Quality Lead

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.  

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our,collaborative, and flexible working environment.We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

Background & Purpose of the Role
The Quality Lead plays a pivotal role in advancing our manufacturing facilities toward World Class Manufacturing (WCM) standards—defined by zero defects, zero waste, and zero losses. This position is responsible for deploying a comprehensive suite of Focused and Quality Improvement methodologies to mitigate quality-related losses and support cross-functional excellence. The role serves as a critical link between production, quality, and logistics, ensuring seamless end-to-end operations that uphold the highest standards of product integrity and compliance.

Key Responsibilities
• Lead a team of quality analysts and technicians, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Provide day-to-day quality support to production and logistics teams, ensuring timely resolution of quality issues.
• Act as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for quality laboratory testing equipment and sanitation protocols, including Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems.
• Directly supervise the Sanitation Specialist and the sanitation team, providing leadership, guidance, and performance oversight. This includes ensuring sanitation operations meet regulatory and internal standards, and driving continuous improvement in hygiene practices.
• Develop and implement validation protocols, inspection procedures, and statistical quality control methods for raw materials, in-process, and finished goods.
• Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), food safety regulations, and internal quality standards.
• Investigate product defects, recommend corrective actions, and generate comprehensive reports and action plans.
• Maintain effective communication and collaboration with internal stakeholders (e.g., Production, Maintenance, Facilities, R&D, Supply Chain Planning) and external partners.
• Coordinate D-Incident investigations using SAP, manage issue tracking, and oversee the business waste budget.
• Drive the development of quality competencies across the site through WCM methodologies.
• Promote a quality-first mindset and embed quality principles into daily operations.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Mechanical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering (or related field).
Experience:
• Demonstrated leadership in managing quality teams.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis, process control tools, and data stratification.
• Hands-on experience with quality laboratory operations and equipment.
Core Competencies
• Inspirational Leadership: Empowers teams to achieve collective success.
• Systems Thinking: Connects quality systems to operational outcomes.
• Change Agility: Champions innovation and continuous improvement.
• Cultural Stewardship: Fosters a workplace culture centered on quality, safety, and consumer trust.