Quality Manager - Personal Care Manufacturing

Are you an experienced quality professional with a passion for excellence in the personal care industry? Pave Talent is partnering with our client, a leading personal care product manufacturer in Ottawa, IL, to identify a strategic Quality Manager to oversee their comprehensive quality operations.

About Our Client

Our client is an established manufacturer specializing in personal care and cosmetic products with multiple production lines. They maintain rigorous quality standards and are committed to regulatory compliance while producing high-quality consumer goods. The facility operates with approximately 40 team members in the quality department across various functions.

The Opportunity

This Quality Manager will report directly to the CEO with indirect reporting to the VP of Operations, overseeing all quality-related areas including quality control, laboratory operations, validation, microbiology, and documentation. This pivotal leadership role requires personal care industry expertise and a proven track record of driving quality excellence.

Primary Responsibilities:

Team Leadership: Manage and develop a team of approximately 40 quality professionals, including 4 direct reports (QC Supervisor, Lab Supervisor, Sr. Validation Engineer, and Micro Team Lead)

Quality System Management: Ensure the Quality Management System conforms to customer requirements, internal cGMP standards, ISO 9001, and all regulatory/legal requirements

Compliance Oversight: Lead and maintain regulatory compliance across all quality operations specific to personal care products

Process Improvement: Implement data-driven strategies to improve production processes, minimize defects, and enhance product quality

Audit Management: Conduct internal quality audits and prepare for external audits while reporting findings to leadership

Supplier Quality: Evaluate and report on vendor quality systems to ensure incoming materials meet requirements

Product Quality: Manage product recalls and ensure operations work at optimal quality and compliance levels

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Science (Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or related field) required

10+ years of experience in QA/QC in a regulated industry

Direct experience in the personal care/cosmetics industry is essential

Proven experience managing cross-functional quality teams in a manufacturing environment

Strong understanding of cGMP, ISO 9001, and personal care industry regulations

Experience with product recalls, audits, and vendor evaluations

Excellent analytical, leadership, and communication skills

Nice to Have:

Current CQA or similar certification

Experience with Statistical Process Control (SPC)

Advanced project management skills

Why Join Our Client?

Competitive compensation: $120,000-$140,000 base with additional 10% annual bonus potential

$10,000 relocation assistance available for qualified candidates

Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision insurance and 401K

Work-life balance with 2 weeks vacation, 6 personal days, and 8 holidays per year

Stable work schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Growth opportunities within an established manufacturing company

Pave Talent is committed to helping quality professionals advance their careers with industry-leading organizations. If you have a passion for quality excellence in personal care manufacturing and the experience to lead a substantial quality department, we want to hear from you!

Interested candidates should apply to this job posting including their résumé. Interviews will begin immediately for qualified candidates. Confidentiality assured.