Associate Director, External Quality

Job Description

Join our External Manufacturing Quality leadership team and help ensure the quality, compliance, and performance of our global Animal Health external manufacturing network.

As Associate Director, Global Quality External Manufacturing (Animal Health), you will lead external quality oversight across third-party partners in North America, Mexico, and Canada, while managing a remote quality team responsible for batch review, product release, and local quality operations. You will act as the primary Quality liaison between external partners and internal teams, helping ensure all products are manufactured, packaged, tested, and distributed in compliance with company standards and global cGMP/regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead external quality management and oversight of third-party manufacturing partners and CMOs

• Serve as the Quality point of contact for external partners and internal stakeholders

• Lead external manufacturing Quality team in Mexico and Canada specifically for review, packaging and release for all local and imported products.

• Ensure partner compliance with GMP requirements, Quality Agreements, and commercial commitments

• Oversee batch review, product release, change control, validation, audits, and remediation activities

• Support quality system improvement, risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives

• Manage team performance, budget, and headcount planning

• Partner cross-functionally to support operational excellence, compliance, and supply continuity

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biology, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering, or related field

Required Experience and Skills

• 10+ years of experience in a pharmaceutical company and/or External Manufacturing Organization

• 2+ years of direct people leadership experience -Proven remote management, team leadership, and performance accountability skills

• Strong background in Quality Systems, QA/QC, global GMP, and regulatory requirements

• Demonstrated experience in external quality management and third-party oversight

• Strong problem-solving, risk management, communication, negotiation, and influencing abilities

Required Skills:

cGMP Compliance, External Manufacturing, Leadership, Manufacturing Quality Management, People Management, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Quality Compliance, Quality Operations, Quality Systems Compliance

Preferred Skills:

Quality Leadership, Quality Management

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