Alcott Global is retained by an FMCG company to search for a Head of Quality to be based in Lyon, France.
The Head of Quality is responsible for shaping and executing the company’s quality vision across all manufacturing and supply operations, ensuring that products consistently meet the highest standards of safety, compliance, and customer satisfaction. This role leads both the strategic development and day-to-day implementation of quality assurance and control initiatives, supporting operational excellence and continuous improvement across the value chain. The Head of Quality will work cross-functionally to build strong quality systems, reinforce a culture of accountability, and ensure compliance with all regulatory and industry standards. This is a critical leadership position for a hands-on, solutions-oriented professional with proven experience in driving both systemic quality enhancements and frontline execution in a fast-paced FMCG environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the development and implementation of a practical, business-aligned quality strategy that supports organizational goals, product integrity, and regulatory compliance.
- Oversee daily QA/QC operations across internal and external manufacturing sites, ensuring adherence to company standards, specifications, and legal requirements.
- Build and manage a high-performing team of quality professionals across multiple locations, setting clear expectations and fostering continuous development and accountability.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant local and international quality, food safety, and environmental regulations (e.g., ISO 9001, HACCP, GMP), and proactively manage internal and external audits.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on defect reduction, process efficiency, and product reliability using tools such as CAPA, root cause analysis, and statistical process control.
- Implement scalable quality management systems (QMS) and standardized procedures to ensure operational consistency and readiness across all production and distribution points.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain, R&D, Legal/Compliance, and Commercial teams to ensure quality is embedded throughout the product lifecycle and aligned with consumer and customer expectations.
- Monitor and analyze quality metrics and data to identify trends, prioritize action areas, and regularly report performance insights to senior management.
- Develop training programs and quality education initiatives across functions to strengthen a company-wide culture of quality and food/product safety.
- Maintain strong supplier quality assurance processes, including audits, specifications management, and corrective actions to ensure quality of raw materials and third-party manufacturing.
- Respond swiftly and decisively to quality incidents, leading investigations and corrective actions, and communicating clearly with internal and external stakeholders.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Food Science, or a related field; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MSc) preferred.
- 10–15+ years of quality leadership experience in FMCG or CPG manufacturing environments, with at least 5 years in a senior or multi-site operational role.
- Strong working knowledge of international quality and safety standards (e.g., ISO, GFSI, HACCP, BRC) and audit management.
- Demonstrated success in managing quality operations across multiple sites, including third-party manufacturers and suppliers.
- Practical experience with QMS implementation, regulatory compliance, and frontline quality control in a high-volume manufacturing context.
- Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, and root cause analysis tools, with a hands-on approach to problem-solving.
- Skilled in data-driven quality decision-making, reporting, and use of digital tools or quality software systems.
- Proven leadership ability to build, coach, and retain quality teams, fostering a strong sense of ownership and excellence.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally in a matrixed, fast-moving environment.
- Willingness to travel as needed to domestic and international manufacturing and supplier locations.