Head of Quality Control

Allerton Bishop Search; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Allerton Bishop in the North of the UK is seeking a Head of QC to lead a senior quality control function within a GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. The role focuses on strategic and operational leadership of a ~100-strong QC team to ensure timely, robust analytical testing for manufacturing, release and lifecycle support.

The successful candidate will drive continuous improvement, regulatory readiness and cross-functional collaboration with QA, Manufacturing and Technical Operations at

Qualifications

• GMP Quality Control leadership experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Experience leading large-scale QC organisations.
• Strong understanding of GMP laboratory operations and data integrity.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a large QC team across Chemistry, Bioanalytical and Microbiology.
• Provide strategic direction for QC operations to support manufacturing, testing and release.
• Ensure all QC activities comply with GMP, regulatory and safety requirements.

Skills

QC Leadership

People management

GMP knowledge

Operational excellence

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Chemistry/Life Sciences

Job description

Allerton Bishop is partnering with a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing company to appoint a Head of QC. Based in the North of the UK, this is a senior Quality Control leadership position with responsibility for a large team of approximately 100 people across.

This is a key leadership position within a GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, where you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the QC organisation, ensuring the delivery of robust, compliant and timely analytical testing to support manufacturing, release and the wider product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of approximately 100 QC professionals across.
• Provide strategic direction across the QC organisation, ensuring analytical operations support manufacturing, testing, release and business objectives.
• Ensure all QC activities are performed in accordance with GMP, regulatory, safety and quality requirements.
• Drive operational excellence across laboratory functions, improving efficiency, right-first-time performance, capacity and turnaround times.
• Partner closely with Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, Technical Operations and other site functions to ensure effective resolution of quality and analytical issues.
• Oversee laboratory performance, resource planning, capability development and succession planning across Chemistry, Bioanalytical and Microbiology.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across QC processes, systems and ways of working, embedding a culture of quality and scientific excellence.
• Act as a senior technical and quality representative for QC, supporting regulatory inspections, audits, investigations and remediation activities.
• Ensure the organisation maintains appropriate analytical capability, scientific rigour and regulatory readiness to support current and future manufacturing requirements.

Your Background

• Degree in Chemistry, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences or a related scientific discipline.
• Extensive GMP Quality Control leadership experience within pharmaceutical manufacturing, ideally with responsibility across multiple analytical disciplines.
• Proven experience leading large-scale QC organisations, with the ability to lead and develop teams.
• Strong understanding of GMP laboratory operations, analytical testing, investigations, data integrity and regulatory expectations.
• Demonstrated success in driving operational improvement, organisational change and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to operate effective at site leadership level.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections and working within a highly regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment.

Head of QC | Quality Control | GMP | Chemistry | Bioanalytical | Microbiology | Pharmaceutical Manufacturing | QC Leadership | Laboratory Leadership | Quality Control Manager | Head of Quality Control