Quality Manager l Packaging l Pharma in Stoke-on-Trent

Our client is a world-leading specialist print and packaging manufacturer based in Bury St Edmunds, operating within a highly regulated environment. Driven by a culture of continuous learning and innovation, the business develops specialist solutions in direct response to customer needs and plays a critical role supporting pharmaceutical, healthcare, and medical customers, where compliance, traceability, and robust quality controls are non-negotiable.

They are now seeking an experienced Quality Manager to take full ownership of the Quality Management System and lead quality excellence across the business. This is a senior, hands-on role within a regulated print and packaging environment, requiring confidence in managing demanding customers, rigorous audits, and complex compliance requirements. The role also includes oversight of quality systems across three smaller group companies.

• Own, maintain, and continually enhance the Quality Management System (QMS) in line with pharmaceutical and healthcare customer requirements.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and other relevant regulatory and customer standards.
• Act as the primary quality interface for pharmaceutical and healthcare customers, managing technical queries, audits, and compliance expectations.
• Lead and host internal, customer, and third-party audits, ensuring a constant state of audit readiness.
• Manage deviations, non-conformances, CAPA, and lead effective root cause analysis.
• Maintain robust document control, traceability, and change management processes critical to regulated supply chains.
• Partner closely with production and operations to embed quality controls throughout the manufacturing process.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on risk reduction, compliance strength, and customer confidence.
• Support senior leadership in sustaining a strong quality culture aligned with regulated customer expectations.
• Produce quarterly quality and environmental performance reports for senior management.
• Ensure effective handover and knowledge transfer from the current Quality Manager ahead of retirement.

• Proven experience in a Quality Manager or senior quality leadership role within regulated manufacturing.
• Degree in a relevant scientific, technical, or engineering discipline (e.g. Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, Packaging, Engineering).
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification (essential).
• Strong working knowledge of GMP, GxP, and pharmaceutical/healthcare regulations.
• Experience within print, packaging, or similarly regulated manufacturing environments.
• In-depth understanding of CAPA, deviation management, change control, and audit processes.
• Hands-on, detail-driven approach with the authority to set and uphold quality standards.
• Confident engaging with customers, auditors, and regulatory bodies.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Highly methodical, rigorous, and compliance-focused.
• Calm, decisive, and proactive under pressure.
• Customer-centric with a clear understanding of regulated client expectations.
• Comfortable acting as the quality authority within the business.

This is a rare opportunity to own and shape quality strategy within a respected, world-leading specialist manufacturer supplying high-profile pharmaceutical and healthcare customers. The role offers stability, autonomy, and real influence, with the opportunity to safeguard compliance, strengthen customer confidence, and drive operational excellence across the business.