Quality GPS Lead
Baxter International Inc.
Summary
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.
Job description
What You'll Be Doing
- 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 Bring
- 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.
Requirements
- 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
- Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis, structured problem-solving methodologies, and coaching teams
- Experience leading Kaizen events, process improvement initiatives, and cross-functional transformation efforts
- Working knowledge of pharmaceutical quality systems, including investigations, CAPA, change control, and data integrity requirements
- Strong facilitation, influencing, communication, and change leadership skills
- 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
Benefits
- Medical & Dental Coverage
- Life & Accident Insurance
- Short & Long-Term Disability
- Business Travel Accident Insurance
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- 401(k) Matching
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Educational Assistance
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Time Off
- Family & Medical Leave
- Paid Parental Leave
- Commuting Benefits
- Employee Discount Program
- Employee Assistance Program
- Childcare Benefits
- Discretionary Bonuses
Company overview
Baxter International Inc. is an American multinational healthcare company headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, founded in 1931. As a leading global medical device manufacturer, Baxter specializes in developing and producing essential medical products for treating chronic and acute medical conditions. The company operates across three primary business segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, and Pharmaceuticals. Baxter's extensive product portfolio includes intravenous (IV) solutions, infusion pumps, dialysis equipment for kidney disease treatment, surgical technologies, and hospital pharmaceuticals. With approximately 38,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues exceeding $10 billion, Baxter plays a critical role in global healthcare infrastructure. The company is particularly known for its leadership in IV fluid production, manufacturing approximately 60% of the intravenous fluids used in the United States. Baxter's innovations include pioneering developments in artificial kidney technology and advanced surgical products, serving healthcare providers across more than 100 countries. The company maintains a strong commitment to research and development, investing significantly in medical technology advancements that improve patient outcomes and healthcare delivery efficiency.