Supplier Quality Manager

Abbott; New Brighton (MN); On-site; USD 99,300 - 198,700; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement savings plan

Tuition reimbursement

FreeU education benefit

Job summary

Abbott in New Brighton, MN, is seeking a Lead Supplier Quality professional to lead six QA specialists, oversee global supplier networks, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. The role drives CAPAs, audits, ASL management, and quality improvements across the supplier base.

The position partners with Engineering, Operations, Regulatory Affairs, and Quality teams to resolve supplier quality issues and support lifecycle product development, travel up to 25% as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field (Engineering strongly preferred).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in supplier quality, quality assurance, or a related quality function within an FDA‑regulated and/or ISO‑certified environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing, developing, and motivating teams to achieve departmental and organizational objectives.
• Experience supervising, training, coaching, and evaluating employees, with a demonstrated ability to provide constructive feedback and drive performance improvement.
• Experience with supplier audits, CAPAs, change management, and third‑party manufacturing oversight.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of 6 Supplier Quality professionals, providing coaching, development, performance management, and strategic direction.
• Oversee supplier quality assurance activities across a global supplier network, including supplier selection, qualification, audits, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Own and maintain the Approved Supplier List (ASL), including supplier qualification, evaluation, and ongoing performance assessments.
• Drive supplier corrective action activities, including investigation, issuance, and closure of CAPAs and supplier quality exceptions.
• Review and approve supplier and process changes, ensuring appropriate risk assessments and quality controls are implemented.
• Monitor supplier quality metrics and performance trends, driving improvement plans where needed to achieve quality, delivery, and compliance objectives.

Skills

Supplier Quality

Leadership

Audits

CAPA

Quality Systems

Cross-functional Collaboration

Regulatory Compliance

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life‑changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to :

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
• An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution.
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit—an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

This position works out of our New Brighton, MN location in the SH Division.

Structural Heart Business Mission: Why We Exist

Our business purpose is to restore health and improve quality of life by designing and providing device and management solutions for treating structural heart disease.

What You’ll Work On

• Lead and manage a team of 6 Supplier Quality professionals, providing coaching, development, performance management, and strategic direction.
• Oversee supplier quality assurance activities across a global supplier network, including supplier selection, qualification, audits, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Conduct and coordinate supplier audits, both domestic and international, ensuring compliance with quality system requirements and regulatory standards.
• Own and maintain the Approved Supplier List (ASL), including supplier qualification, evaluation, and ongoing performance assessments.
• Drive supplier corrective action activities, including investigation, issuance, and closure of CAPAs and supplier quality exceptions.
• Manage supplier change notifications and assess the quality impact of supplier and manufacturing process changes.
• Serve as the quality lead for third‑party manufacturing partners, ensuring compliance with quality agreements, performance expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, negotiate, and maintain Supplier Quality Agreements (SQAs) and other supplier quality‑related contractual documents.
• Ensure the effectiveness and continuous improvement of the Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) Quality Management System.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, and Quality teams to resolve supplier‑related quality issues and support business objectives.
• Support design control activities and provide supplier quality oversight throughout product development and lifecycle management.
• Review and approve supplier and process changes, ensuring appropriate risk assessments and quality controls are implemented.
• Monitor supplier quality metrics and performance trends, driving improvement plans where needed to achieve quality, delivery, and compliance objectives.
• Act as both a strategic leader and hands‑on contributor, balancing people management responsibilities with direct execution of critical supplier quality initiatives.
• Travel approximately 25% (including international travel) to support supplier audits, assessments, business reviews, and quality improvement activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field (Engineering strongly preferred).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in supplier quality, quality assurance, or a related quality function within an FDA‑regulated and/or ISO‑certified environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing, developing, and motivating teams to achieve departmental and organizational objectives.
• Strong experience supervising, training, coaching, and evaluating employees, with a demonstrated ability to provide constructive feedback and drive performance improvement.
• Experience managing departmental resources, budgets, and priorities to support business goals.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate across all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency with quality systems, engineering applications, and business software tools used in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience working within cross‑functional, highly matrixed organizations and collaborating across multiple business units.
• Ability to build strong partnerships and influence stakeholders in a geographically diverse and global business environment.
• Demonstrated ability to establish goals, drive accountability, and deliver business results through effective leadership and team engagement.
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proven ability to analyze problems, make sound decisions, and drive effective resolution of supplier quality and operational issues.
• Ability to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally to support supplier audits, assessments, and quality initiatives.
• Experience with supplier audits, supplier quality systems, CAPAs, supplier change management, third‑party manufacturing oversight, and supplier performance management preferred.
• Experience with Design Controls and Supplier Quality Agreements (SQAs) strongly preferred.
• Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Lead Auditor, or related quality certification is a plus but not required.

Apply Now

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

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The base pay for this position is $99,300.00 – $198,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.