We are seeking a Senior Program Leader – Food Safety & Microbiology to lead a critical function within our RD&E organization. This role is responsible for advancing Ecolab’s food safety and public health innovation agenda across our Global Quick Service and Food Retail businesses.

This role operates at the intersection of science, customer insight, and business impact, with the opportunity to shape solutions that protect food safety on a global scale.

This position is in Greensboro, NC and reports to the VP RD&E for Global Quick Service and Global Food Retail.

What You Will Do

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing food safety and microbiology team, building strong technical capability and leaders

• Own and deliver the food safety and public health innovation pipeline, ensuring alignment with business priorities and driving speed and impact of commercialization

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the microbiology laboratory, ensuring high-quality customer testing, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence

• Serve as the voice of food safety for QSR and FRS, engaging with customers, industry organizations, and internal leaders to influence strategy and outcomes

• Lead cross-functional alignment across RD&E, Marketing, Regulatory, Sales, and Supply Chain to deliver integrated, customer-centric solutions

• Translate customer and industry insights into differentiated technologies, anticipating emerging risks, regulatory changes, and competitive dynamics

• Contribute as a key member of the RD&E Technical Leadership Team

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, engineering, biology, food science, or related scientific/technical discipline

• 10+ years of experience in RD&E or technical roles

• 4+ years of experience in product development and/or project leadership

• Experience designing and executing experimental and analytical studies

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across cross-functional business teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant discipline

• Proven track record of successful product development and commercial launches

• Experience leading and developing high-performing technical associates

• Strong knowledge of food safety principles, microbiology, and FDA Food Code

• Demonstrated ability to lead through complexity and influence across global stakeholders

• Experience serving as a technical leader with customers or industry organizations

Benefits 

Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits. 

If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here. 

Potential Customer Requirements Notice

To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:

- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.