Your Role at Baxter
As the Quality GPS Lead, you will serve as a key driver of operational excellence within the Round Lake Drug Delivery Quality organization. You will partner closely with Quality Leadership, the Site Remediation Lead, and Operational Excellence teams to integrate Baxter GPS principles into quality operations in a way that strengthens performance while maintaining compliance within a regulated pharmaceutical environment.
In this highly visible role, you will establish the systems, routines, and behaviors that enable teams to identify problems earlier, solve issues more effectively, and sustain improvements over time. Success will be measured through stronger quality performance, increased organizational capability, improved operational flow, and the successful integration of continuous improvement practices into everyday quality operations.
Your Role at Baxter- Lead the deployment of Baxter GPS across the Quality organization, building sustainable operating systems that improve quality performance, visibility, and accountability.
- Develop and implement tiered daily management processes that connect frontline quality activities with site leadership through clear communication and escalation pathways.
- Create visual management systems and performance dashboards that enable teams to identify risks, address challenges proactively, and drive timely decision-making.
- Coach leaders and teams in structured problem-solving methodologies, strengthening root cause analysis, investigation effectiveness, and recurrence prevention.
- Partner with Quality, Remediation, and Operational Excellence leaders to ensure continuous improvement efforts support remediation objectives, compliance expectations, and long-term organizational goals.
- Facilitate high-impact continuous improvement initiatives, including Kaizen events and value stream improvements that enhance quality systems, reduce cycle times, and improve operational effectiveness.
- Build organizational capability by developing leaders, facilitators, and teams who can independently sustain GPS practices and continuous improvement behaviors.
What You'll BringRequired Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Pharmacy, Quality, Operations, Business, or a related field.
- Eight or more years of experience in Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, or related functions within a regulated industry.
- Proven experience implementing tiered daily management, visual management systems, leader standard work, and structured escalation processes with sustainable results.
- Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis, structured problem-solving methodologies, and coaching teams to improve operational performance.
- Experience leading Kaizen events, process improvement initiatives, and cross-functional transformation efforts that deliver measurable business outcomes.
- Working knowledge of pharmaceutical quality systems, including investigations, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), change control, and data integrity requirements.
- Strong facilitation, influencing, communication, and change leadership skills with the ability to build alignment across functions and organizational levels.
Preferred Qualifications- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or comparable advanced continuous improvement certification.
- Experience implementing an enterprise operating system or production system within pharmaceutical, sterile, aseptic, biotechnology, or medical device manufacturing environments.
- Experience supporting organizations undergoing regulatory remediation, compliance transformation, or significant quality improvement initiatives.
- Knowledge of A3 thinking, PDCA, COMPASS, or similar structured continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience improving quality system performance metrics such as batch release cycle times, investigation closure timelines, CAPA effectiveness, or right-first-time performance.
- Experience developing internal coaches, facilitators, and continuous improvement practitioners.
We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. At Baxter, we are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. The estimated base salary for this position is $112,000 - $154,000 annually. The estimated salary is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses. For questions about this, our pay philosophy, and available benefits, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply and are selected for an interview.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
US Benefits at Baxter (except for Puerto Rico)
This is where your well-being matters. Baxter offers comprehensive compensation and benefits packages for eligible roles. Our health and well-being benefits include medical and dental coverage that start on day one, as well as insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance. Financial and retirement benefits include the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount, and the 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching. We also offer Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time-off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave. Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits. Join us and enjoy the competitive compensation and benefits we offer to our employees. For additional information regarding Baxter US Benefits, please speak with your recruiter or visit our Benefits site:
