Senior Quality Manager, Microbiology & Sanitation

Clorox is the place that’s committed to growth – for our people and our brands. Guided by our purpose and values, and with people at the center of everything we do, we believe every one of us can make a positive impact on consumers, communities, and teammates. Join our team. #CloroxIsThePlace

Your role at Clorox:

As part of the Corporate Quality Assurance team, this position Lead Clorox’s enterprise microbiology strategy, standards, and incident response across all BUs. Partner with R&D, QA, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Procurement to set science-based specifications, deploy validated methods, strengthen hygienic design and EM programs, and build global microbiology capability. Own microbiology and sanitation QMS documents and analytics to proactively identify trends and reduce risk. Represent Clorox externally as corporate SME.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the corporate microbiology and sanitation program and enterprise standards across all Clorox BUs; align with company strategy and regulatory/industry best practices.
• Monitor emerging microbiological risks (product/facility bioburden levels, pathogens, spoilage organisms, biological hazards); perform risk assessments for raw materials, processes, and finished products; define science-based controls.
• Develop, validate, and deploy microbiological test methods; lead site method verification with R&D Microbiology; drive global reapplication of proven approaches and technologies.
• Develop, validate and deploy sanitation; guide site verification for effectiveness, drive global implementation of proven methodologies.
• Direct rapid response to microbiological incidents across BUs; lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions; capture and disseminate lessons learned.
• Govern microbiological testing laboratory standard to sites executing testing.
• Govern hygienic design standards with Engineering/Hygienic Design leaders; strengthen environmental monitoring, zoning, sanitation, and contamination control programs.
• Establish and lead a global network of site sanitation leaders and/or microbiology leaders; provide coaching and escalation support for troubleshooting at product supply and starting‑material sites.
• Design and deliver training that elevates microbiological and sanitation methods, risk‑based decision making, and practical problem‑solving (scientific method, root cause analysis); align site training plans with QA leadership.
• Embed microbiological safety into product/process design—predictive microbiology, challenge testing, raw material risk evaluation, and “quality by design” principles.
• Own microbiology and sanitation relevant QMS documents/SOPs; conduct periodic reviews, benchmarking, and updates to keep standards current and effective.
• Review site data; maintain enterprise scorecards; ensure timely, accurate monthly reporting; apply analytics (including AI/ML where appropriate) to identify trends and prioritize actions.
• Serve as corporate SME with customers and regulators; represent Clorox in trade associations/scientific forums; monitoring emerging trends related to microbiology, influence standards and share learnings across the industry.
• Help rapidly resolve any contamination incidents in any of the sites within the region to minimize the cost, product and consumer risk. Ensure that any learning resulting from the incident are rapidly deployed and implemented in both the sites within the region and globally.

What we look for:

• Education: B.S. in Microbiology, Food Science, Biology, Biochemistry, Medical Technology, or related field; M.S./Ph.D. preferred.
• Experience: 10+ years in industrial microbiology/food safety, including 3–5 years in method development/verification and incident/crisis management.
• Expertise: Food & consumer microbiology, microbial growth/survival, contamination control, hygienic design, environmental monitoring, sanitation systems, preservative efficacy/challenge testing, and predictive microbiology.
• Regulatory/Standards: Demonstrated interaction with regulators/customers; familiarity with FSMA/HACCP/PCQI, GMPs, AOAC/ISO/USP methods, and ISO 17025 (for labs) is a plus.
• Thermal Process Authority: Preferred if scope includes shelf-stable/acidified foods; otherwise leave as “preferred” to avoid over-narrowing.
• Influence without authority across multiple BUs/sites; change leadership for global reapplication.
• Systems thinking: Connects lab methods, process controls, EM, and QMS analytics.
• Decisive under pressure: Rapid, data-based decision making in incidents; clear risk communication.
• Change leadership: Orchestrates global reapplication, training, and compliance sustainment.
• Data fluency: Experimental design, trend analytics, anomaly detection
• Certifications: ASQ (CQE/CQE-like), PCQI, HACCP—plus any relevant hygienic design or lab accreditation experience.
• Travel/Hybrid: 10–25% travel; in-office 3 days/week.

Workplace type:

Hybrid - 3 days in the office, 2 days WFH

Our values-based culture connects to our purpose and empowers people to be their best, professionally and personally. We serve a diverse consumer base which is why we believe teams that reflect our consumers bring fresh perspectives, drive innovation, and help us stay attuned to the world around us. That’s why we foster an inclusive culture where every person can feel respected, valued, and fully able to participate, and ultimately able to thrive. Learn more.

[U.S.]Additional Information:

At Clorox, we champion people to be well and thrive, starting with our own people. To help make this possible, we offer comprehensive, competitive benefits that prioritize all aspects of wellbeing and provide flexibility for our teammates’ unique needs. This includes robust health plans, a market-leading 401(k) program with a company match, flexible time off benefits (including half-day summer Fridays depending on location), inclusive fertility/adoption benefits, and more.

We are committed to fair and equitable pay and are transparent with current and future teammates about our full salary ranges. We use broad salary ranges that reflect the competitive market for similar jobs, provide sufficient opportunity for growth as you gain experience and expand responsibilities, while also allowing for differentiation based on performance. Based on the breadth of our ranges, most new hires will start at Clorox in the first half of the applicable range. Your starting pay will depend on job-related factors, including relevant skills, knowledge, experience and location. The applicable salary range for every role in the U.S. is based on your work location and is aligned to one of three zones according to the cost of labor in your area.

–Zone A: $128,000 - $252,200

–Zone B: $117,400 - $231,200

–Zone C: $106,700 - $210,200

All ranges are subject to change in the future. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

This job is also eligible for participation in Clorox’s incentive plans, subject to the terms of the applicable plan documents and policies.

Please apply directly to our job postings and do not submit your resume to any person via text message. Clorox does not conduct text-based interviews and encourages you to be cautious of anyone posing as a Clorox recruiter via unsolicited texts during these uncertain times.

To all recruitment agencies: Clorox (and its brand families) does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to Clorox employees, including any members of our leadership team. Clorox is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.