Global Laboratory Quality Assurance Director

Msd; Newport; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD is seeking an inspiring leader to shape and champion our laboratory Quality Management System across international sites. You will collaborate with laboratory managers and technical teams to harmonise quality procedures, simplify documentation and foster a collaborative culture of compliance.

Lead the multi-site QMS across Newport, Dublin and Lawrence, partner to maintain procedures, manage audits, CAPA, and continuous improvement, providing KPI reporting to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of quality experience in an accredited environment, preferably a scientific testing laboratory.
• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline; advanced degree or quality certification preferred.
• Strong expertise with ISO 17025, ISO 9001 or comparable lab-quality frameworks.
• Proven experience managing external audits, accreditation activities, CAPA programmes and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical skills with experience generating and interpreting quality metrics, audit results and operational data.
• Excellent collaboration and stakeholder‑management skills in a highly cross‑functional environment.
• Demonstrated ability to train teams, influence without direct authority and support a global or multi‑site structure.
• Willingness to travel internationally 15-20%

Responsibilities

• Lead the multi-site laboratory Quality Management System, ensuring alignment with ISO 17025 or comparable standards across Newport (UK), Dublin (IRL) and Lawrence (Kansas-USA).
• Partner with laboratory managers and technical teams to define, harmonise and maintain quality procedures, documentation practices and compliance controls.
• Serve as the primary liaison with global accreditation bodies and third-party auditors, managing audit readiness, corrective actions and accreditation cycles.
• Maintain and improve documentation control, change management and internal audit programmes.
• Monitor quality performance across sites, analyse trends and provide KPI reporting to senior leadership.
• Apply risk-based quality principles to identify vulnerabilities, prioritise action, and strengthen processes.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, evaluating the effectiveness of changes and ensuring standardised adoption across labs.
• Provide functional leadership, coaching and training to site Quality Representatives to build quality capability and ensure consistent practices across locations.
• Support integration of new technologies, methods and digital tools into the quality framework as the lab network evolves.
• Stay current with global certification requirements, industry best practices and trends in scientific testing quality systems.

Skills

Quality management

Auditing

Stakeholder management

Training leadership

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in science

ASQ Lead Auditor certification

Tools

ISO 17025

ISO 9001

CAPA

Documentation control

Audit management

Job description

MSD is seeking an inspiring leader to shape and champion our laboratory Quality Management System across international sites. You will collaborate with laboratory managers and technical teams to harmonise quality procedures, simplify documentation and foster a collaborative culture of compliance.

Lead the multi-site QMS across Newport, Dublin and Lawrence, partner to maintain procedures, manage audits, CAPA, and continuous improvement, providing KPI reporting to senior leadership.