Freelance Departmental Compliance Lead (DCL)

Freelance Departmental Compliance Lead (DCL)

Multinational Pharmaceutical Company | Flemish Region, Belgium

Contract / Freelance (ZZP / Independent Consultant)

The Opportunity

For a leading multinational pharmaceutical organisation, we are looking for a Departmental Compliance Lead (DCL) to support site-level operations and strategic projects.

This is not a traditional QA role .

Instead, this position sits at the intersection of compliance, process optimisation, equipment qualification, equipement validation and business efficiency . You will act as a compliance leader and change agent , driving performance, raising standards, and enabling operational excellence across the department.

Your Mission

As DCL, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring GxP compliance while improving how the business operates. You will:

• Act as the go-to compliance expert with a strong focus on equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) and operational compliance
• Drive process optimisation and efficiency improvements across systems, workflows, and teams
• Lead and support System-Based Compliance (SBC) processes and ensure alignment with internal and regulatory standards
• Take ownership of departmental inspection readiness , acting as spokesperson during audits and regulatory inspections
• Monitor and improve compliance performance metrics , ensuring continuous improvement across processes
• Coordinate and oversee CAPAs, risk registers, and remediation plans
• Remove operational barriers and enable Local Process Owners (LPOs) to execute effectively
• Act as a bridge to senior leadership , ensuring transparency, escalation, and alignment
• Promote a culture of compliance excellence and continuous improvement
• Ensure consistency in procedures, SOPs, and training materials
• Collaborate cross-functionally with QA, operations, and global stakeholders (without owning QA policy)
• Leverage multiple systems and tools to enhance compliance performance and business efficiency
• Support compliant documentation, including translation/adaptation where needed

Your Profile

We are looking for a senior freelance consultant who operates at both strategic and operational level. You bring:

• Proven experience in a compliance-focused role within pharma or highly regulated environments
• Strong expertise in Equipment Qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) and operational compliance
• Solid understanding of GxP and QA principles , without being a QA policy owner
• Demonstrated success in process optimisation, efficiency improvement, and raising standards
• Experience working with multiple systems (QMS, compliance tools, data systems) to drive performance
• Strong track record in inspection readiness, audits, CAPA, and risk management
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills: able to influence at all levels
• A pragmatic, structured, and business-oriented mindset
• Ability to act as a change agent and compliance leader within complex environments

Languages

• Dutch: Fluent
• English: Fluent

⚡ Why this role stands out

• High-impact freelance assignment in a leading pharma environment
• Strategic + operational scope (not a siloed QA role)
• Strong visibility with senior leadership and cross-functional teams
• Opportunity to drive real business efficiency through compliance

Interested?

If you’re a freelance compliance expert who understands how to combine GxP compliance with operational performance , I would be keen to connect.

Apply or reach out directly to discuss further.