Unilever

Manufacturing

QualityLead

$89–89k Chicago, Illinois, United States FULL TIME
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Lead candidates.

The Brief

“Quality Lead at Unilever. Skills: Quality leadership, Continuous improvement, Process optimization. Lead and coach a team of Quality Technicians. Develop capability plans”

What You'll Achieve.

Zero defects; Zero waste; Zero losses

Industry & Context.

Manufacturing
Problems you'll solve

Data driven problem solving; Root cause analysis

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Mechanical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering (or related field), Demonstrated leadership in managing quality teams in Foods & Beverage manufacturing environment, Proficiency in statistical analysis, process control tools, and data stratification, Hands-on experience with quality laboratory operations and equipment

Nice to Have

PCQI, Working knowledge of HACCP

What You'll Do.

Lead and coach a team of Quality Technicians

Develop capability plans

Drive optimization projects

Oversee data collection and analysis

Assign data to standard quality loss trees

Maintain operational knowledge of IT systems

Drive adoption of IT systems

Define and implement Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods

Set operational targets

Set capability standards

Train plant personnel in statistical techniques

Train plant personnel in data driven problem solving

Support innovation funnel activities

Partner with internal and external stakeholders

Provide technical troubleshooting and guidance

Implement and verify calibration program

Implement and verify maintenance program

Coordinate lab equipment capability studies

Support control of non conforming materials

Support control of non conforming products

Ensure timely disposition of non conforming materials

Ensure timely disposition of non conforming products

Ensure timely investigation of non conforming materials

Ensure timely investigation of non conforming products

Ensure timely corrective action for non conforming materials

Ensure timely corrective action for non conforming products

Support implementation of GMP requirements

Support verification of GMP requirements

Oversee compliance of intake control program

Support structured quality improvement activities

Drive structured investigations

Drive root cause analysis

Drive corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)

Prevent recurrence of issues

Partner cross functionally with Production

Partner cross functionally with Engineering

Partner cross functionally with Supply Chain

Partner with external partners

Ensure alignment on specifications

Ensure alignment on quality expectations

Ensure alignment on continuous improvement priorities

Communicate results clearly

Communicate issues clearly

Communicate improvement plans clearly

Interpret company policies

Apply company policies

Enforce company policies

Interpret safety requirements

Apply safety requirements

Enforce safety requirements

Interpret environmental regulations

Apply environmental regulations

Enforce environmental regulations

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Cross functional partnership; Production, Engineering, Supply Chain; External partners

Communication Scope

Communicate results; Communicate issues; Communicate improvement plans

Process & Methodology

Continuous improvement leadership

Full Job Description

**JOB PURPOSE** The Quality Lead is responsible for ensuring that manufacturing processes and finished products meet all regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and internal quality standards. This role provides technical leadership to drive product safety, compliance, and continuous improvement across the site. You’ll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters — for people and the planet. Because here, we don’t just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger. A key member of the Quality leadership team, the Quality Lead plays a critical role in advancing the facility toward World Class Manufacturing (WCM) performance—focused on zero defects, zero waste, and zero losses. The position acts as a strategic connection point between Production, Quality, Engineering, and Logistics, ensuring seamless end to end quality oversight. Core areas of focus include process optimization, digitization, continuous improvement leadership, and quality innovation. **KEY RESPONSIBILITIES** Leadership & Team Development • Lead and coach a team of Quality Technicians, cultivating a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement. • Assess training needs and develop capability plans to strengthen site quality competencies and technical mastery. Continuous Improvement, Optimization & Data Analytics • Lead and drive optimization projects focused on reducing top quality losses and factory-level inefficiencies. • Oversee data collection, analysis, and assignment to standard quality loss trees to support KPI reporting and decision making. • Maintain deep operational knowledge of IT systems supporting Quality (e.g., SAP QM, PLM, ECC) and drive their adoption and proper usage. • Define and implement Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods to set operational targets, control limits, and capability standards. Train plant personnel in statistical techniques and data driven problem solving. Innovation & Technical Support • Support innovation

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