Lab & Hygiene Manager

Job Description

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) presents an exciting opportunity for a Lab & Hygiene Manager, to join the Midrand team at CCBA.The role will report to the Country Lead : Quality, Safety & Environment.

CCBA is the 8th largest Coca-Cola authorised bottler in the world by revenue, and the largest on the continent. It accounts for over 40% of all Coca-Cola ready-to-drink beverages sold in Africa by volume. With over 14 000 employees in Africa, CCBA group services more than 800 000 customers with a host of international and local brands. CCBA group operates in 14 countries: South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi and the islands of Comoros and Mayotte.

Key Purpose

To lead and govern microbiology, laboratory, and hygiene programs across the country, ensuring robust food safety, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence through standardized testing, effective hygiene and sanitation practices, risk management, continuous improvement, and the development of technical capability across manufacturing sites.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Key Outcomes

• Lead country-level governance of microbiological testing to ensure accurate, reliable, and timely testing.

• Oversee laboratory standardization, including test methods, equipment calibration, and best practices across sites for Micro Testing

• Ensure compliance with laboratory quality management systems and company standards.

• Develop and oversee implementation of hygiene and sanitation programs in manufacturing plants.

• Manage GMP and all Micro issues in plants

• Ensure cleaning and disinfection procedures are effective and aligned with food safety standards.

• Lead environmental monitoring programs to verify hygiene control in production areas

• Govern microbiological testing programs for raw materials, process intermediates, and finished products.

• Monitor and report on microbiological trends, leading root cause analysis for deviations.

• Ensure labs and hygiene practices comply with regulatory requirements, internal policies, and certification.

• Lead preparation for audits and inspections by internal teams, external certification bodies, and regulatory agencies.

• Drive hygiene improvement projects, including cleaning optimization, microbial risk reduction, and environmental control upgrades.

• Benchmark industry best practices and deploy new technologies and methods for lab and hygiene excellence.

• Lead, coach, and develop Principal Microbiologists and lab teams across the country.

• Build technical capabilities in hygiene management and microbiology through training programs.

• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure hygiene and microbiological standards are embedded in daily operations.

• Interface with external labs, auditors, and regulatory bodies as the hygiene and microbiology authority for the country.

Skills, Experience & Education

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Food Science, Biochemistry, or a related technical field.

• Advanced certifications in Food Safety (e.g., FSSC 22000, ISO 22000), Hygiene Management, or ISO 17025 are advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 8-10 years in laboratory management, microbiological control, or hygiene management roles in FMCG (preferably beverage production and bottling).

• At least 5 years in a leadership role managing microbiologists or laboratory/hygiene specialists.

• Demonstrated experience in environmental monitoring, cleaning validation, and audit preparation

Skills

• Deep technical knowledge of microbiology, hygiene, and beverage safety standards.

• Proficient in lab equipment calibration, testing method validation, and troubleshooting.

• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills

• Competence in laboratory information systems, hygiene management systems, and reporting tools.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver in high-pressure environments.

• Proficient in MS Office Suite and quality management software tools.

General

The advert has minimum requirements listed. Management reserves the right to use additional or relevant information as criteria for short-listing. Only applications submitted through the e-recruitment portal will be accepted.