Senior Director, Quality - UCAN (Pharmaceuticals)

Baxter International Inc.; Deerfield (IL); On-site; USD 232,000 - 319,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage from day 1

401(k) with company match

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid time off 20–35 days

Job summary

Baxter International Inc. seeks a Senior Director, Quality Assurance for the US/Canada region. You will lead quality strategy, governance, and performance across Baxter’s UCAN network, spanning manufacturing, labs, and distribution, to ensure patient safety and product quality.

You will guide a ~400-employee organization, collaborate with senior leaders, and drive regulatory excellence while delivering sustainable results in a high-stakes environment.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of senior Quality leadership experience within pharmaceutical industry.
• Global quality systems, regulatory requirements, inspection management, and risk mitigation.
• Ability to influence executive stakeholders and guide high-impact business decisions.
• Experience leading large-scale transformation, remediation, and continuous improvement programs.
• Leadership style that develops talent and fosters accountability and growth.
• Experience managing significant budgets, investments, and strategic operating plans.
• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific, engineering, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year Quality strategy across the UCAN network.
• Lead Quality governance and decision-making across multiple sites.
• Partner with senior leaders to enable growth, operational resilience, and reliable product supply.
• Champion inspection readiness and regulatory excellence with authorities.
• Drive enterprise-wide quality improvement, remediation, and transformation initiatives.
• Make risk-based decisions balancing patient safety, quality, compliance, and business goals.
• Coach and develop leaders and strengthen succession planning.
• Provide executive-level insights and reporting on quality performance and risks.
• Travel up to 40% to manufacturing sites and vendors.

Skills

Quality leadership

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder influence

Transformation programs

Budget management

Talent development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science/engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

This is where your work makes a difference. At Baxter, we believe every person—regardless of who they are or where they are from—deserves a chance to live a healthy life. It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining healthcare delivery to make a greater impact today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Our Baxter colleagues are united by our Mission to Save and Sustain Lives. Together, our community is driven by a culture of courage, trust, and collaboration. Every individual is empowered to take ownership and make a meaningful impact. We strive for efficient and effective operations, and we hold each other accountable for delivering exceptional results.

Here, you will find more than just a job—you will find purpose and pride.

At Baxter, every quality decision has the potential to impact patients who depend on life-sustaining drug products every day. As Senior Director, Quality Assurance for the UCAN region, you will lead Quality strategy and performance across Baxter’s largest Infusion Therapies & Platforms (ITP) region – focusing primarily on the drug manufacturing plants, helping to ensure the safety, quality, and reliable supply of products that support millions of patients.

Role Summary

The senior regional Quality leader is responsible for quality strategy, governance, organizational capability, regulatory compliance, and business performance across Baxter’s United States and Canada network. Leading a team of approximately 400 employees across multiple manufacturing, laboratory, compounding, and distribution operations, you will shape the future of Quality within one of Baxter’s most strategically important regions. Success in this role means strengthening regulatory confidence, enabling reliable supply, advancing operational excellence, and developing a high-performing organization focused on patient safety and product quality.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and execute a multi-year Quality strategy that strengthens compliance, performance, and organizational effectiveness across the UCAN network.
• Lead Quality governance and decision-making processes that promote consistency, accountability, and operational excellence across multiple sites.
• Partner with senior business, manufacturing, supply chain, and technical leaders to enable growth, operational resilience, and reliable product supply.
• Champion inspection readiness and regulatory excellence while building strong, credible relationships with health authorities.
• Drive enterprise-wide quality improvement, remediation, and transformation initiatives that deliver sustainable results.
• Make risk-based decisions that balance patient safety, product quality, compliance requirements, and business objectives.
• Build, coach, and develop high-performing leaders while strengthening succession planning and organizational capability.
• Provide executive-level insights, reporting, and recommendations related to quality performance, compliance risks, and strategic priorities.
• Travel up to 40% to manufacturing sites and vendors.

What You’ll Bring

• With over 15 years of significant senior Quality leadership experience within pharmaceutical industry, you’ll bring a proven success leading Quality strategy, compliance, governance, and performance across complex multi-site operations.
• Deep expertise in global quality systems, regulatory requirements, inspection management, and risk mitigation.
• Strong ability to influence executive stakeholders and guide high-impact business decisions.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale transformation, remediation, and continuous improvement programs.
• A collaborative leadership style with a passion for developing talent, building inclusive teams, and fostering a culture of accountability and growth.
• Strong business acumen with experience managing significant budgets, investments, and strategic operating plans.
• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific, engineering, or related discipline required; advanced degree preferred.

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. At Baxter, we are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. The estimated base salary for this position is $232,000 - $319,000annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than of the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on upon location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, commission, and/or long-term incentive.

At Baxter, you’ll join a team united by a shared purpose: improving outcomes for patients and healthcare providers around the world. We believe innovation happens through collaboration, diverse perspectives, and a relentless commitment to excellence. Here, your leadership will help shape the future of healthcare while creating opportunities for growth, impact, and professional fulfillment.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

US Benefits at Baxter (except for Puerto Rico)

This is where your well-being matters. Baxter offers comprehensive compensation and benefits packages for eligible roles. Our health and well-being benefits include medical and dental coverage that start on day one, as well as insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance. Financial and retirement benefits include the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount, and the 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching. We also offer Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time‑off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave. Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits. Join us and enjoy the competitive compensation and benefits we offer to our employees.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Baxter is an equal opportunity employer. Baxter evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Reasonable Accommodations

Baxter is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please click on the link here and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information.