Director Quality, Institutional

As Quality Director, you will lead the Global & NA Institutional Quality Pillar within Ecolab's future-state Global Quality organization, setting and sustaining the standards that govern product quality across the manufacturing, warehousing and distribution network. You will be responsible for building a best-in-class quality function focused on product safety, regulatory compliance, continuous improvement and a superior customer experience. Reporting to the Vice President, Global Quality, you will have primary responsibility for the North America quality management system, supplier and contract manufacturer quality, and customer complaint resolution. You will partner closely with Central Quality, Global Supplier Quality, business-aligned Quality pillars, Supply Chain, Commercial, RD&E, manufacturing, suppliers, third-party manufacturers and regulatory bodies to establish clear accountability, consistent standards, timely escalation and shared learning across the enterprise. Innovation and data-driven decision-making will be essential to activating the future-state operating model, strengthening local execution and continually increasing the value Quality delivers to the business and customers.

What You Will Do

• Own the North America quality strategy and roadmap, aligning regional priorities with the global quality agenda and future-state Global Quality operating model while driving synergies across the function
• Provide leadership and vision to the NA quality team across manufacturing plants, warehouses, and contract manufacturing partners, developing both people and technology to elevate overall performance
• Own and continuously improve the quality management system, ensuring readiness for internal, customer, regulatory and third-party audits
• Ensure compliance with FDA, EPA, ISO 9001 and other applicable regulatory and customer requirements across all North America sites
• Own the NA quality budget and cost of poor quality, including target setting for divisions
• Drive reduction in customer complaints, non-conformances and rework through structured root cause analysis and disciplined corrective and preventive action
• Establish quality metrics and reporting, using data and analytics to identify trends and direct resources to the highest-impact issues
• Partner with RD&E and the divisions on new product introductions, formula changes and specification management so that quality is designed in from the start
• Partner with the supplier and contract manufacturing teams to establish strong quality programs, including qualification, performance monitoring, audits and corrective action
• Direct the investigation and resolution of significant quality events, including product holds, recalls and customer escalations
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with commercial leaders to constantly drive improvements and efficiencies across the supply chain
• Drive standardization of quality processes across the network while implementing operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives
• Protect Ecolab's brand by ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and promoting environmental responsibility
• Activate the future-state Global Quality operating model across North America by clarifying decision rights, governance, interfaces, support channels and escalation paths while keeping Quality closely connected to sites, businesses and customers
• Build a connected One Quality culture by applying common standards and metrics, sharing expertise and learning across Quality pillars, and strengthening early risk visibility and consistent execution across the network
• Promote Ecolab's values and performance-based culture of excellence by demonstrating transformational leadership, and attracting, engaging, developing and rewarding the best talent in the industry

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, engineering, supply chain or a related technical field
• 10 years of experience in quality, manufacturing or supply chain, including quality team leadership experience
• Experience owning a quality management system and regulatory compliance in a manufacturing environment
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or master's degree in a technical discipline
• ASQ certification (CQE, CQA or CQM/OE) or Six Sigma Black Belt
• Large, global matrixed organization experience
• Experience in FDA, EPA and ISO 9001 regulated manufacturing environments
• Experience driving transformation through operational excellence and continuous improvement
• Strong communication skills, with ability to influence at all levels
• Track record of strong results delivery and people development
• Strategic thinking with the big picture in mind, keeping a pulse on external market factors, trends
• Ability to translate broad corporate strategies into clear, specific goals and plans

Annual or Hourly Compensation Range

Benefits 

Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits. 

If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here. 

Potential Customer Requirements Notice

To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:

- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.