Regional Quality Manager

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Job Description

Albemarle is hiring for a Regional Quality Manager. This position is hybrid and located in Charlotte, Kings Mountain or Magnolia.

Job Description

The Regional Quality Manager provides multi-site leadership and operational oversight of quality systems, compliance and performance across manufacturing locations in the region. This role ensures that products, processes and services consistently meet regulatory, customer, and corporate quality standards and plays a critical leadership role in developing the next generation of quality excellence.

The Regional Quality Manager promotes a culture where quality is designed into processes, quality management systems operate with discipline and quality becomes competitive advantage for Albemarle. This role partners with site, regional and global teams to execute the global quality strategy, improve system maturity and build capability across teams.

What You Will Do

Functional Management Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day quality operations across multiple manufacturing plants within the region
• Ensure effective implementation, maintenance and compliance of the Quality Management System (QMS) in accordance with corporate and regulatory standards (e.g., ISO 9001, GMP, IATF 16949)
• Partner with site teams to ensure consistent application of quality protocols across production, maintenance and packaging operations.
• Monitor operational consistency in testing, batch record review, change controls, documentation and nonconformance management
• Support sites with technical problem-solving, investigations and product release workflows
• Standardize site-level quality procedures and ensure alignment with global standards
• Coordinate deployment of corporate and global quality programs at the site-level
• Prepare sites for regulatory inspections, customer audits and internal assessments; lead routine audit activities and closure of findings
• Oversee effective management of nonconformances, CAPAs, and deviations to ensure timely and sustainable resolution
• Define tools, criteria and systems to measure and improve QMS effectiveness across the region
• Ensure alignment of key objectives with business, operations and corporate strategies
• Analyze performance data and quality metrics to identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities
• Establish and track KPIs that measure system performance and drive improvement
• Report on quality metrics and manage quality improvement roadmaps
• Drive reduction in deviation rates, improvement in process capability and higher Right-First-Time performance
• Promote and coach structured problem-solving methods (5 Whys, Fishbone, DMAIC)
• Facilitate sharing of lessons learned and best practices across manufacturing sites
• Lead or sponsor cross-functional teams to deliver regional improvement initiatives
• Be knowledgeable in customer requirements, industry/environmental regulations, and competitive capabilities.

Customer and External Partner Management

• Manage regional customer complaints, ensuring robust root cause analysis and effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Collaborate with Commercial teams to ensure product and process changes meet customer expectations and regulatory requirements
• Support customer audits, visits, and quality performance reviews to build trust and credibility
• Represent quality in customer contract negotiations by assessing risk and ensuring alignment with quality standards
• Work with external suppliers to ensure consistent quality standards and protocols exist and are followed rigorously for raw materials, supplies, and packaging products.
• Define & assess Suppliers' performance to standards or expectations together with the appropriate Supply Chain support departments.

Talent Development and Leadership

• Lead and develop site Quality Managers, Quality Engineers, and specialists across the region
• Build capability through coaching, mentoring and structured development plans
• Identify strengths and development needs across the team. Ensure appropriate training, tools and resources are in place.
• Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement across the region
• Build and maintain a strong network across Manufacturing, Process Technology, Commercial, Supply Chain, Global Quality and Regional Quality Peers.
• Model and reinforce Albemarle's values and safety-first culture

What You Bring

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Chemistry or Quality Management; Master's Degree a plus.
• Greater than 8 years' experience in Quality in a global manufacturing environment.
• Greater than 6 years' experience leading professional teams
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and industry standards, including ISO 17025 and IATF 16949.
• Demonstrated experience managing audits, CAPA programs, and quality improvement projects.
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally.

Preferred:

• Cross-cultural sensitivity and global business mind-set.
• Strong team-building, influencing, facilitation and coaching skills.
• Ability to build and maintain customer and supplier relationships, while protecting Albemarle's needs and intellectual property.
• Business acumen, Customer focus, understanding of the industry and customer expectations.
• Data-based decision making, Analytical thinking.
• Strong technical foundation in chemical manufacturing.
• Skilled in solving plant-level issues (variability, contamination, OOS, specification drift).

Core Competencies

• Execution Excellence: Delivers consistent results through disciplined follow-up and problem-solving.
• Leadership and Collaboration: Builds trust and alignment across functions and cultures.
• Analytical Thinking: Uses data to identify root causes and drive improvement.
• Customer Focus: Anticipates and responds effectively to customer and regulatory needs.
• Continuous Improvement: Advances standardization and efficiency in quality systems.
• Communication: Communicates clearly and persuasively across all levels of the organization. #LI-JH3

Benefits of Joining Albemarle

• Competitive compensation

• Comprehensive benefits package

• A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally.

We are partners to one another in pioneering new ways to be better for ourselves, our teams, and our communities. When you join Albemarle, you become our most essential element and you can anticipate competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and resources that foster your well-being and fuel your personal growth. Help us shape the future, build with purpose and grow together.