What does a quality lead do?
A quality assurance (QA) lead is responsible for organizing and managing the testing of products prior to its release. Your duties will include defining testing standards and strategies, establishing formal QA processes, and overseeing all aspects of QA, such as using best practices and establishing metrics. Additionally, you are responsible for supervising and mentoring QA team members, and developing and implementing scripts, test cases, and procedures. You are also responsible for managing off quality products and developing and institutionalizing ISO complaints.
Quality lead responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real quality lead resumes:
- Analyze health plan's performance in achieving HEDIS targets and determine appropriate actions for improvement.
- Manage raw materials receive in the lab and perform raw material USP testing for product release.
- Manage global QMS development and implementation efforts at service locations.
- Lead business system development in new aerospace start-up facility with industry-unique process concept.
- Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications using measuring instruments such as rulers, calipers, gauges and/or micrometers.
- Provide leadership and strategic decision-making for regulatory compliance during new product development phase for FDA submission.
- Establish good housekeeping standards and ensure plant and external storage locations adhere to FDA and ISO regulatory requirements.
- Support include management, creation and coordination of require documents, and internal audit of require documentation per USDA requirements.
- Develop and institutionalize numerous ISO compliant organizational web-base pages in SharePoint, create a quality manual and QMS policies across organization.
- Used USP, APWA/AWWA/WPCF, ACS, EPA and AOAC methods.
- Use of scope, calipers, micrometer, and pin/block gauges.
- Create PowerPoint presentations to help develop solutions to the quality defects.
- Inspect precision machine parts using micrometers, height gauges and optical comparators.
- Drive the automation project for stability testing forward and act as QC SME.
- Provide design and PowerPoint production support for CDM CPPM training presentations and workshops.
Quality lead skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Quality Leads are proficient in Continuous Improvement, Product Quality, and Quality Standards. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Quality Leads that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Continuous Improvement, 8%
Support the continuous improvement efforts within the facility and the organization through participating in quality and performance improvement projects.
- Product Quality, 6%
Communicated customer, regulatory and organizational requirements to ensure product quality, environmental safety, contract compliance, and customer satisfaction.
- Quality Standards, 5%
Carried out validation procedures to ensure all system modifications meet end-user requirements and quality standards.
- Project Management, 5%
Manage Six Sigma projects utilizing project management methodologies, ensuring appropriate project rigor, on time solutions and value delivery.
- Process Improvement, 4%
Performed risk analysis to identify procedural breakpoints and improvement opportunities, which resulted in process improvement projects and initiatives.
- Management System, 4%
Improved document change control process by replacing antiquated Quality Management System with new system through direction of Corporate Quality Assurance.
Most quality leads use their skills in "continuous improvement," "product quality," and "quality standards" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential quality lead responsibilities here:
Interpersonal skills. One of the key soft skills for a quality lead to have is interpersonal skills. You can see how this relates to what quality leads do because "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." Additionally, a quality lead resume shows how quality leads use interpersonal skills: "possess excellent interpersonal, documentation, and instructional competencies. "
Leadership skills. Another essential skill to perform quality lead duties is leadership skills. Quality leads responsibilities require that "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees." Quality leads also use leadership skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "provided leadership and strategic decision-making for regulatory compliance during new product development phase for fda submission. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain quality lead responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a quality lead rely on this skill, as "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what quality leads do: "analyzed and resolved supplier quality problems. "
The three companies that hire the most quality leads are:
- Meta52 quality leads jobs
- Bristol-Myers Squibb10 quality leads jobs
- General Electric10 quality leads jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable quality lead resume templates
Build a professional quality lead resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your quality lead resume.
Compare different quality leads
Quality lead vs. Quality assurance supervisor
A quality assurance supervisor oversees and leads the quality control operations within a manufacturing plant or similar establishment. They are primarily responsible for crafting and implementing policies that prioritize the efficiency of products or services, supervising and evaluating the performances of the workforce, and setting standards and procedures that align not just with the goals of the company, but the national and international level of production standards. Furthermore, as a supervisor in the field, it is crucial to encourage and shape quality assurance workers into valuable members of the company.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a quality lead are more likely to require skills like "project management," "data analysis," "lean six sigma," and "supplier quality." On the other hand, a job as a quality assurance supervisor requires skills like "food safety," "patients," "excellent interpersonal," and "strong customer service." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Quality assurance supervisors tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $80,377. In contrast, quality leads make the biggest average salary, $92,715, in the health care industry.The education levels that quality assurance supervisors earn slightly differ from quality leads. In particular, quality assurance supervisors are 4.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a quality lead. Additionally, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Quality lead vs. Quality control supervisor
A quality control supervisor specializes in carrying out and implementing systems and procedures that ensure product quality within an organization. They are primarily responsible for devising priorities and standards, managing schedules to abide by the production timeline, monitoring activities, coordinating with production and quality control personnel, assessing employee performance, and thoroughly discussing new systems for all staff. There are also instances when a quality control supervisor must perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and assessments, responding to calls and correspondence, even disseminating notices.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, quality lead responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "project management," "customer service," "data analysis," and "lean six sigma." Meanwhile, a quality control supervisor has duties that require skills in areas such as "safety procedures," "food safety," "lab equipment," and "hplc." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, quality control supervisors earn a lower salary than quality leads. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, quality control supervisors earn the most pay in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $74,165. Whereas quality leads have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $92,715.In general, quality control supervisors achieve lower levels of education than quality leads. They're 6.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Quality lead vs. Quality assurance officer
Quality Assurance Officers are responsible for monitoring the work and quality in manufacturing plants and overseeing record-keeping and report preparation. A bachelor's degree with certifications as a quality auditor, quality engineer, or Quality improvement is required to qualify for this position. Paying out at around $56K per year, Skills required for this position include good attention to detail, time management, problem-solving, multitasking, communication skills, teamwork, and knowledge of quality standards.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from quality lead resumes include skills like "continuous improvement," "project management," "quality issues," and "customer service," whereas a quality assurance officer is more likely to list skills in "quality assurance program," "safety program," "glp," and "training programs. "
Quality assurance officers earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $67,005. Comparatively, quality leads have the highest earning potential in the health care industry, with an average salary of $92,715.Most quality assurance officers achieve a similar degree level compared to quality leads. For example, they're 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Quality lead vs. Manager, quality engineer
A quality engineer manager is in charge of designing and developing quality control procedures, ensuring all products and operations meet the company's standards. Their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis to identify business needs, assessing existing quality control methods to identify areas needing improvements, and providing solutions on issues and concerns. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between quality leads and managers, quality engineer, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a quality lead might have more use for skills like "project management," "management system," "customer service," and "quality system." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of managers, quality engineer require skills like "quality engineering," "quality management system," "qa," and "aerospace. "
Managers, quality engineer enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $124,149. For comparison, quality leads earn the highest salary in the health care industry.In general, managers, quality engineer hold similar degree levels compared to quality leads. Managers, quality engineer are 2.9% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of quality lead
Updated January 8, 2025
