Quality Lead

Unilever•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Quality Lead is responsible for ensuring that manufacturing processes and finished products meet all regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and internal quality standards. This role provides technical leadership to drive product safety, compliance, and continuous improvement across the site. You’ll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters — for people and the planet. Because here, we don’t just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger. A key member of the Quality leadership team, the Quality Lead plays a critical role in advancing the facility toward World Class Manufacturing (WCM) performance—focused on zero defects, zero waste, and zero losses. The position acts as a strategic connection point between Production, Quality, Engineering, and Logistics, ensuring seamless end to end quality oversight. Core areas of focus include process optimization, digitization, continuous improvement leadership, and quality innovation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Mechanical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering (or related field).
Demonstrated leadership in managing quality teams in Foods & Beverage manufacturing environment.
Proficiency in statistical analysis, process control tools, and data stratification.
Hands-on experience with quality laboratory operations and equipment.

Nice To Haves

PCQI Certification
Working knowledge of HACCP

Responsibilities

Lead and coach a team of Quality Technicians, cultivating a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
Assess training needs and develop capability plans to strengthen site quality competencies and technical mastery.
Lead and drive optimization projects focused on reducing top quality losses and factory-level inefficiencies.
Oversee data collection, analysis, and assignment to standard quality loss trees to support KPI reporting and decision making.
Maintain deep operational knowledge of IT systems supporting Quality (e.g., SAP QM, PLM, ECC) and drive their adoption and proper usage.
Define and implement Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods to set operational targets, control limits, and capability standards. Train plant personnel in statistical techniques and data driven problem solving.
Support innovation funnel activities across the supply chain, partnering with internal and external stakeholders to enable launch readiness and compliance.
Provide technical troubleshooting and guidance on quality issues, serving as co lead for the Quality Pillar.
Implement and verify the calibration and maintenance program for inspection, measuring, and testing equipment; coordinate lab equipment capability studies.
Support robust control of non conforming materials and products, ensuring timely disposition, investigation, and corrective action.
Support implementation and verification of category specific GMP requirements.
Oversee compliance of the intake control program for incoming materials and packaging components.
Support structured quality improvement activities related to customer or consumer issues and Quality System gaps.
Drive structured investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) to prevent recurrence.
Partner cross functionally with Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, and external partners to ensure alignment on specifications, quality expectations, and continuous improvement priorities.
Communicate results, issues, and improvement plans clearly and effectively to stakeholders at all levels.
Interpret, apply, and enforce all company policies, programs, safety requirements, and environmental regulations.