VP Quality, Global Life Sciences

Ecolab•Saint Paul, PA

About The Position

As VP Quality, Global Life Sciences you will be accountable for the enterprise quality vision, strategy, and operating model across Ecolab’s Life Sciences business globally, including Bioprocessing, Purification Technologies, and Pharma and Personal Care (PPC). You will have end-to-end responsibility for the global compliance and quality management system as well as the performance of site quality operations across the manufacturing network, with direct leadership of plant quality managers, site quality organizations, and quality control laboratories. Responsible for building a world-class quality organization that ensures product quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance, inspection readiness, and reliable supply, you will drive and enable growth, innovation, and operational excellence in highly regulated markets. The VP Global Quality, Life Sciences reports to the VP Global Quality for Ecolab and serves as a key member of Ecolab’s Quality leadership team as well as strategic partner to Regulatory/Compliance, RDE, Supply Chain, Operations, and Business leadership to drive enterprise risk management, strengthen quality culture, and deliver sustained competitive advantage.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a technical field such as engineering, biology, microbiology, or chemistry
15+ years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or broader Life Sciences industry in quality or compliance leadership roles with increasing technical, operational, and organizational scope
10+ years of people leadership experience, including leading leaders and managing multi-site quality organizations in a regulated manufacturing environment
Experience leading organizations through global regulatory inspections and compliance expectations, with demonstrated accountability for inspection readiness, remediation, and sustained regulatory performance
Experience with batch disposition, release governance, quality risk escalation, and quality decision-making within regulated manufacturing operations

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated success driving excellence in quality and change management in environments critical to customer, regulatory, and business performance
Proven success leading plant quality managers, site quality teams, and quality laboratories across a multi-site manufacturing network, with responsibility for capability building, standardization, and quality culture
Experience working directly with FDA, Notified Bodies, and other global regulators
Experience leading a global organization
Strategic mindset with strong customer and patient-focused risk assessment and judgment
Strong relationship management skills with the ability to build networks, support teams, and influence across the organization
A track record of driving continuous improvement and investment in high-growth businesses
Master’s degree (technical field or MBA)
LSS Black Belt certification
Responsibility for a Quality System in a business >$200 million, preferably >$1 billion
A history of leading teams through successful integrations

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the quality vision and strategy for the Life Sciences divisions
Partner with business and technical teams to build a culture that embeds Quality as a foundation of the business
Lead QMS process improvements to meet customer quality expectations and global regulatory requirements
Provide leadership for design controls, post-market vigilance, supplier controls, and associated quality processes, including CAPA, complaints, and internal and external audits
Provide executive leadership for plant quality managers, site quality teams, and quality control laboratories across the Life Sciences manufacturing network, ensuring strong site quality performance, laboratory excellence, disciplined release governance, and alignment to global quality standards
Benchmark industry and Ecolab best practices and optimize the quality organization, including organizational design, QMS, and talent development
Ensure the Quality System complies with all applicable quality and regulatory requirements in the markets where products are manufactured, marketed, and distributed, and aligns with Ecolab quality policies
Proactively address customer feedback and ensure CAPA and other resolutions meet customer and regulatory expectations while driving continuous improvement
Ensure new and modified products are supported by current design and quality plans that meet customer, regulatory, and supply chain requirements
Build capabilities to support new business lines and processing or material changes that improve product cost, quality, and performance
Build customer and regulator audit capabilities that are well understood, streamlined, and a source of competitive advantage
Own governance and capability building for network quality performance, plant quality organizations, and quality laboratory operations, including standardization, talent development, quality risk escalation, and sustained inspection readiness across the manufacturing network