Quality Directors – also commonly known as Quality Assurance (QA) Directors – are responsible for defining, promoting and ensuring quality throughout an organisation. Quality Directors manage all QA functions to deliver high-quality products on schedule.
Quality Directors are also tasked with establishing and maintaining a quality system to ensure that all facilities, equipment, personnel, methods, processes and procedures conform to the necessary guidelines and standards.
Here at Hyper Recruitment Solutions, we recruit Quality Directors and other QA / QC personnel for the life sciences industry - with particular focus on the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors in the UK, Europe and the United States.
Keep reading to learn more about the crucial role that Quality Directors play in the life sciences sector.
Quality Director job description
If you're applying for a job as a Quality Director, you can expect to see a job description that includes the following responsibilities:
- Establish the company's quality procedures and standards
- Oversee all aspects of quality control/quality assurance throughout the organisation
- Work with others to establish quality requirements for external suppliers
- Ensure that manufacturing/production processes meet national and international standards
- Reduce waste and improve efficiency over time
- Gather performance data and produce reports
- Review existing policies and plan improvements where necessary
- Collaborate with other managers and staff to provide training and other resources
The regulatory and quality standards to which a company must conform vary significantly depending on what the company offers and where they operate. For this reason, a company's QA Director should ideally be a dedicated specialist in the relevant field.
For example, Quality Directors in the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry may need to be familiar with the following standards:
- GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), GDP (Good Distribution Practice), GCP (Good Clinical Practice) and GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) standards in compliance with the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency)
- Regulations in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries
- ISO 13485 for Medical Devices
- WHO (World Health Organisation) regulations for medicinal products
- Relevant pharmaceutical / biotechnology industry regulations
Note that different territories have different governing bodies with their own unique sets of standards for medical products. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the relevant authority in the United States.
Which industries employ Quality Directors?
Quality Directors can be found in a wide range of different sectors. Naturally, the precise duties of a Quality Director will vary from role to role, depending on the employer and field.
If you're on the hunt for your next role, we regularly recruit Quality Directors and other QA / QC personnel for the life sciences industry.
To browse the latest quality assurance vacancies and apply online, click the link below.
Relocating to the US for your pharmaceutical career
If you'll be relocating to the US from another country, you may need a work visa.
The specific type of visa you need will depend on your country of origin, the company's needs and whether the employment is permanent or a temporary assignment. Your prospective employer will discuss this with you.
If you're looking for a career in the pharma industry, HRS can help! We work with top pharmaceutical employers on both sides of the Atlantic to find the right people for a range of different roles. Use the links below to browse the latest vacancies, or enquire now for more information.
