Global Head Supplier Quality

Merck•Allentown, PA

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Head of Supplier Quality leads the global Supplier Quality organization within Delivery Systems and Services and is responsible for establishing the strategy, standards, and governance that ensure a high-performing, resilient, and compliant supply base. This role provides leadership to regional Supplier Quality teams and partners closely with Procurement, Engineering, New Product Development (NPD), Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to drive supplier performance, mitigate risk, and support business growth. The position is leading the end-to-end supplier quality lifecycle, including supplier selection, qualification, introduction, performance management, supplier development, change management, and disqualification activities when business needs require. This role also drives continuous improvement initiatives, supplier risk management, and global quality governance to ensure consistent execution across all regions and suppliers.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, or another relevant technical discipline, or equivalent experience.
10+ years of experience in Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, or Supply Chain roles, including leadership responsibilities.
Demonstrated experience leading global or multi-regional teams within a complex manufacturing environment.
Strong knowledge of supplier qualification, supplier audits, supplier quality systems, change management, corrective actions, and supplier risk management.
Lead Auditor certification or experience conducting or overseeing ISO 9001 audits and quality auditing principles across a global supply base.
Experience establishing and maintaining supplier quality standards aligned with applicable ISO, regulatory, and customer requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading global supplier quality organizations and developing long-term supplier quality strategies.
Expertise in Quality Management Systems, Lean Six Sigma, FMEA, RCCA, 8D, CAPA, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Lead Auditor certification or experience conducting or overseeing IATF 16949, ISO 13485, or other industry-specific quality system audits.
Experience supporting supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, and introduction of new suppliers and technologies.
Demonstrated success developing supplier governance programs, supplier performance frameworks, and supplier development initiatives.
Deep understanding of electronics, advanced manufacturing, specialty materials, semiconductor, or other complex global supply chains.
Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills with experience driving change in a global environment.
Proven ability to build strong partnerships across functions and influence decision-making at all levels of the organization.
Ability to balance quality, cost, delivery, innovation, and risk while building strategic supplier partnerships that support business growth.

Responsibilities

Establish the strategy, standards, and governance for a high-performing, resilient, and compliant supply base.
Provide leadership to regional Supplier Quality teams.
Partner with Procurement, Engineering, NPD, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to drive supplier performance, mitigate risk, and support business growth.
Lead the end-to-end supplier quality lifecycle: supplier selection, qualification, introduction, performance management, supplier development, change management, and disqualification.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives, supplier risk management, and global quality governance.