Quality Manager

We are seeking a Quality Manger to join our team in Clearing, IL . The Quality Manager is responsible for leading all quality assurance, quality engineering, laboratory operations, and continuous improvement activities at the Clearing, Illinois manufacturing facility. The role provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure product quality, process capability, regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement across a complex chemical manufacturing environment.

This position serves as the quality leader for a site producing colloidal silica, polymer technologies, water treatment chemistries, specialty chemical products, and emerging microelectronics materials. The Quality Manager drives advanced Statistical Process Control (SPC), process capability improvement, laboratory excellence, and quality systems maturity while partnering closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, RD&E, and Product Stewardship.

A critical responsibility of the role is developing a world-class quality engineering culture that utilizes data analytics, process capability studies, risk management tools, laboratory science, and statistical methods to reduce variation, improve customer outcomes, and support future business growth.

What You Will Do:
Quality Leadership

- Lead all site quality activities including Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Laboratory Operations, Supplier Quality, Customer Quality, and Quality Engineering.

- Maintain compliance with ISO 9001, NSF, Kosher, Halal, customer-specific requirements, and applicable regulatory requirements.

- Establish annual quality objectives aligned with plant, division, and corporate goals.

- Lead Management Review processes and provide quality performance updates to site and divisional leadership.

- Own site nonconformance management, CAPA systems, deviation investigations, and change control processes.

- Drive quality culture and Progressive Quality (PQ) Pillar initiatives throughout the manufacturing organization.

Chemical Manufacturing Quality

- Partner with Production and Process Engineering to establish process control plans and manufacturing standards.

- Support Process Safety Management (PSM) processes where applicable.

- Evaluate manufacturing changes through risk assessments, FMEA, and validation plans.

- Ensure robust transfer of new products from RD&E into commercial manufacturing.

Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Quality Engineering

- Serve as the site expert in Statistical Process Control, Statistical Thinking, Process Capability Analysis, and Quality Engineering methodologies.

- Develop and maintain SPC strategies and tools utilizing LIMS, PI, Seeq, SAP, and manufacturing data systems.

- Improve process capability through Cp, Cpk, Pp, and Ppk analysis.

- Partner with manufacturing engineering teams to develop robust process controls and early-warning systems for process drift.

Laboratory and ICP Operations

- Lead all site laboratory functions including Quality Control Laboratories and ICP analytical laboratories.

- Ensure laboratory operations meet the highest standards of data integrity, reliability, and scientific rigor.

- Manage laboratory equipment qualification, calibration, preventative maintenance, and method validation activities.

Customer Quality and Continuous Improvement

- Lead customer complaint investigations utilizing: 8D Methodology, Root Cause Analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA)

- Drive reduction of customer complaints and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).

- Serve as the primary quality interface with strategic customers, auditors, and regulatory agencies.

Quality Systems and Compliance

- Maintain and continuously improve the site's Quality Management System.

- Support internal and external audits and ensure timely closure of findings.

- Champion risk-based thinking throughout the quality system.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Quality Engineering, or related technical field.

- Minimum 8 years of experience in chemical manufacturing, quality management, quality engineering, or laboratory leadership roles.

- Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience.

- Demonstrated expertise in Statistical Process Control and process capability analysis.

- Experience leading quality systems in an ISO 9001 certified manufacturing environment.

- Experience with laboratory operations and analytical testing.

- No immigration sponsorship is available for this role

Preferred Qualifications:

- Master's Degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Quality, or Business.

- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE).

- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

- Experience with colloidal silica, specialty chemicals, water treatment chemicals, or semiconductor chemical manufacturing.

- Experience with ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and advanced analytical laboratory systems.

- Experience with SAP, LIMS, PI, Seeq, Minitab, JMP, or equivalent analytical platforms.

Annual or Hourly Compensation Range

The base salary range for this position is $107,600.00 - $161,500.00. This position is eligible for annual bonus pay based on performance, per plan terms. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.
Benefits
Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families.  Click here to see our benefits.
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Potential Customer Requirements Notice
To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:
- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.