Microbiologist III

Empower Pharmacy is a visionary healthcare company dedicated to making quality, affordable medication accessible to millions of patients nationwide. As the nation’s most advanced 503A compounding pharmacy and FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facility, we’re redefining what’s possible in personalized medicine and pharmaceutical manufacturing. We’re proud to be recognized as one of Houston’s fastest-growing private companies and ranked #116 in Healthcare & Medical on the Inc. 5000 List for 2025.

Our strength is built on four core values: People, Quality, Service, and Innovation. Guided by these principles, we’ve created a uniquely integrated healthcare platform powered by advanced technology, operational excellence, and a relentless commitment to patient care. From manufacturing and quality control to distribution and customer experience, our teams work together to raise industry standards, expand access to critical medications, and improve outcomes for patients and providers across the country.

At Empower, joining our team means more than starting a new role. It means becoming part of a mission-driven organization that’s transforming healthcare at scale. We invest deeply in our people, encourage bold thinking, and create opportunities for growth, leadership, and innovation at every level. Your ideas matter here, your development is supported, and the work you do has a direct impact on the lives of millions.

If you thrive in a fast-moving, purpose-driven environment where innovation, collaboration, and ambition come together, Empower Pharmacy is the place for you. Let’s transform healthcare together.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Microbiologist III 503A serves as a senior technical contributor supporting product quality, patient safety, and microbiological control within Empower’s 503A compounding operations. The role independently performs and reviews complex testing, leads laboratory and contamination investigations, and owns assigned microbiology projects through completion. This position provides technical guidance to Microbiologists I and II, strengthens environmental monitoring and contamination control practices, and translates laboratory trends into actionable recommendations. Working with Quality, Production, Engineering, and Validation, the Microbiologist III resolves complex issues and supports scientifically sound quality decisions. The role may also support 503B activities as assigned under applicable site procedures and requirements. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Microbiology Operations 

• Advanced testing and technical review: Independently perform and troubleshoot microbiological testing, environmental monitoring, growth promotion, and sample analysis. Review laboratory records and results for scientific accuracy, completeness, data integrity, and adherence to approved procedures within delegated authority. 
• Laboratory and workflow ownership: Coordinate testing priorities, sample tracking, equipment readiness, media controls, inventory, and calibration activities. Resolve technical obstacles, communicate risks to turnaround times, and escalate resource or quality concerns before they affect operations. 

Quality and Compliance 

• Investigation leadership: Lead complex microbiological deviations, environmental excursions, out-of-specification and out-of-trend investigations, and contamination events. Define investigation plans, assess laboratory and operational evidence, identify root causes, and document scientifically supported conclusions. Evaluate potential product and process impact with Quality and escalate patient safety concerns promptly. 
• Corrective and preventive actions: Develop corrective and preventive actions with accountable owners, completion dates, and effectiveness criteria. Track assigned actions to closure, verify that controls address root causes, and identify recurring issues requiring broader remediation. 
• Environmental monitoring and contamination control: Serve as a technical resource for monitoring plans, sampling practices, recovery patterns, and contamination prevention. Analyze trends by location, organism, personnel, and process, as applicable. Recommend justified changes to monitoring, cleaning, disinfection, gowning, and aseptic practices through approved change controls.

Technical Leadership and Continuous Improvement 

• Methods and laboratory improvements: Lead assigned method suitability, verification, validation, or transfer activities as appropriate to the method and intended use. Draft protocols, evaluate acceptance criteria and results, and prepare reports for approval. Troubleshoot recurring method or equipment issues and coordinate implementation with Quality and Validation. 
• Training and mentoring: Train and mentor Microbiologists I and II in laboratory methods, aseptic technique, documentation, investigations, and troubleshooting. Assess proficiency within assigned authority, provide timely coaching, and promote consistent execution across the team. 
• Cross functional project leadership: Lead microbiology workstreams for process changes, new equipment, facility improvements, and operational expansion. Evaluate microbiological risks, define technical deliverables, and coordinate activities with Quality Assurance, Production, Engineering, and Validation. 

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Advanced knowledge of microbiological testing, environmental monitoring, aseptic processing, contamination control, and the quality requirements applicable to assigned compounding and laboratory activities. 
• Ability to interpret complex microbiological data, distinguish laboratory error from process-related contamination, assess risk, and develop scientifically defensible investigation conclusions and corrective actions. 
• Proficiency in laboratory documentation review, technical writing, trend analysis, method troubleshooting, and data integrity practices, including appropriate use of digital laboratory and quality systems. 
• Ability to lead technical projects, mentor colleagues, influence cross functional decisions, and communicate microbiological risks clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences. 
• Strong judgment and organization, with the ability to manage competing priorities independently and escalate issues requiring management or Quality authorization. 

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline required. 
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible microbiology laboratory experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, compounding, or a comparably regulated environment required. 
• Direct experience with environmental monitoring, aseptic operations, microbiological investigations, and controlled laboratory documentation required. Experience in sterile compounding or sterile pharmaceutical operations strongly preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience leading complex investigations, reviewing laboratory data, writing or revising procedures, and implementing corrective and preventive actions required. 
• Experience training or mentoring laboratory personnel and coordinating technical projects required. Experience with method suitability or validation, contamination control improvements, and audit or inspection support preferred. 
• Experience applying relevant USP requirements and using laboratory information or electronic quality management systems strongly preferred.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Customer Focus: Builds trust through customer-centric solutions.
• Strategic AI: Guides responsible AI adoption and adaptation.
• Optimizes Work Processes: Drives efficiency with continuous improvement.
• Collaborates: Partners effectively to achieve shared goals.
• Resourcefulness: Secures and deploys resources efficiently.
• Manages Complexity: Simplifies and solves complex challenges.
• Ensures Accountability: Delivers on commitments with integrity.
• Situational Adaptability: Adjusts approach to shifting conditions.
• Communicates Effectively: Tailors messages to diverse audiences.

VALUES:

• People: Empowering people defines who we are.
• Quality: Excellence in every product, every time.
• Service: Serving others is our highest purpose.
• Innovation: Advancing care through technology and discovery.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS:

We offer comprehensive benefits to support your health, well-being, and future, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, 401(k) matching, wellness perks, IV therapy, and compounded medications. Learn more: https://careers.empowerpharmacy.com/benefits/

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to remain in a stationary position for a significant amount of the workday and frequently use their hands and fingers to handle or feel in order to access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices. Employees are regularly required to move about the office and around the corporate campus. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.