Quality Lead

JOB PURPOSE
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.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership & Team Development
• 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.
Continuous Improvement, Optimization & Data Analytics
• 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.
Innovation & Technical Support
• 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.
Quality Systems, Compliance & Audit Readiness
• 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.
Incident Management & Problem Resolution
• 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.
Collaboration & Communication
• 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.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Mechanical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering (or related field).
Experience:
• 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.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

PCQI Certification;

Working knowledge of HACCP

Pay: The pay range for this position is $88,600 to $133,000. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs. 

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible. 

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible. 

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents. 

#WC123

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At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.
Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities.
For more information on your federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected]. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.