Make your mark for patients
To strengthen our Internal Manufacturing Quality department, we are looking for a talented profile to fill the position of: Head Global Suppliers & Materials Quality Management – Braine l’Alleud, Belgium.
About the role
The Head of Suppliers & Materials Quality Management, is a senior position within the Quality Compliance Operations team, reporting directly to the Head of QA Compliance Operations.
The position focus will be to ensure strategic oversight, harmonization, and continuous improvement across all internal manufacturing sites and strong alignment with External Manufacturing organization, for Suppliers & Materials Quality management that include change notification management, material qualification, quality agreement management, complaints related to suppliers, support of audits schedule and outcome management & general performance of suppliers.
This strategic role ensures that the Suppliers and Materials Qualification across individual operational sites in UCB are implemented in an aligned manner and maintained continuously to meet regulatory requirements and internal corporate standards.
You will work with
In this role, you will work closely with various stakeholders across UCB's internal and external manufacturing organizations. You will collaborate with the Internal Manufacturing Quality Assurance Leadership team, the QA Compliance Operations Leadership team ensuring alignment and harmonization of Suppliers & Material Quality management, across all operational sites.
Additionally, you will engage with the External Manufacturing organization to align processes. You will also interact with key stakeholders globally across UCB Units to foster a culture of continuous improvement, process optimization and wherever there is a process and value driven digitalization opportunity while supporting the organization’s quality standards.
What you will do
1. Lead a global quality team who supports operational and strategic activities, provide development opportunities while being value driven.
2. Lead Gemba sessions across UCB Sites/ Departments to understand existing quality processes part of the role and systems, identify inefficiencies and identify Value Digitalization when needed.
3. Oversee the implementation and continuous enhancement of Suppliers and Materials Qualification processes, ensuring full alignment with regulatory requirements as well as internal governance and policies.
4. Drive the global harmonization and standardization of the end‑to‑end supplier qualification lifecycle and material quality oversight, including specifications, monitoring, and quality‑issue trending across internal and manufacturing sites to ensure consistency and compliance globally.
5. Deploy/ Implement digital supplier‑management solutions to enable advanced data analytics, predictive insights, and proactive risk management.
6. Support the Head Performance, Operational Excellence in driving Continuous Improvement initiatives aiming on enhancing efficiency, reducing risks, and maintaining high standards of compliance.
7. Support the Head Audit and Inspection Readiness in managing risks and participating in audits and inspections when required.
8. Promote a culture of innovation and continuous learning within the team and across the organization.
9. Serve as the transversal IMQ Single Point Of Contact (SPOC) for Quality Compliance topics below:
10. Supplier management (quality audits, performance management...)
11. Change notification management
12. Material management/ qualification
13. Quality Agreement for suppliers
14. Complaints management related to suppliers
15. Partner with key stakeholders to ensure alignment on quality processes and build regular networking communication (e.g. monthly meeting, monthly gemba...)
16. Integrate any new IM UCB site into the supplier and materials quality framework by defining a robust strategy and implementing key documentation dedicated to supplier qualification process & material compliance requirements.
Interested? For this position you’ll need the following education, experience and skills
17. Bachelor’s, master’s degree or an education in a relevant scientific discipline
18. Minimum of 10 years in Quality Assurance or/and Quality Systems Operations or/and Quality Compliance within a regulated pharmaceutical environment or equivalent
19. Fluent English communication (oral and written); any additional languages are a plus
20. Deep understanding of cGMP principles and global regulatory environments
21. Proven track record in implementing processes dedicated to Suppliers & Materials Quality management (experience in managing SUS, filters is preferred)
22. Proven track record in leading a team of people across the world
23. Experience in participating in audits and inspections (FDA)
24. Experience in Value driven Digitalization is a plus
25. PMO, green belt, lean & six sigma is a plus
26. Excellent organizational and analytical abilities to manage projects
27. Expertise with Suppliers and Materials Quality management: suppliers management (quality audits, performance management), materials quality management, change notification management, quality agreements, complaints management related to suppliers
28. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for effective stakeholder engagement
29. Strategic thinking with the ability to foster a culture of Quality, Continuous Improvement and Innovation
Are you ready to ‘go beyond’ to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!