QC Manager

Croda is a global specialty chemical company focused on the research and development of novel and highly sustainable raw materials for the Life Sciences and Consumer Care sectors. We are passionate and excited about how we can develop and utilize new technologies to shape and inspire changes within an ever-growing marketplace. As our business looks to deliver its ambitious strategy of growth, we are looking for a QC Manager to join our team.

The QC Manager - Raw Materials provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Raw Material Release team within Quality Control. Working closely with the Head of Quality Control, this role supports departmental strategy, business objectives, and key performance indicators.

This position manages analytical testing resources to support the timely, accurate, and compliant release of raw materials and in-process samples for GMP products. The manager leads, mentors, and develops laboratory personnel while guiding workforce planning, resource allocation, technical problem-solving, regulatory compliance, project tracking, and laboratory workflows.

The role also serves as a key liaison across Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and other business functions, maintaining clear communication about priorities, project status, and release timelines with cross-functional partners and senior leadership.

• Establish strategic direction for Quality Control raw material testing activities.
• Build strong partnerships with QA, Manufacturing, MS/TS, Engineering, and Regulatory.
• Drive a culture of accountability, urgency, compliance, operational excellence, transparency, trust, and collaboration.
• Promote data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Set clear expectations for performance, ownership, and behavior.
• Lead team planning, prioritization, workload balancing, and resource allocation.
• Coach, performance manage, mentor, and develop QC Analysts.
• Establish quality objectives aligned with site business goals and customer requirements.

• Ensure laboratory compliance with GMP and Data Integrity requirements.
• Conduct routine laboratory safety audits.
• Review laboratory performance metrics and trends.
• Drive continual improvement in the maintenance and operation of analytical equipment.
• Review and approve quality-impact assessments associated with laboratory equipment qualifications.
• Oversee calibration, preventive maintenance, work-order activities, and equipment readiness when product quality, validated state, or GMP compliance may be impacted.
• Partner with Quality Assurance and Engineering to ensure equipment remains in a qualified state.

• Lead the creation and approval of investigational testing plans for OOS investigations, OOT investigations, analytical deviations, Data Integrity investigations, and QC laboratory CAPAs.
• Ensure investigations identify root cause, product impact, and effective corrective actions.
• Partner with Quality Assurance leadership to improve investigation cycle times, laboratory compliance performance, repeat OOS review, and right-first-time performance in QC laboratory operations.

• Support regulatory inspections and customer audits of the QC laboratory.
• Serve as the Quality Control subject matter expert for laboratory compliance activities.
• Maintain awareness of current regulations and industry standards for analytical testing.

• Bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in Chemistry, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Eight or more years of experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology analytical laboratory.

• Demonstr…