlets and millions of consumers every single day.
Key Responsibilities
Microbiology Laboratory Management
- Effectively and efficiently manage all day-to-day activities of the microbiology laboratory function at the Alkharj facility
- Ensure all microbiological tests are conducted consistently, accurately, and in strict accordance with the established sampling and testing regime
- Oversee and coordinate the full range of laboratory activities — from sample receipt and preparation through to testing, analysis, and result reporting
- Maintain high standards of laboratory organisation, cleanliness, safety, and operational readiness at all times
Testing Accuracy & Analytical Quality Assurance
- Ensure that all microbiological testing procedures are performed accurately, reproducibly, and to the highest scientific standards
- Monitor the quality and reliability of all analytical data generated within the microbiology laboratory on a daily basis
- Identify any testing deviations, anomalies, or out-of-specification results and initiate appropriate investigation and corrective actions
- Implement and maintain rigorous quality control measures across all laboratory testing procedures and methodologies
Controlled Documents & Laboratory Records
- Ensure all controlled documents in the microbiology laboratory are correctly and promptly updated in accordance with current requirements
- Maintain comprehensive, accurate, and auditable laboratory records covering all sampling, testing, and analysis activities
- Provide analytical data and laboratory reports to management in a consistently timely and accurate manner
- Support document control processes and ensure full compliance with Almarai’s documentation and record-keeping standards
Team Leadership & Staff Development
- Lead, supervise, and support microbiology laboratory team members in performing daily testing and analytical responsibilities
- Ensure all laboratory staff are properly trained, following correct procedures, and adhering to safety and quality standards
- Foster a professional, collaborative, and accuracy-driven laboratory culture aligned with Almarai’s values and scientific standards
- Communicate effectively with laboratory team members, management, and cross-functional teams on all relevant lab activities
Compliance, Safety & Continuous Improvement
- Ensure all laboratory activities comply with Almarai’s food safety, quality, and regulatory standards and requirements
- Maintain strict adherence to laboratory health and safety protocols, chemical handling procedures, and PPE requirements
- Identify opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency, testing accuracy, and document control processes
- Participate in internal audits, quality reviews, and management reporting activities as required by the Quality and Food Safety team
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Medical Laboratory Science, or a closely related biological or food science discipline
- Additional postgraduate qualifications or professional certifications in food microbiology or laboratory management are an advantage
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 2 years of hands-on laboratory experience in a similar microbiology team leader or supervisory position
- Experience must be within a dairy and food factory environment — direct dairy industry experience is strongly preferred
- Demonstrated ability to manage microbiological testing programmes, controlled documents, and laboratory reporting processes
Essential Skills
- Fluency in English — both written and verbal — for laboratory reporting, documentation, and management communication
- Strong technical knowledge of microbiological testing methodologies, analytical procedures, and laboratory quality standards
- Excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and the discipline to maintain consistent testing and documentation standards
- Good leadership and communication skills — able to guide, train, and support laboratory team members effectively
- Highly organised with strong time management and the ability to manage multiple laboratory activities simultaneously
About Almarai — Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
Almarai Company is a global food and beverage giant — the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy company and the undisputed #1 FMCG brand in the MENA region. Headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and market leader across all its categories throughout the GCC, Almarai employs more than 41,000 people and services over 110,000 retail outlets. With reported sales of SAR 18.72 billion and net income of SAR 1.76 billion in 2022, Almarai’s scale, financial strength, and commitment to product quality and food safety are unmatched in the region. An aggressive expansion programme and acquisitions in new vertical markets are creating exciting new career opportunities across the group — making this a genuinely exceptional time to join Almarai’s world-class scientific and quality teams at the Alkharj facility in Saudi Arabia.
Career Excellence: Join Almarai at Alkharj — lead microbiology laboratory operations for the world’s largest dairy company, uphold the highest scientific standards, earn a competitive package with medical and bonus, and build a truly rewarding career with MENA’s most admired and trusted FMCG brand.
Who Should Apply?
- Microbiology Graduates: With 2+ years dairy or food factory laboratory experience seeking a team leader role at Almarai KSA
- Medical Laboratory Scientists: With food industry microbiology backgrounds looking for a senior lab role at MENA’s #1 FMCG company
- Dairy Lab Professionals: With microbiological testing, document control, and analytical reporting experience in Saudi Arabia or GCC
- Food Safety Lab Supervisors: Ready to take on team leadership in one of the world’s most respected and largest dairy operations
- English-Fluent Lab Scientists: With strong microbiology testing skills and a passion for food safety excellence in a world-class FMCG environment
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