Quality Systems Leader

Pernod Ricard USA; Dumbarton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global spirits company is seeking a Quality System Leader in Dumbarton, Scotland. This pivotal role involves designing and delivering internal audit programmes, collaborating with various departments, and supporting Quality Management Systems improvements. The ideal candidate has a degree in a relevant field, robust knowledge of Quality Management Systems, and excellent interpersonal skills, with a focus on coaching and supporting teams. This competitive role comes with a range of lifestyle benefits and career growth opportunities.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

25 days annual holiday plus public holidays

Employee Assistance Programme

Share incentive plan

Various gifts & discounts

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in a relevant subject and / or equivalent industrial experience.
• Expert knowledge and experience of Quality Management Systems (QMS).
• Experience of internal QMS audits as a qualified Internal Auditor.
• Strong Root Cause Analysis skills with the ability to lead structured problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver an objective internal audit programme.
• Coordinate the internal and external audit schedule.
• Coach and support colleagues through root cause analysis.
• Provide analytical and administrative support to the Quality Team.
• Lead initiatives to improve the Quality Management System.

Skills

Quality Management Systems expertise

Root Cause Analysis

Software proficiency (Excel, PowerPoint)

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Degree in relevant subject or equivalent experience

Tools

Q-Pulse IMS software

Job description

Quality System Leader

Your Manager: Quality Systems and Improvement Manager

Team: Manufacturing, Quality Assurance

Location: Kilmalid, Dumbarton

Be part of something big

We are Pernod Ricard, a leading company in the global spirits industry with over 19,000 employees globally. We own 16 of the world’s top 100 Spirits Brands and hold one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry with premium brands available in over 160 countries, including: Absolut vodka, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater, Malfy and Monkey 47 gins, Malibu liqueur and Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes.

Here in the UK

In the UK, Pernod Ricard is made up of 4 businesses:

• Chivas Brothers, the largest brand company in the Group, responsible for the production and management of our award-winning Scotch whisky portfolio
• Pernod Ricard UK, which markets, sells and distributes our products in the UK market
• Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail, the global and EMEA home of the group’s duty free, air travel and cruises business.
• The Absolut Group, the brand owner of our global white spirits portfolio, whose Gin brand unit and Business Acceleration team sit in London.

We are an organisation of 2,000 employees in the UK, headquartered in London, in a brand-new office designed with sustainability, ‘conviviality’ and collaboration in mind. We also have offices in Scotland and various distilleries and production sites across the UK from Plymouth to London to Speyside.

Your new team

This position sits in our Chivas Brothers business. At Chivas Brothers, our 1,600-strong team across 27 sites is committed to upholding the heritage of Scotch and ensuring its sustainable future, as well as opening it up to new audiences across the globe.

The scope of Operations stretches from Procurement through conversion (distillation and maturation) and manufacturing (or bottling) to all the downstream Supply Chain activities until the final product is delivered. In addition, Operations play a very active role in Innovation, Talent Development and Operational Risk Management.

The Quality Systems and Improvement team of five people are responsible for our Quality Management System and the Management System Software, Audits, Improvements and Customer Complaints. They are part of the wider Quality team within our Manufacturing function who support the business with Product Quality, Regulatory, Food Safety, Supplier Quality and Technical Training alongside Quality Systems and Improvement.

Your unique contribution

The Quality Systems Leader will design and deliver an objective internal audit programme which adds value to the business, facilitate external audits and will also be a Key User for our Integrated Management and Food Safety systems, leading initiatives to improve the Quality Management System.

