Quality Team Lead

diageo; Shelbyville (KY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

Diageo is seeking a Quality Team Lead to oversee quality and food safety across two distilleries. You will lead the Quality Specialists, ensure compliance with Diageo standards, and drive improvements in chemistry and sensory evaluation.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree, 3+ years in distillation/manufacturing, strong leadership, project management, and ISO 9001/22000 expertise. You will manage the quality budget and collaborate with suppliers and NA sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• 3+ years in Distillation, Brewing, Food & Beverage, Manufacturing Industry.
• Leadership and employee engagement skills.
• Project management skills.
• HACCP supervisory/managerial level qualified.
• ISO 9001 or ISO 22000 lead auditor qualified.
• Experience working with suppliers and ICIX.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Financial and budgeting experience.
• Excellent problem solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage quality and food safety for two distilleries ensuring quality distillate to meet consumer demands.
• Safely leads and handles the Quality Specialists and ensures compliance with Diageo standards and regulatory requirements.
• Ensures high quality products are produced that satisfy Diageo quality ratings from a chemistry and sensory perspective.
• Lead laboratory and application of test procedures relating to fermentation, distillation, and maturation.
• Manage ISO 9001/FSSC 22000 Quality & Food Safety system compliance ensuring certification.
• Develops and effectively runs the Quality budget and optimizes capital investments and expenditures.
• Identifies business risks and completes required change to achieve performance results.
• Effectively leads and develops direct reports.
• Controls costs and drives Quality/Food Safety benchmarks through continual improvement and root cause problem solving.
• Build & leverage relationships within Diageo supply sites and the broader NA business.
• Ensure that project opportunities are aligned with the NA Quality Strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Employee engagement

Project management

Problem solving

Financial budgeting

Verbal & written communication

Document control

Management of Change

Supplier management

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

ICIX

Harford Superuser

Job description

Job Description :

About us

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, Diageo is home to some of the world's most iconic drinks. From Johnnie Walker and Guinness to Tanqueray, Smirnoff and Don Julio, we craft brands chosen for life's moments - from everyday connections to landmark celebrations.

Bring your talent, curiosity and ambition, and strive for your personal best alongside people who challenge, support and learn from each other. Together, as one outstanding team, we keep learning, improving and raising the bar for our brands, our business and each other.

Join us and play your part in making life's moments mean a little more.

About the Function

Supply Chain & Manufacturing is where our brands are made, moved and delivered to the world.

With over half of our people working across more than 100 sites, this is a complex, large-scale operation that brings together production, logistics, engineering and supplier partnerships.

It's fast-paced and hands-on, with teams working together to ensure quality, efficiency and sustainability at every stage. From sourcing ingredients to getting products into customers' hands, you'll play a role in delivering the brands people know and love.

Title: Quality Team Lead

Reports to: Senior Quality Manager

About this role

• Manage quality and food safety for two distilleries ensuring quality distillate to meet consumer demands
• Safely leads and handles the Quality Specialists and ensures compliance with Diageo standards and regulatory requirements.
• Ensures high quality products are produced that satisfy Diageo quality ratings from a chemistry and sensory perspective.
• Lead laboratory and application of test procedures relating to fermentation, distillation, and maturation .
• Manage ISO 9001/FSSC 22000 Quality & Food Safety system compliance ensuring certification.
• Develops and effectively runs the Quality budget and optimizes capital investments and expenditures. Delivers against cost targets
• Identifies business risks and completes required change to achieve performance results.
• Effectively leads and develops direct reports.
• Controls costs and drives Quality/Food Safety benchmarks through continual improvement and root cause problem solving.

Key Outputs

• Deliver Quality plan - ensure high quality distillates and by-product production.
• Optimize quality standards through manufacturing excellence and quality driven business systems.
• Maintain accurate document control for the site.
• Drive the quality engagement platform and a continuous improvement culture.
• Build & leverage relationships within Diageo supply sites and the broader NA business.
• Ensure that project opportunities are aligned with the NA Quality Strategy.

Experience/skills required

• Bachelor's degree in related field (e.g. Science, Engineering etc.).
• 3+ years in Distillation, Brewing, Food & Beverage, Manufacturing Industry.
• Shown leadership and employee engagement skills.
• Project management skills.
• HACCP supervisory/managerial level qualified
• ISO 9001 or ISO 22000 lead auditor qualified.
• Experience working with suppliers and ICIX
• Harford Superuser
• Excellent knowledge of document control and Management of Change
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Financial and budgeting experience
• Excellent problem solving skills

Working with Us

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you're supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life's moments. And the ...

We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best. You'll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team.

Together, we're constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you'll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life's moments mean a little more.

Worker Type : Regular

Primary Location: Shelbyville

Additional Locations :

Job Posting Start Date : 2026-10-05

SHELBYVILLE, KENTUCKY: SALARY RANGE IS FROM $68,400 TO $114,000 (ANNUAL)

At Diageo certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, includin