About this role
Microbiome Manager
Job Description: The Health & Wellness division is part of ADM’s global Nutrition business, encompassing both Human & Animal Nutrition and Health & Wellness activities across human, pet, and animal markets. ADM’s Global Health & Wellness R&D organization operates through six strategic research hubs located in North America, Spain, Ireland, England, Switzerland, and China, driving the development of innovative, science-based solutions that support health and well-being worldwide.
The successful candidate will report directly to the Director of the Microbiome Health & Wellness R&D Center and will be based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Role
As Microbiome Manager, you will play a key role in advancing ADM’s microbiome research programs, with a strong emphasis on applied microbiology, microbial strain management, and preclinical microbiome models. In this hands-on R&D position, you will contribute to the management and characterization of microbial collections, support the development of science-driven wellness ingredients, and oversee daily laboratory activities to ensure scientific excellence and operational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
Microbial Collection & Biobank Management • Manage and further develop ADM’s microbial biobank, including strain registration, documentation, cryopreservation, long-term preservation, quality control, and internal strain transfers. • Contribute to the technical evaluation and integration of external microbial collections, including strain verification and associated documentation. Microbiology Research & Strain Characterization • Isolate, culture, identify, and characterize microorganisms from a wide range of biological and environmental samples. • Perform and oversee laboratory activities related to microbial cultivation, purification, strain maintenance, growth profiling, stability assessment, and phenotypic characterization. • Support the development and application of in vitro digestion, fermentation, and microbiome models for animal health and nutrition programs. Experimental Execution & Laboratory Operations • Design, execute, document, and communicate laboratory experiments in accordance with project objectives, timelines, quality standards, and regulatory requirements. • Support BSL-2 laboratory operations, including SOP implementation, equipment maintenance, contamination control, adherence to good microbiological practices, and compliance with all safety requirements. • Foster a strong laboratory safety culture where the ultimate goal is zero accidents. Team Coordination & Collaboration • Coordinate and support laboratory technicians by helping prioritize activities, monitoring progress, and promoting an efficient, collaborative, and high-performing working environment. • Collaborate closely with cross-functional R&D teams to contribute to microbiome innovation initiatives and ingredient development programs.
: Your Profile
Education • Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Food Microbiology, Applied Microbiology, or a related scientific discipline. • Experience • 5–8 years of R&D experience in microbiology, microbial strain characterization, microbial collections, fermentation, probiotics, biobanking, or related applied microbiology fields. • Proven hands-on expertise in microbial isolation, cultivation, purification, identification, preservation, and phenotypic characterization. • Experience working with bacterial strains, microbial consortia, probiotics, animal microbiome samples, or environmental isolates. • Practical knowledge of strain storage, cryopreservation, documentation systems, and biobank or culture collection management is highly desirable. • Experience operating within a BSL-2 laboratory environment, with a solid understanding of laboratory safety, contamination control, and good microbiological practices. • Familiarity with in vitro digestion, fermentation, and gut microbiome models would be considered an advantage. • Competencies • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and provide day-to-day guidance to laboratory technicians. • Collaborative leadership approach, combined with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. • Ability to motivate and support team members within a dynamic R&D laboratory environment. • Detail-oriented, proactive, safety-focused, and capable of independently driving experimental activities to completion. What We Offer • A highly impactful R&D leadership role at the forefront of applied microbiology and microbiome innovation. • The opportunity to directly contribute to ADM’s science-based ingredient development pipeline. • Significant scope for initiative, technical ownership, team coordination, and long-term professional development. • Flexible working arrangements, collaborative international teams, and a competitive compensation and benefits package.
: About ADM
At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.