Quality Manager - Pharma/Life Sciences

Project Quality Manager – Life Sciences

Location: Kankakee, Illinois (On-Site)

Industry: Life Sciences | Pharmaceutical Manufacturing | Biotechnology | Advanced Manufacturing

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Project Quality Manager to join a leading global Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) organization delivering one of North America's largest pharmaceutical manufacturing projects.

This is a senior site-based leadership position responsible for developing, implementing and managing the overall project quality program throughout the full project lifecycle. Working closely with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Commissioning and Client teams, you will ensure quality is embedded into every phase of project execution while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards and client specifications.

This role offers the opportunity to lead multidisciplinary QA/QC teams on a major life sciences facility, working alongside some of the industry's most experienced project professionals.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Leadership

• Lead and manage the project Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) team throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop and implement the overall Project Quality Plan, ensuring alignment across engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning activities.
• Act as the primary quality representative for the project, providing leadership and technical guidance to project teams and senior management.
• Promote a culture of quality, continuous improvement and compliance across the project.

Project Quality Management

• Develop, maintain and continuously improve project quality procedures, inspection plans and reporting systems.
• Coordinate quality activities across all project disciplines including Civil, Structural, Architectural (CSA), Mechanical, Piping, HVAC, Electrical, Instrumentation and Process Systems.
• Review contractor and subcontractor quality plans to ensure compliance with project requirements.
• Monitor project quality performance and implement corrective actions where required.

QA/QC Execution

• Oversee inspections, testing and verification activities throughout construction.
• Manage Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), deviations and corrective actions.
• Ensure all quality documentation, certifications and inspection records are accurately maintained.
• Support project turnover and handover activities by ensuring quality documentation is complete and compliant.

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with Project Management, Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning teams.
• Coordinate quality activities with subcontractors, suppliers, client representatives and third-party inspectors.
• Participate in project review meetings, risk assessments and quality audits.
• Provide regular reporting on quality performance, risks and improvement initiatives.

Schedule & Interface Management

• Develop and maintain quality activity schedules aligned with construction and commissioning milestones.
• Coordinate inspection sequencing to support efficient project execution.
• Ensure quality activities remain integrated with overall project schedules.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all QA/QC activities comply with project procedures, client requirements and applicable regulations.
• Promote safe working practices across all inspection and verification activities.
• Support Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) initiatives throughout project execution.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management or a related technical discipline (or equivalent industry experience).
• Minimum 15 years' experience in Quality Management on major construction or EPC projects.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary QA/QC teams.
• Strong understanding of construction quality systems, inspection planning and project quality management.
• Experience working across Civil, Structural, Architectural (CSA), Mechanical, Piping, HVAC, Electrical and Instrumentation disciplines.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to lead quality programs within complex, fast-paced construction environments.

Preferred Experience

Experience supporting one or more of the following sectors:

• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• Biotechnology
• Life Sciences
• Cleanroom Facilities
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Semiconductor
• Large Industrial EPC Projects

Experience with:

• MEP inspections
• CSA inspections
• Cleanroom construction
• Building codes and regulatory compliance
• Construction sequencing
• Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs)
• Scheduling and project controls interfaces
• Commissioning and project turnover

Key Skills

• Quality Assurance (QA)
• Quality Control (QC)
• Project Quality Management
• Construction Quality
• QA/QC Leadership
• Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs)
• Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs)
• Root Cause Analysis
• MEP Quality
• CSA Quality
• Cleanroom Construction
• Pharmaceutical Construction
• EPC Project Delivery
• Construction Management
• Commissioning Support
• Contractor Management
• Regulatory Compliance
• Continuous Improvement

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join one of the world's leading EPC organizations on a landmark pharmaceutical manufacturing project in Kankakee, Illinois . You'll play a critical leadership role in ensuring the successful delivery of a technically complex, highly regulated facility while working alongside industry-leading professionals on one of the most significant life sciences developments currently underway in North America.