Quality Manager

Scope of Position

Our Client is seeking an experienced, results-driven Quality Manager to lead and continuously improve our plant-wide quality management system. This leadership role is responsible for ensuring that all products meet customer, regulatory, and company quality standards while driving a culture of quality excellence, safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.

As a key member of the plant leadership team, the Quality Manager partners closely with Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, Customer Service, and Sales to maintain world-class quality performance and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader with a strong manufacturing background, exceptional problem-solving skills, and a passion for driving sustainable quality improvements.

Responsibilities

Quality Leadership & Compliance

• Lead the development, implementation, and management of the plant's quality assurance and quality control programs.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), regulatory requirements, customer specifications, and industry standards.
• Establish, monitor, and continuously improve quality systems, procedures, and controls to ensure product consistency and customer satisfaction.
• Manage plant certifications, sanitation programs, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.

Customer & Supplier Quality Management

• Interpret customer quality requirements and translate them into manufacturing processes, inspection plans, critical control points, and testing methodologies.
• Lead customer complaint investigations, track trends, and verify the effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions.
• Serve as the primary quality contact for customers, suppliers, and regulatory agencies.
• Collaborate with suppliers to establish quality expectations and ensure conformance to specifications.

Process Improvement & Quality Performance

• Develop, implement, and monitor process control systems and critical quality checkpoints.
• Identify opportunities to reduce defects, improve process capability, and enhance overall product quality.
• Oversee automatic inspection systems and evaluate procedures to maximize effectiveness and reliability.
• Analyze quality metrics and communicate performance results, trends, and improvement initiatives to plant leadership and personnel.

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, train, mentor, and lead plant quality personnel.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Provide ongoing coaching and development opportunities to strengthen team capabilities.
• Promote quality awareness throughout the facility through effective communication and training programs.

Operational Partnership

• Collaborate with Production, Engineering, Logistics, Sales, and Customer Service teams to support operational goals.
• Contribute as a member of the plant management team, sharing responsibility for plant safety, efficiency, productivity, and overall performance.
• Participate in special projects and strategic initiatives that support business objectives.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive quality leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of quality systems, GMPs, root cause analysis, corrective actions, process controls, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience managing customer audits, supplier quality programs, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Proficiency with quality data analysis, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred

• Experience within packaging, plastics, containers, consumer products, food packaging, or related manufacturing industries.
• Professional quality certifications such as ASQ CQM, CQE, or equivalent.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and drive initiatives to completion.
• Collaborative team player who actively supports organizational goals and continuous improvement efforts.

Additional Requirements

• Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment and interact effectively with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Occasional travel may be required (up to 25%).