Head of Quality

Cantourage UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

36 day annual leave

Performance-based annual bonus

Job summary

A pharmaceutical company in Greater London is seeking a Head of Quality to lead the Quality function. The role involves acting as Responsible Person for their WDA operation, ensuring quality compliance, and designing a proactive Quality Management System. Candidates should have experience in regulatory inspections and a background in pharmaceuticals. The company offers performance-based bonuses and extensive annual leave, including all UK public holidays.

Qualifications

• Eligibility to be named as a Responsible Person on a UK WDA licence.
• Ideally 2-3 years’ experience in pharmaceutical wholesale or distribution.
• Experience integrating technology or automation into QMS frameworks.
• Deep expertise in Good Distribution Practice (GDP)
• Experience handling Controlled Drugs and unlicensed specials
• Proven ability to lead regulatory inspections and manage regulatory bodies confidently
• Experience building or evolving a QMS in regulated environments

Responsibilities

• Lead the Quality function and act as Responsible Person for the WDA operation.
• Design a proactive, technology-enabled Quality Management System (QMS).
• Maintain inspection readiness with MHRA and Home Office.

Skills

Eligibility to be named as Responsible Person on a UK WDA license

Experience acting as RP in pharmaceutical environments

Strong scientific or pharmaceutical background

Deep expertise in Good Distribution Practice

Experience handling Controlled Drugs

Proven ability to lead regulatory inspections

Experience building or evolving a QMS

Education

Degree in Pharmacy, Life Sciences or related field

Regulatory qualification

Tools

QMS software

Automation in QA

Job description

Who are we?

Since medical cannabis was legalised in the UK in 2018, Cantourage UK has been building the infrastructure that makes this industry work - safely, compliantly and at scale.

We operate across two deeply interconnected worlds:

• A regulated tele-health clinic, delivering high-quality patient care
• A licensed pharmaceutical supply operation, powering the wider ecosystem

Together, they form a complex, high-trust system where clinical integrity, operational excellence and smart technology must work in lockstep.

With a strong foundation in place and ambitious growth ahead, we’re now looking for a Head of Quality to lead future‑prove our pharmaceutical regulatory framework as we scale into the next phase of growth.

What’s the purpose of the role?

You will assume full leadership of the Quality function and formally act as Responsible Person (RP) for our WDA operation.

This is not a maintenance role. It’s about evolving Quality from static compliance into a strategic growth enabler.

Reporting to the Executive Director (License Holder), you will safeguard our MHRA and Home Office licenses while designing a proactive, technology‑enabled QMS that supports scale, innovation and long‑term regulatory credibility.

You will operate at the intersection of regulatory authority, operational execution and strategic ambition, ensuring that compliance is not just an afterthought.

What impact will you have?

Responsible Person & Regulatory Leadership

• Successfully assume the mantle of RP on our WDA license
• Maintain perpetual MHRA and Home Office inspection readiness
• Lead regulatory engagement confidently and authoritatively

QMS Evolution & Quality by Design

• Conduct a comprehensive QMS gap analysis upon joining
• Transition static compliance processes into proactive, daily quality workflows
• Embed a “Quality by Design” philosophy across new initiatives and system changes
• Drive CAPA programmes and continuous improvement cycles that reduce risk year‑on‑year

Strategic Licence & Authorisation Expansion

• Lead risk assessment and stakeholder alignment across new regulatory milestones
• Balance ambition with regulatory prudence in a high‑growth environment

Quality Leadership & Capability Building

• Provide structure, vision and technical upskilling to the Quality function
• Oversee and empower our Quality Assurance Officer
• Build a culture where quality ownership extends beyond the Quality team

Data‑Driven & Technology‑Enabled Quality

• Implement data‑led monitoring of Quality KPIs and risk indicators
• Leverage systems and automation to enhance compliance oversight
• Ensure compliance is embedded into digital workflows across Pharma and Clinic operations

What will you bring to the table?

• Eligibility to be named as a Responsible Person (RP) on a UK WDA licence, with demonstrable MHRA recognition
• Ideally 2‑3 years’ experience acting as RP within a pharmaceutical wholesale or distribution environment
• Strong scientific or pharmaceutical background (degree in Pharmacy, Life Sciences or related field highly desirable)
• Deep expertise in Good Distribution Practice (GDP)
• Experience handling Controlled Drugs and unlicensed specials
• Proven ability to lead regulatory inspections and manage regulatory bodies confidently
• Experience building or evolving a QMS in regulated environments

If you have the following, it’ll be a huge bonus

• Experience within a CBPM (Cannabis‑Based Products for Medicinal Use) environment is advantageous, though we are equally open to candidates from broader unlicensed specials settings
• Exposure to preparing and winning applications for new pharmaceutical licences
• Experience integrating technology or automation into QMS frameworks
• Background working in emerging or novel regulatory markets

Who wouldn’t thrive in this role?

• Someone who sees compliance as a reactive obligation rather than a strategic lever
• Someone uncomfortable holding firm in the face of commercial pressure
• Someone who prefers static processes over continuous improvement
• Someone who struggles to balance regulatory rigour with business growth

What do we offer?

📅 36 day annual leave (includes your birthday + all UK public holidays)

💰 Performance based annual bonus