Quality & Compliance Lead

Description

Purpose of this Role: The Quality and Compliance Lead is responsible for establishing and maintaining a fit-for purpose quality system to support the development, launch, and commercialization of agricultural products manufactured through external partners. This role ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, oversees quality performance across CMOs and tolling partners, and drives continuous improvement initiatives to safeguard product quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction. The position serves as the primary quality interface between the company and external manufacturing, formulation, packaging, and logistics partners. . Key Responsibilties: External Manufacturing Quality Management ▪ Develop and maintain the company's Quality Management System (QMS) appropriate for a virtual manufacturing environment. ▪ Establish quality standards, specifications, and release requirements for products manufactured by CMOs and tolling partners. ▪ Qualify, onboard, and periodically assess contract manufacturers, formulators, packagers, and critical suppliers. ▪ Define and implement supplier quality agreements and performance expectations. ▪ Monitor manufacturing performance through KPIs, scorecards, and regular business reviews. ▪ Support technology transfer, scale-up, validation, and commercial launch activities. Compliance and Risk Management ▪ Ensure products and manufacturing operations comply with applicable regulatory requirements, customer specifications, and company standards. ▪ Maintain audit readiness and coordinate supplier audits, qualification assessments, and compliance reviews. ▪ Lead investigations related to deviations, complaints, out-of-specification results, and non-conformances. ▪ Drive CAPA implementation and verify effectiveness of corrective actions. ▪ Oversee change control processes to assess impacts on product quality, regulatory compliance, and supply continuity. ▪ Identify and mitigate quality and compliance risks across the external manufacturing network. Product Launch Support ▪ Partner with Regulatory, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to support successful product introductions. ▪ Establish quality requirements for new products and ensure manufacturing readiness prior to launch. ▪ Participate in process optimization efforts to improve product consistency, manufacturability, and cost competitiveness. ▪ Support inventory disposition decisions and product release processes. Continuous Improvement ▪ Develop supplier improvement plans and collaborate with manufacturing partners to enhance performance. ▪ Analyze quality trends and implement preventive measures to reduce risk and variability. ▪ Promote a culture of quality throughout the organization and across the external partner network. Qualifications ▪ Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Chemistry, Engineering, Biology, Pharmacy, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred. ▪ 8 years of experience in Quality Assurance, Compliance, Manufacturing, or Supplier Quality within agriculture, biologicals, crop protection, biotechnology, or specialty chemicals. ▪ Experience managing quality systems in outsourced or virtual manufacturing environments. ▪ Demonstrated experience working with CMOs, toll manufacturers, formulators, and global supply partners. ▪ Knowledge of supplier qualification, audits, quality agreements, CAPA, change management, and product launch processes. ▪ Strong communication, influence, and relationship management skills. ▪ Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, resource-constrained startup environment. Key Competencies ▪ Supplier Quality Management ▪ Influencing Without Authority ▪ Risk Assessment and Mitigation ▪ Change Management ▪ CAPA and Root Cause Analysis ▪ Technology Transfer and Product Launch Support ▪ Agility and Execution in a Startup Environment ▪ Cross-Functional Collaboration ▪ Continuous Improvement ▪ Strong Communication and Stakeholder Management Sucess Factors ▪ Builds strong partnerships with external manufacturers and suppliers. ▪ Anticipates and mitigates quality risks before they impact customers or supply. ▪ Balances compliance rigor with agility needed in a growing organization. ▪ Drives accountability and continuous improvement across the manufacturing network.

Skills

QMS, CMO, Chemistry, CAPA, quality assurance

Top Skills Details

QMS,CMO,Chemistry,CAPA,quality assurance

Additional Skills & Qualifications

Qualifications ▪ Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Chemistry, Engineering, Biology, Pharmacy, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred. ▪ 8 years of experience in Quality Assurance, Compliance, Manufacturing, or Supplier Quality within agriculture, biologicals, crop protection, biotechnology, or specialty chemicals. ▪ Experience managing quality systems in outsourced or virtual manufacturing environments. ▪ Demonstrated experience working with CMOs, toll manufacturers, formulators, and global supply partners. ▪ Knowledge of supplier qualification, audits, quality agreements, CAPA, change management, and product launch processes. ▪ Strong communication, influence, and relationship management skills. ▪ Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, resource-constrained startup environment.

Experience Level

Expert Level

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Santa Monica, CA.

The pay range for this position is $57.60 - $63.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully remote position.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 29, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $58 - $63