Quality & Improvement Manager

Avantor; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Avantor in Cambridge, UK is seeking a Quality & Improvement Manager to lead quality assurance, compliance and continuous improvement within a regulated pharmaceutical R&D environment. The role reports to regional leadership and drives a culture of learning and operational excellence.

You will manage audits, coach teams, and partner with stakeholders to deliver measurable quality improvements across on-site operations.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in a scientific, engineering, healthcare, or related discipline.
• Certified Quality Manager qualification or equivalent preferred.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or similar process-improvement accreditation.
• Strong knowledge of Quality Management Systems and ISO 9001.

Responsibilities

• Lead and enhance Quality Management Systems (QMS) to ensure compliance with internal standards, customer expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, improve service quality, and support innovation and digital transformation.
• Review existing processes, identify improvement opportunities, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Oversee audit readiness, compliance activities, inspections, and corrective action programmes.
• Develop and promote a strong culture of quality, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management to direct reports.
• Build strong partnerships with customer stakeholders, site teams, and regional colleagues.
• Monitor and report on service performance, quality metrics, and improvement outcomes.

Skills

Quality Management

ISO 9001

Audit Leadership

Stakeholder Mgmt

Change Mgmt

Lean Six Sigma

Education

Degree qualified

Job description

The Opportunity: Quality & Improvement Manager Cambridge, UK (On-site) Permanent, Full-Time Drive Quality. Champion Improvement. Make an Impact.

We are seeking an experienced Quality & Improvement Manager to join our team in Cambridge and play a pivotal role in enhancing quality, compliance, safety, and operational excellence within a leading pharmaceutical R&D environment.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence strategic improvement initiatives, drive a culture of continuous learning, and work closely with a wide range of stakeholders across a highly regulated scientific setting.

Based on a customer site in Cambridge, you will report directly to the Region Director of Services and act as a key link between operational service delivery, digital innovation, and continuous improvement.

And there's more. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead the direction of on-site compliance whilst working with a wider European team.

As the business evolves, you'll have the opportunity to grow and lead a team of 2-4 direct reports, allowing you to shape the team's structure, develop talent, and create a culture of quality and continuous improvement from day one.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and enhance Quality Management Systems (QMS) to ensure compliance with internal standards, customer expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, improve service quality, and support innovation and digital transformation.
• Review existing processes, identify improvement opportunities, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Oversee audit readiness, compliance activities, inspections, and corrective action programmes.
• Develop and promote a strong culture of quality, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management to direct reports.
• Build strong partnerships with customer stakeholders, site teams, and regional colleagues.
• Monitor and report on service performance, quality metrics, and improvement outcomes.

What We're Looking For

We welcome applications from professionals who have experience in quality management, operational excellence, compliance, or continuous improvement within regulated environments.

Key requirements

• Degree qualified or equivalent experience in a scientific, engineering, healthcare, or related discipline.
• Certified Quality Manager qualification or equivalent.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or similar process improvement accreditation.
• Strong knowledge of Quality Management Systems and ISO 9001.
• Experience leading audits, inspections, compliance activities, and corrective action programmes.
• Proven ability to manage stakeholders and influence at all organisational levels.
• Strong leadership skills with experience coaching and developing teams.
• Ability to drive change and deliver measurable improvements.

Nice to Have

• Experience conducting or supporting ISO audits.
• Knowledge of ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards.
• Experience within laboratory, scientific, pharmaceutical, or other highly regulated environments.

Why Join Us?

• Lead meaningful quality and improvement initiatives with visible business impact.
• Work within an innovative, science-driven environment.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders and industry-leading professionals.
• Develop and implement best practices across a critical service operation.
• Shape the future of quality, compliance, and operational excellence.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science.

The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor.

We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world.

EEO Statement

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

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By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions.

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Avantor®, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve.

One of our greatest strengths comes from having a global infrastructure that is strategically located to support the needs of our customers. Our global footprint enables us to serve more than 225,000 customer locations and gives us extensive access to research laboratories and scientists in more than 180 countries.

We set science in motion to create a better world.