Associate Director, QC
Job Description
Associate Director, Quality Control
Location: Swindon
Summary: Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours per week (onsite)
Catalent is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Associate Director, Quality Control to provide strategic leadership and oversight of QC operations at our Swindon site. This is a key leadership role responsible for both Microbiology and Chemistry QC functions, ensuring compliant testing of finished products and timely release of incoming materials. You will also act as deputy to the Quality Director as required.
The Role:
- Leading Microbiology and Chemistry QC teams to deliver on performance, compliance, and financial targets
- Developing and executing a clear Quality strategy aligned with site and business objectives
- Driving a culture of continuous improvement, embedding best practices and delivering measurable results
- Ensuring full compliance with cGMP, corporate Quality policies, and site SOPs
- Maintaining robust quality systems, proactively identifying and mitigating risks
- Overseeing QC systems, including testing, training, and analytical equipment, ensuring alignment with regulatory and industry standards
- Supporting Environmental Health & Safety compliance within QC
- Acting as a QC subject matter expert and key partner to cross-functional teams
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, regulatory bodies, and external partners
- Presenting QC performance metrics to site leadership and contributing to Quality Management Reviews
- Leading investigations and root cause analyses across QC and wider operations
- Providing data-driven insights to support business and commercial decisions
- Leading, mentoring, and developing QC teams, ensuring consistent application of HR policies
- Communicating Quality objectives clearly across the function
- Overseeing QC training programmes and ensuring ongoing GMP compliance
- Hosting and supporting regulatory inspections and customer audits
The Candidate
- BSc degree (minimum) in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biology, or a related discipline
- Extensive experience within pharmaceutical operations
- Proven experience designing and implementing effective quality programmes
- Experience working with IMPs (desirable)
- Strong understanding of manufacturing, QA/QC, microbiology, and laboratory operations, ideally within solid dosage manufacturing
- Demonstrated continuous improvement expertise; Lean Lab experience and Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher) preferred
- Strong leadership experience, including managing large teams or departments
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Strategic mindset with the ability to drive performance and operational excellence
Why Join Catalent?
- Competitive Salary – Reflecting your experience and skills.
- Bonus & Benefits – Includes an annual performance bonus, a pension scheme matching up to 8% and life assurance. Enjoy BUPA private medical insurance, a generous holiday entitlement that increases with tenure, and the option to purchase additional leave. Plus, gain access to Reward Gateway, offering discounts at many national retailers.
- Career Development – Access high-quality training, mentoring, and cross-functional opportunities within Catalent’s global network. Benefit from a subscription to LinkedIn Learning, providing access to 10,000+ online courses.
- Health & Wellbeing – Includes an employee assistance programme, on-site canteen facilities, and an active safety and “Patient First” culture. Take advantage of a Cycle to Work Scheme and an Electric Vehicle car scheme. Join Employee Resource Groups that foster a diverse and inclusive workplace. Plus, participate in charitable activities.
Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career! Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and life-enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference.
personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work.
Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities.
Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any characteristic protected by local law.
If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to [email protected]. This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process.
Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Catalent Pharma Solutions (Catalent) is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Catalent employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Catalent. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you.