Associate Director Quality Assurance
Job Summary
Job Description
- Supplier Quality Oversight: Managing the Approved Supplier List (ASL) ensuring suppliers meet GMP and regulatory requirements.
- Supplier Change Management: Acting as SME for supplier change notifications evaluating impact and ensuring proper approvals.
- SCAR & CAPA Management: Leading supplier corrective and preventive actions ensuring timely closure and effectiveness verification.
- Audits & Inspections: Planning leading and supporting supplier audits regulatory inspections and follow-up actions.
- SQMS IT Systems: Overseeing Supplier Quality Management Systems (SQMS) ensuring validated status compliance and effective use.
- Global Stakeholder Management: Collaborating with stakeholders across global manufacturing sites suppliers and regulatory bodies to align quality expectations and ensure compliance.
- Risk Management: Implementing risk-based approaches for supplier qualification monitoring and escalation of compliance risks.
- People Management: Leading coaching and developing a team of Supplier Quality professionals to ensure operational excellence.
- Continuous Improvement: Driving innovation efficiency and GMP awareness in supplier quality processes.
- Ensure suppliers are qualified monitored and maintained in compliance with GMP and global regulatory expectations.
- Lead supplier audits and manage audit findings ensuring corrective actions are implemented effectively.
- Serve as SME for supplier change management ensuring changes are assessed for impact on product quality and compliance.
- Manage SCARs and CAPAs with suppliers ensuring timely resolution and effectiveness checks.
- Oversee SQMS IT systems ensuring compliance with validation change control and data integrity requirements.
- Maintain and update the Approved Supplier List (ASL) in alignment with business and regulatory needs.
- Provide leadership coaching and performance management for Supplier Quality team members.
- Collaborate with global manufacturing sites to ensure consistent supplier quality practices across regions.
- Represent Supplier Quality in cross-functional and global meetings driving resolution of supplier-related compliance issues.
- Support regulatory inspections and audits related to supplier quality management worldwide.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement and GMP compliance across supplier quality processes.
- Bachelors degree in Science Engineering Information Technology or Business (Advanced Degree preferred).
- Minimum 12 years of experience in regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing or supplier quality management with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
- Strong understanding of FDA EU ICH and other global regulatory requirements with emphasis on supplier quality GMP and data integrity.
- Hands-on experience with supplier quality systems supplier audits and supplier change management across multiple global sites.
- Demonstrated expertise in SCAR CAPA and risk management processes.
- Familiarity with SQMS IT systems and computerized system validation.
- Excellent leadership communication and stakeholder management skills with proven ability to manage global stakeholders.
- Professional certifications (Six Sigma PMP Quality Auditor) preferred.
- Multi-lingual capabilities and experience in leading regulatory inspection discussions are advantageous.
Required Skills:
Adaptability Change Management Cross-Cultural Awareness Cross-Functional Teamwork GMP Training Good Distribution Practice (GDP) Inspection Readiness Manufacturing Quality Control Quality Auditing Quality Management Standards Quality Metrics Quality Systems Compliance Regulatory Compliance Risk ManagementPreferred Skills:
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Employee Status:
RegularRelocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
HybridShift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
06/5/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Required Experience:
Director
About Company
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA is known as “Merck” in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. We are known as “MSD” in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America & Asia Pacific. We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a diverse portfolio of prescription medicine ... View more