Quality Program Manager - Packaging Supplier Quality EventsThis position works out of our
Columbus, OH location in the
Nutrition Division. The Quality Program Manager, supporting Packaging Supplier Quality Events is responsible for leading a team of Supplier Quality professionals focused on supplier event management, supplier performance, continuous improvement, and supplier quality system maturity. This role serves as a key liaison between suppliers, manufacturing sites, quality leadership, and cross-functional business partners to ensure timely resolution of supplier quality issues, drive preventive quality improvements, and strengthen supplier capabilities across Abbott's packaging supply base. This leader will foster a high-performance culture built on accountability, technical excellence, continuous improvement, and audit readiness while developing team members and advancing long-term strategic initiatives that improve supplier quality performance and business outcomes.
WHAT YOU'LL DO Team Leadership & Talent Development- Lead and develop a team of Supplier Quality professionals responsible for Supplier Events and Supplier Excellence activities.
- Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and audit readiness.
- Establish clear expectations and develop team capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and employee development.
- Drive employee engagement, onboarding, training, and development of critical thinking, root cause analysis, and problem-solving skills.
Supplier Event Management- Lead the response to supplier quality events impacting Abbott manufacturing sites.
- Ensure timely investigations, risk assessments, root cause analysis, and effective corrective and preventive actions.
- Partner with manufacturing sites and suppliers to resolve quality issues, minimize business disruption, and protect product quality.
- Drive event reduction through trend analysis, supplier engagement, preventive actions, and effective escalation management.
- Ensure investigations and quality documentation are accurate, compliant, and audit-ready.
Supplier Excellence & Supplier Performance- Lead Abbott's Supplier Excellence Program and drive continuous improvement across the packaging supply base.
- Monitor supplier performance through scorecards, KPIs, assessments, audits, and governance reviews.
- Develop improvement strategies and Quality Improvement Plans for underperforming suppliers.
- Partner with suppliers to strengthen quality systems, process capability, CAPA effectiveness, and overall performance.
Quality Systems, Compliance & Audit Readiness- Maintain a culture of continuous audit readiness across Supplier Events and Supplier Excellence programs.
- Ensure compliance with quality system requirements, procedures, documentation standards, and regulatory expectations.
- Support audits, inspections, investigations, and CAPA activities while driving timely closure of observations and action plans.
- Champion documentation accuracy, data integrity, and inspection-ready practices.
Strategic Leadership & Stakeholder Management- Lead cross-functional initiatives that strengthen supplier quality processes, governance, and operational performance while driving alignment across suppliers, manufacturing sites, and key stakeholders.
- Utilize quality metrics, KPIs, and trend data to identify risks, prioritize improvements, and drive data-based decision making and preventive quality actions.
- Develop and communicate supplier performance trends, quality risks, and improvement strategies to suppliers, site leadership, and senior management.
- Drive long-term improvements through Supplier Excellence, process harmonization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE, YOU'LL BRING - Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Food Science, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Quality, or related technical discipline.
- 8+ years of experience in Supplier Quality, Quality Assurance, or Packaging Engineering, or related experience in Manufacturing, Operations, or related technical fields.
Preferred:- Experience in regulated industries such as medical device, pharmaceutical, nutrition, food, or consumer product manufacturing.
- Experience with supplier audits, supplier assessments, and supplier quality system evaluations.
- Experience building and managing scorecards, KPIs, dashboards, and supplier governance processes.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
- Experience presenting and aligning internal and external stakeholders with the ability to communicate to all levels of the Abbott organization as well as supplier organization.
- Thorough knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality systems, investigations, root cause analysis, and CAPA principles.
- Thorough knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality systems, investigations, root cause analysis, and CAPA principles.
- Proven project management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple initiatives and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
- Green Belt, Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement certification preferred.
Apply Now* Participants who complete a short wellness assessment qualify for FREE coverage in our HIP PPO medical plan. Free coverage applies in the next calendar year.
Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
The base pay for this position is $99,300.00 - $198,700.00
In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
JOB FAMILY:Operations Quality
DIVISION:ANSC Nutrition Supply Chain
LOCATION:United States > Columbus : 2900 Easton Square Place
ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:WORK SHIFT:Standard
TRAVEL:Yes, 15 % of the Time
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE:No
SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES:Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday)