You will have five main areas of responsibility:

• Audit Support and Coordination – to plan and coordinate the internal audit program across 25 sites, ensuring that all core business functions, and certificate elements are covered. You will also plan, coordinate and facilitate external audits.
• Risk Assessment – to analyse and evaluate risk controls through objective and factual assessment.
• Supporting Colleagues – to coach and support colleagues across Operations, as required, through their root cause analysis of non-conformances, establishing a strong network of contacts across the business. You will develop and deliver training to system users across the business and provide ongoing coaching as required. You will also provide analytical and administrative support to the Quality Team and the wider business for IMS/Audit activities.
• System Support – you will be a key user for the Integrated Management System (IMS) software (Q-Pulse), providing system support to all employees and leading/coaching the departmental administrators. You will provide ongoing development of the Document Control, CAPA and Audit modules in Q-Pulse to align with the business requirements.
• Driving Improvements – to lead initiatives to improve the Quality Management System and drive business improvement through our Audit and CAPA processes and engage with IMS action owners up to senior management, providing technical support to help identify solutions and deliver those improvements. You will identify system KPIs to add value to the business and perform regular analysis and reporting of Audit, CAPA and Document Control performance.

Who you’ll be working with

Internally, you’ll collaborate with colleagues from all departments across all our UK sites, including Senior Management across the business. You will also collaborate with Pernod Ricard Group Quality team

Externally, you will collaborate with suppliers and regulatory organisations to ensure delivery of services to the highest standard.

Your blend of talent

This position could be right for you if you:

• Have a degree level qualification in a relevant subject and / or equivalent industrial experience in a similar role.
• Have expert knowledge and experience of Quality Management Systems (QMS) and are a qualified Internal Auditor with experience of internal QMS audits.
• Are highly proficient with software, including Excel and PowerPoint and can quickly learn new systems.
• Have good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate and influence stakeholders.
• Have strong Root Cause Analysis skills and the ability to lead others through a structured problem-solving process.
• Enjoy a varied workload and delivering results within tight timescales.
• Hold a Current UK Driving Licence.

Our mix of benefits

For your health, we offer private medical insurance, income protection and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

Our lifestyle benefits include 25 days’ annual holiday (increasing with length of service up to 27) plus 11 public holidays, your employee pension, share incentive plan, share ownership plan, life assurance and more!

You can access lots of gifts & discounts, including an allowance each year to spend on our brands in our staff shop, our reward & recognition scheme and employee discounts from a range of high street retailers.

We have regular events in our very own office bar, employee-run networks, a culture of flexibility and trust and a variety of tools and resources to help you focus on your wellbeing and mental fitness.

Conviviality: the Pernod Ricard Way

We have our own way of doing things. We call it conviviality! It’s our way of being, and something unique you feel and experience when working for Pernod Ricard.

We’re committed to conviviality, and with this, you’ll be Proud to Belong to our Pernod Ricard family. You’ll be Empowered to Perform, supported to succeed, and acknowledged for the value you bring.

We combine all this with our Commitment to Care: we are unlocking the magic of human connection to transform our industry and make a positive impact on the world though our strong focus on sustainability and responsibility.

We’re committed to diversity and inclusion

People are at the heart of everything we do at Pernod Ricard and are the foundation of our collective spirit as ‘Créateurs de Convivialité’.

We promote diversity and inclusion throughout our business and supply chain. In our teams, we proactively foster a diverse work force and an inclusive culture – an environment where we can truly be ourselves.

We will assess your application for this role based on your skills, experiences and achievements, not your gender, age, ethnic or educational background or any other such factors. Please feel free to leave these off your CV and application form if you so wish.

Similarly, if you would like to discuss opportunities for flexible working or require accommodations or support to complete our application process, please let us know.

Responsible drinking

As ‘Créateurs de convivialité’, we want to turn social interactions into genuine and friendly experiences of sharing and wellbeing.

In our culture, we want to create diverse teams in which our differences contribute to our success. Therefore, all are welcome at Pernod Ricard, regardless of your religious beliefs or personal choices on the consumption of alcohol.

In our business, we work together with industry members, civil society, governments, local authorities and UN bodies to promote responsible drinking.

Closing Date for Applications:

07th October 2025

Job Posting End Date:

2025-10-08

Target Hire Date :

2026-01-05

Target End Date :