Vice President, Quality Assurance – Laboratories

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in North Carolina.

📋 Description

• Direct the enterprise Quality Management System and promote quality strategy, governance, and standardized implementation throughout accredited labs.

• Foster a culture of quality, compliance, audit readiness, and ongoing improvement.

• Oversee accreditation, regulatory, and client-specific quality strategy and compliance.

• Ensure laboratory independence, maintain data integrity, and uphold ethical conduct standards.

• Lead internal, client, accreditation, regulatory, DoD, and DOE audits and inspections.

• Supervise self-assessment, root cause analysis, performance monitoring, and sustainable CAPA processes.

• Spearhead risk management and continuous improvement initiatives to identify systemic vulnerabilities and proactively resolve issues.

• Synchronize and standardize quality processes, audit practices, metrics, and documentation across laboratories.

• Offer technical expertise on analytical methods, data validation, and reporting practices.

• Build and manage a high-performing quality organization.

• Represent the organization in dealings with clients, regulatory agencies, accrediting bodies, and government organizations.

• Oversee policies, procedures, document control, change management, record integrity, traceability, and audit-ready documentation.

• Collaborate with laboratory and IT teams on LIMS and data governance, security, traceability, and audit readiness.

• Lead responses to major quality, compliance, accreditation, and data integrity incidents.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Biology, Microbiology, or a related scientific field.

• At least 10 years of progressive Quality Assurance leadership experience in accredited laboratory settings.

• Proven experience leading enterprise Quality Management Systems.

• Proficiency in utilizing quality metrics, trend analysis, and risk-based methodologies.

• Extensive knowledge of TNI Standards, NELAC accreditation requirements, DoD/DOE ELAP accreditation programs, and ISO/IEC 17025.

• Successful track record in managing accreditation and regulatory audits.

• Experience in leading CAPA systems and quality improvement projects.

• Strong understanding of laboratory operations and analytical testing methodologies.

• Experience in managing multi-site laboratory organizations.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and executive influencing abilities.

• Willingness to travel (50%) as necessary.

• Advanced degree is preferred.

• Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) or equivalent credential is preferred.

• Experience supporting environmental laboratories that serve federal government programs is preferred.

• In-depth knowledge of DoD ELAP assessments and data integrity requirements is preferred.

• Proven success in harmonizing quality systems across multiple laboratory locations is preferred.

• Strong executive presence and the capability to effectively interact with regulators, accrediting bodies, and senior executives is preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Equal opportunity employment.

• Reasonable accommodations for all applicants.