Head of quality assurance

Allerton Bishop is delighted to be partnering with a successful pharmaceutical manufacturing company to appoint a Head of Quality on a hybrid basis in the South East of England.

This is a critical leadership appointment responsible for driving Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and GMP Compliance across a regulated manufacturing operation. Reporting to the Site Director, the successful candidate will lead the site's Quality function, ensuring the highest standards of product quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.

This opportunity would suit an experienced pharmaceutical quality leader seeking broader site influence and the opportunity to shape quality culture within a commercially successful manufacturing business.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Quality Assurance and Quality Control functions across the manufacturing site.
• Act as the site's lead representative for MHRA inspections, customer audits, and regulatory interactions.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with GMP, GDP, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Lead quality systems including deviations, CAPAs, change controls, complaints, investigations, and risk management activities.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing quality team, creating a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Validation, and Technical Services teams to drive quality performance.
• Monitor quality metrics and identify opportunities to improve compliance, efficiency, and right-first-time performance.
• Support new product introductions, technology transfers, and business growth initiatives from a quality perspective.

Candidate Requirements

• Proven leadership experience within pharmaceutical manufacturing Quality functions.
• Strong working knowledge of GMP regulations and experience managing regulatory inspections and customer audits.
• Demonstrated success leading Quality Assurance, Quality Control, or combined Quality operations teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at both site and senior leadership level.
• Degree qualified within a Life Science discipline, Pharmacy, Chemistry, or related scientific field.

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