R&D Senior Scientist, Industrial Microbiologist

The Clorox Company • Durham, NC

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

Clorox is committed to growth for its people and brands. The R&D Quality Transformation COE was established to ensure consistent, trusted, and efficient management of microbial risk across Clorox by embedding technical rigor into standards, tools, and decision making. We are looking for Scientists who thrive at the intersection of science, manufacturing, and organizational transformation. As the Senior Scientist - Microbiologist in the R&D Quality Transformation group, you will be responsible for advancing Clorox’s Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA) capability. This role is ideal for a technical leader who has experience with the Product Lifecycle through manufacturing, understands where failures originate, and is motivated to build systems, standards, and behaviors that prevent them—at enterprise scale. Partnering with R&D Microbiology, Supply Chain Quality Microbiology, and External Networks, this R&D role is focused on microbial risk prevention, innovation enablement, and technical strategy that achieves business results. You will shape how microbiology enables innovation while protecting consumers and the Clorox brands. This position is hybrid and may be based in either the Pleasanton, CA or Durham, NC office, with an expectation to work onsite at least 3 days per week.

Requirements

• Experience in applied / industrial microbiology as it relates to consumer products.
• Strong understanding of microbiology impact across: Formulation and preservation, Raw materials and water systems, Manufacturing processes and environments.
• Ability to apply microbiology judgment in ambiguous, real-world scenarios with incomplete data.
• Credibility to influence senior technical leaders and business stakeholders without formal authority.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, Food Science, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience including Microbiology across one or more of the following: R&D Product Development, R&D Applied Microbiology, Manufacturing, Quality, or Industrial Microbiology.
• Strong understanding of: Product development lifecycles, Microbiological Practices in Development and Manufacturing, Risk-based quality and decision-making frameworks, Change Management.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key Microbiology technical lead in the improvements of the Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA) process across all Business Units.
• Shape microbiology-related expectations, guide appropriate use of the MRA framework, and support consistent application of microbiological risk thinking—while allowing flexibility for BU-specific needs.
• Support the rollout of the MRA process by conducting first-line technical review and approvals to build rigor and consistency across BUs—assessing completeness, clarity, and early adherence to emerging standards and appropriately escalating novel or higher-risk issues to senior leaders.
• Serve as the R&D Microbiologist resource for enterprise Quality Transformation efforts collaborating closely with Microbiology teams in R&D and Supply Chain.
• Coordinate and provide technical judgment on medium- and high-risk MRA situations, helping leadership teams navigate trade-offs while maintaining consumer and business objectives.
• Collaborate and evolve R&D microbiology preservative standards, guidance, and expectations in partnership with R&D Microbiology & Quality Transformation leadership.
• Stay connected to industry trends, emerging risks, and microbiology best practices, translating external learning into practical internal application.
• Represent R&D microbiology perspective in cross-functional and enterprise discussions when microbiological risk is a key consideration.

Benefits

• Robust health plans
• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior