Director of Quality

Director of Quality Global Biomedical Manufacturer | Allentown, NJ (On-Site)

Highlights

55-year-old, PE-backed biomedical manufacturer; 300+ employees; three-entity operating platform (NJ + Vancouver); greenfield quality function.

You are the architect for a multi-site scope with real operating complexity.

Introduction

Valor Front Executive Search has been retained by a high-growth, PE-backed global biomedical manufacturer to identify a Director of Quality.

Our client has served the world's most demanding pharmaceutical research institutions for over five decades, including major pharmaceutical companies, NIH-funded universities, and leading private research foundations, and is now in a significant growth phase.

The incoming Director of Quality is a foundational hire, and this search reflects the strategic priority leadership has placed on building a world-class quality infrastructure to match the company's expanding platform.

About the Role

This is a builder's role. There is no entrenched quality function to inherit and no incumbent approach to work around. The Director of Quality will serve as the senior quality leader across our client's New Jersey and Vancouver, BC operations, owning all quality systems and standards, driving ISO 9001 certification to completion, establishing Cost of Quality KPIs, and building the quality culture and team needed to support the company's next chapter of growth.

What You Will Do

• Build and enforce quality management systems from the ground up across two operating facilities in New Jersey and Vancouver
• Drive ISO 9001 certification to completion at the NJ facility with a target of the end of July; subsequently, lead the Vancouver certification effort
• Own and refine three Cost of Quality KPIs: inbound material rejections, in-process rejections, and customer escapes
• Implement and enforce SOPs across both facilities and conduct regular quality audits with action plans to close performance gaps
• Establish processes around new product development
• Build quality reporting and data dashboards for leadership review
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean and 5S programs
• Recruit, develop, and lead a growing quality team
• Build a cross-functional quality culture across Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales, and Procurement

What You Bring

• 10 to 15+ years of manufacturing quality experience in an OEM environment with 150+ employees
• ISO 9001 experience required; demonstrated ability to drive certification and sustain post-certification
• Proven ability to build quality systems from the ground up, not simply maintain an inherited QMS
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Strong data analysis and KPI reporting capabilities with the ability to translate quality data into leadership-ready insights
• High emotional intelligence with proven cross-functional influence skills
• Comfortable as the senior quality leader in a hands-on manufacturing environment
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Operations, or related field preferred
• Must be on-site in New Jersey 5 days per week, with significant travel to Vancouver
• Must live in or relocate to the Allentown, NJ area

Why This Opportunity

Our client offers a rare combination: the stability and credibility of a 55-year manufacturing legacy alongside the growth opportunity of a true startup function. ISO 9001 is underway, and leadership has a heightened appreciation for what a strong Director of Quality can deliver.

The incoming Director joins at precisely the right moment, with the authority, direct access to senior leadership, and organizational support to drive real, measurable impact from day one.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive base salary commensurate with experience, plus a comprehensive benefits package. Details provided during the interview process.

Location: Allentown, NJ (on-site, 5 days per week) Travel: Significant travel to Vancouver, BC required