Director Quality, Institutional
About The Position
The Director of Quality will lead the Global and North America Institutional Quality Pillar within Ecolab’s future-state Global Quality organization. The role sets and sustains standards for product quality across manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, building a high-performing quality function focused on product safety, regulatory compliance, continuous improvement and customer experience. Reporting to the Vice President, Global Quality, the Director has primary responsibility for the North America quality management system, supplier and contract manufacturer quality, and customer complaint resolution. The role partners with Central Quality, Global Supplier Quality, other business-aligned Quality pillars, Supply Chain, Commercial, RD&E, manufacturing teams, suppliers, third-party manufacturers and regulatory bodies. It establishes accountability, consistent standards, timely escalation and shared learning across the enterprise, using innovation and data-driven decisions to strengthen execution and increase the value Quality delivers to the business and customers.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, engineering, supply chain or a related technical field.
- 10 years of experience in quality, manufacturing or supply chain, including quality team leadership experience.
- Experience owning a quality management system and regulatory compliance in a manufacturing environment.
- Ability to travel up to 30% of the time.
Nice To Haves
- MBA or master’s degree in a technical discipline.
- ASQ certification (CQE, CQA or CQM/OE) or Six Sigma Black Belt.
- Experience in a large, global, matrixed organization.
- Experience in FDA-, EPA- and ISO 9001-regulated manufacturing environments.
- Experience driving transformation through operational excellence and continuous improvement.
- Strong communication skills and ability to influence at all levels.
- Track record of delivering strong results and developing people.
- Strategic thinking, with a broad perspective and awareness of external market factors and trends.
- Ability to translate broad corporate strategies into clear, specific goals and plans.
Responsibilities
- Own the North America quality strategy and roadmap, aligning regional priorities with the global quality agenda and future-state operating model while driving synergies across the function.
- Lead the North America quality team across manufacturing plants, warehouses and contract manufacturing partners, developing people and technology to improve performance.
- Own and continuously improve the quality management system, maintaining readiness for internal, customer, regulatory and third-party audits.
- Ensure compliance with FDA, EPA, ISO 9001 and other applicable regulatory and customer requirements across North America sites.
- Own the North America quality budget and cost of poor quality, including setting targets for divisions.
- Reduce customer complaints, non-conformances and rework through structured root cause analysis and disciplined corrective and preventive action.
- Establish quality metrics and reporting, using data and analytics to identify trends and direct resources to high-impact issues.
- Partner with RD&E and divisions on new product introductions, formula changes and specification management to design in quality.
- Partner with supplier and contract manufacturing teams to establish quality programs, including qualification, performance monitoring, audits and corrective action.
- Direct investigation and resolution of significant quality events, including product holds, recalls and customer escalations.
- Build trust-based relationships with commercial leaders to drive supply-chain improvements and efficiencies.
- Standardize quality processes across the network and implement operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Protect Ecolab’s brand by ensuring legal and regulatory compliance and promoting environmental responsibility.
- Activate the future-state Global Quality operating model across North America by clarifying decision rights, governance, interfaces, support channels and escalation paths while keeping Quality connected to sites, businesses and customers.
- Build a connected One Quality culture through common standards and metrics, shared expertise and learning, stronger early risk visibility and consistent execution.
- Promote Ecolab’s values and performance-based culture through transformational leadership, attracting, engaging, developing and rewarding talent.
Benefits
- Comprehensive and market-competitive benefits for associates and their families.
- Annual bonus and long-term incentives based on performance, per plan terms.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
