Head QA Operations & Excellence (m/f/d)

Grünenthal; Nordrhein-Westfalen; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Grünenthal is seeking a high-impact QA leader to drive quality assurance across manufacturing operations. The role requires leadership of a team, deep GMP know-how, and strategic collaboration with IT, production, QC, and engineering to ensure compliant, reliable manufacturing.

The successful candidate will oversee risk-based QA activities, investigations, CAPAs, and continuous improvement, while mentoring and developing talent within a global operations context.

Qualifications

• University degree in Pharmacy and qualification as a Qualified Person (QP) per § 15 AMG.
• Around 10 years of QA experience in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment, including senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead, empower, and develop the team, building capabilities and talent while ensuring effective succession planning.
• Partner with all GxP functions (Production, QC, Engineering, Supply Chain) to ensure compliant and reliable manufacturing.
• Provide independent, risk-based QA oversight of manufacturing operations with strong shop-floor presence.
• Ensure robust Quality risk management, investigations, CAPAs, and effectiveness checks.
• Drive proactive Quality management and continuous improvement through trend analysis and data-driven insights.
• Champion a strong Quality culture across the site with ownership and collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Quality Assurance

GMP expertise

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Pharmacy degree

Qualified Person (QP) per § 15 AMG

Job description

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Department: Global Operations & Production

Job ID: 45523

Management | Permanent | Full-time | On-Site

Our people in Manufacturing & Global Operations share two priorities: getting things done and making things better. If you’re a dynamic person with a positive mindset, you’ll fit in well here. It’s an international team with a powerful spirit of collaboration. Together, we make sure our products meet the highest standards of quality by constantly searching for ways to improve at every stage of our value chain – from the raw materials we buy through to the logistics network that brings our medicines to patients. Join our team and help us make an even bigger contribution to Grünenthal’s future.

What the job looks like

• Lead, empower, and develop the team, building capabilities and talent while ensuring effective succession planning
• Partner with all GxP functions (e.g., Production, QC, Engineering, Supply Chain) under the motto “Partners in Progress, Leaders in Quality” to ensure compliant and reliable manufacturing
• Provide independent, risk-based QA oversight of manufacturing operations, including strong shop-floor presence, timely guidance, challenge, escalation, and decision-making
• Ensure robust Quality risk management, including investigations, root-cause analysis, CAPAs, and effectiveness checks
• Drive proactive Quality management and continuous improvement through trend analysis, data-driven insights, early risk identification, and prevention
• Champion a strong Quality culture across the site, strengthening ownership, collaboration, and proactive Quality behaviors

What you´ll bring to the table

• University degree in Pharmacy and qualification as a Qualified Person (QP) according to § 15 AMG
• Around 10 years of relevant Quality Assurance experience in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment, including senior leadership experience
• Strong Quality and GMP expertise, combined with sound, risk-based judgment
• Proven people leadership, with a strong focus on empowerment, talent development and succession planning
• Strategic and collaborative mindset, with the ability to build trusted cross-functional partnerships and constructively challenge
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across different organizational levels
• Fluent German and English, both written and spoken

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Grünenthal is a global leader in pain management and related diseases. As a science-based, privately-owned pharmaceutical company, we have a long track record of bringing innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technologies to patients worldwide. Our purpose is to change lives for the better – and innovation is our passion. We are focussing all of our activities and efforts on working towards our vision of a world free of pain.

Grünenthal is headquartered in Aachen, Germany, and has affiliates in 28 countries across Europe, Latin America and the US. Our products are available in more than 100 countries. In 2024, Grünenthal employed around 4,300 people and achieved sales of € 1.8 billion.