Associate Director, Quality Assurance – Surgery

Alcott Global; United States; On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Alcott Global seeks an Associate Director of Quality Assurance – Surgery to lead QA oversight across Surgery manufacturing, ensuring strict cGMP compliance and regulatory readiness.

You will partner with Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, EHS, R&D, and Supply Chain to drive quality strategy, risk management, and continuous improvement, strengthening the site QA function.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in Quality Assurance, Pharmaceutical or Medical Device manufacturing.
• 5+ years in leadership managing QA teams or site-quality operations.
• Deep knowledge of FDA regulations (21 CFR Parts 210/211/820), EU GMP, ISO 13485, cGMP.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections and remediation activities.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with Lean/Six Sigma methodologies is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end QA oversight for Surgery manufacturing, ensuring cGMP compliance.
• Act as site SME for Manufacturing Quality, review batch records and dispositions.
• Oversee deviations, CAPAs, change controls, investigations, and VoE.
• Lead regulatory readiness and inspections with FDA, EU GMP, and ISO audits.
• Drive risk-based decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing QA organization.

Skills

Quality Assurance leadership

Manufacturing Quality

cGMP Compliance

Regulatory Inspections

Risk Management

CAPA

Deviations

Change Control

Root Cause Investigations

Product Disposition

Quality Systems

Tools

SAP

QMS

Job description

Role: Associate Director, Quality Assurance – Surgery

Location: El Paso, Texas

Alcott Global has been retained by a leading global organization in the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing sector. This leadership role is responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight for Quality Assurance across Surgery manufacturing operations, while ensuring compliance with FDA regulations (21 CFR Parts 210, 211, and 820), EU GMP, ISO 13485, and other global quality standards. As a key member of the site Quality Leadership Team, the Associate Director will drive quality strategy, regulatory readiness, risk-based decision-making, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with both global and site objectives.

The role will lead end-to-end Quality Assurance oversight across the manufacturing process for Surgery products, ensuring robust quality systems, timely product disposition, sustainable compliance, contamination control, risk management, and operational excellence. The individual will also work closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, EHS, R&D, and other cross‑functional teams to support compliant manufacturing operations, strengthen quality culture, and enable business objectives.

What we are looking for:

The ideal candidates will bring strong experience in pharmaceutical and/or medical device manufacturing, with a proven track record in Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Quality, cGMP Compliance, Regulatory Inspections, Risk Management, CAPA, Deviations, Change Control, Root Cause Investigations, Product Disposition, and Quality Systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end Quality Assurance oversight across Surgery manufacturing operations, ensuring manufacturing activities are adequately supported, operationally efficient, and fully compliant with cGMP (21 CFR Parts 210/211), QSR (21 CFR Part 820), ISO 13485, EU GMP, and global quality standards.
• Serve as the site Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Manufacturing Quality, providing strategic oversight of production quality, in-process controls, batch record review, product disposition, contamination control, and risk-based decision-making while ensuring manufacturing operations remain inspection‑ready.
• Provide strategic oversight of Quality Systems, ensuring effective management of deviations, CAPAs, change controls, complaints, investigations, verification of effectiveness (VoE), and sustainable corrective actions while driving continuous improvement across manufacturing operations.
• Lead Quality Compliance and Regulatory Readiness by ensuring compliance with FDA, EU GMP, ISO 13485, and global quality requirements, acting as the site QA lead during FDA inspections, regulatory audits, customer audits, and regulatory responses.
• Drive Quality Risk Management and Operational Excellence by leveraging data‑driven analysis, root cause investigations, quality metrics, trend analysis, and quality risk management principles to identify systemic issues, strengthen quality systems, and improve manufacturing performance.
• Build and develop a high‑performing Quality Assurance organization by providing leadership, coaching, and technical mentorship, fostering a culture of accountability, ownership, urgency, execution, continuous learning, and a strong quality mindset while ensuring appropriate capability across operations and quality systems.
• Drive strategic quality initiatives through effective collaboration with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, EHS, R&D, and cross‑functional stakeholders to support business continuity, validated manufacturing processes, supply reliability, and operational excellence.

Candidate Profile:

• 10+ years of relevant experience in Quality Assurance, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, or Medical Device Manufacturing.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing Quality teams, manufacturing quality functions, or site‑level quality operations.
• Strong knowledge of FDA regulations (21 CFR Parts 210/211/820), EU GMP, ISO 13485, cGMP, Quality Systems, Risk Management, and regulatory inspection requirements.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections and interactions, including FDA inspections, 483 observations, Warning Letters, customer audits, and regulatory remediation activities.
• Strong ability to lead cross‑functional teams, drive accountability, strengthen compliance culture, and support operational excellence.
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience with Lean/Six Sigma methodologies, SAP, and enterprise Quality Management Systems is preferred.