Director, Quality - Innovation

SC Johnson; Racine (WI); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

SC Johnson is seeking a Director, Quality - Innovation to shape the quality strategy in the innovation pipeline. This senior role leads a team dedicated to embedding a quality-first mindset across product development, partnering with RD&E and Marketing to ensure products meet rigorous standards and deliver exceptional customer experience.

Responsibilities include defining governance, driving risk management, and ensuring early engagement in concept development while aligning with business goals

Qualifications

• 12+ years of quality leadership experience in innovation or product development.
• 5+ years of team management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and champion the quality strategy for innovation projects.
• Lead and mentor the Innovation Quality team across global markets.
• Collaborate with RD&E and Marketing to embed quality into product design and launch.
• Establish quality governance, risk management, and validation protocols.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Quality expertise

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Quality Management

Advanced degree preferred

Master’s degree in Engineering/Science/Chemistry

Tools

ASQ CQE

Six Sigma Black Belt

FMEA

DOE

Quality systems

Job description

SC Johnson has been leading with purpose for 140 years, building high-quality products and iconic brands found in homes, schools and businesses in virtually every country worldwide – including OFF!®, Raid®, Glade®, Windex®, Scrubbing Bubbles®, Ziploc®, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®, method®, Autan®, Baygon®, Mr Muscle®, Duck®, Lysoform® and more.

The 13,000 people of our global, fifth-generation family company are committed to making the world a better place today and for future generations.

About The Role

The Director, Quality - Innovation is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping and driving the quality strategy within the innovation pipeline. This position leads a dedicated team that partners with Research, Development & Engineering (RD&E) and Marketing to embed a quality-first mindset into product development. The role ensures that new products meet rigorous quality standards, deliver exceptional customer experience, and align with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and champion the quality strategy for innovation projects, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and customer expectations.
• Serve as the executive voice for quality within innovation forums, influencing decisions at the highest levels.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Innovation Quality team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Allocate resources effectively to support multiple innovation projects across global markets.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with RD&E and Marketing leadership to integrate quality principles into product design, development, and commercialization processes.
• Drive early engagement in concept development to proactively identify risks and ensure robust design controls.

Governance & Process Excellence

• Establish and maintain quality frameworks for innovation, including stage-gate processes, risk management, and validation protocols.
• Implement metrics and reporting systems to monitor quality performance and provide visibility to senior leadership.

Customer-Centric Focus

• Ensure voice-of-customer insights and market feedback are embedded into product requirements and quality standards.
• Lead post-launch reviews to capture learnings and drive continuous improvement in future innovation cycles.

Required Experience You’ll Bring

• 12+ years’ experience in Quality leadership roles, including at least 5 years managing teams in innovation or product development environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

Preferred Experiences And Skills

• Master’s degree in engineering / Science / Chemistry.
• Expertise in quality systems, design controls, and risk management methodologies (FMEA, DOE, Six Sigma).
• Experience in FMCG, Pharma, Cosmetics or Food industries.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead cross-functional initiatives in complex, fast-paced settings.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and compliance standards relevant to the industry.
• Professional Certifications (ASQ CQE, Six Sigma Black Belt) are a plus.
• Driving Execution and strong ability to influence individuals, both upwards and downwards in organization.
• Building Organizational Relationships.
• Visionary thinking and used to operate in highly complex environment.
• Leadership Versatility and ability to manage remote teams High Impact Delivery.
• High Impact Delivery.
• Drive for Stakeholder Success.

Job Requirements

• Full-time.
• This role is eligible for domestic relocation.
• Remote work is available once a week for eligible employees.

Inclusion & Diversity

We’re a global business, with people from every culture, ethnicity, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age and ability. We recognize the breadth of human experience, and we work to celebrate it. It is our goal to build a diverse, inclusive and supportive work environment where all people can thrive.

We’re committed to ongoing efforts that help us attract, hire, and retain diverse talent who want to build a positive, inclusive environment. Read more about our ongoing initiatives at https://jobs.scjohnson.com/inclusion.

Better Together

At SC Johnson, we believe people achieve their best when they collaborate and work together in person. We value connection to strengthen teamwork, accelerate problem solving, and drive innovation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The policy of the Company is to ensure equal opportunity for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, gender identity, gender expression, disability, citizenship, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in any active or reserve component of the U.S. or state military forces, genetic history or information or any other category protected by law.

Accommodation Requests

If you are an individual with a disability and you need an accommodation or other assistance during the application process, please call our Human Resources department at 262-260-3343 or email your request to [e-mail]. Download the EEO Know Your Rights poster for more information.