Quality Manager

Location: Fort Lawn, SC
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: Geosynthetics / Manufacturing / Industrial Materials

Company Overview

A leading U.S.-based manufacturer of engineered geosynthetic and geotechnical materials supporting civil engineering, construction, and environmental applications. Founded in 1998 and serving customers throughout North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, the organization is recognized for its commitment to innovation, product performance, and rigorous testing standards. With decades of combined expertise and a strong focus on continuous improvement, the company proudly manufactures all products in the United States and remains at the forefront of the geosynthetics industry.

Position Overview

The Quality Manager is responsible for leading all Quality, ESG, and Continuous Improvement initiatives across North American manufacturing operations. This role ensures strong governance of the Quality Management System (QMS), adherence to ISO and ESG standards, and consistent quality performance across suppliers, internal operations, laboratories, and customer-facing functions.

The position drives operational excellence through defect reduction, process consistency, audit readiness, and cross-functional collaboration—ultimately supporting system stability and long-term manufacturing success.

Key Responsibilities

1. Quality Systems & Certifications

• Maintain, enhance, and enforce the QMS to ensure full compliance with ISO and ESG standards.
• Lead internal and external audits, including planning, execution, documentation, and corrective actions.
• Uphold corporate requirements for documentation control and audit readiness.
• Manage quality manuals, procedures, work instructions, and control plans.

2. Supplier Quality & Incoming Control

• Oversee supplier qualification, requalification, and ongoing performance monitoring in collaboration with Technical leadership.
• Define inspection requirements for raw materials and purchased components.
• Establish supplier corrective action expectations and verify long-term effectiveness.
• Partner with Procurement to ensure material specification adherence and regular supplier performance reviews.

3. Production Quality & In‑Process Control

• Develop sampling plans, inspection processes, and process control strategies across manufacturing.
• Lead root-cause investigations for internal defects, scrap, and rework.
• Implement Statistical Process Control (SPC) and process capability monitoring.
• Support Operations in creating standard work, control charts, and corrective action systems.

4. Customer Quality & Field Support

• Lead customer complaint management from intake through resolution.
• Support customer audits, visits, and technical inquiries.
• Manage and maintain customer-facing certifications, compliance data, and testing documentation.

5. Laboratory & Calibration Management

• Oversee laboratory testing programs, including method development and equipment maintenance.
• Ensure adherence to calibration schedules, recordkeeping, and traceability.
• Train and support lab personnel on proper testing procedures and compliance requirements.

6. Continuous Improvement (CIP)

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Identify and drive initiatives related to scrap reduction, increased throughput, and cost savings.
• Facilitate Lean/Kaizen activities, including 5S, process standardization, and waste reduction.
• Track and communicate CIP progress and validate results.

7. Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Technical leadership on process validation, new product introduction, and specification alignment.
• Provide ongoing support and training to Operations teams.
• Work closely with Procurement and Supply Chain to maintain material consistency and process alignment.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related field.
• 7–10+ years of quality leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of QMS, ISO standards, SPC, root-cause analysis, and auditing.
• Experience leading teams and cross-functional initiatives.

Preferred

• Experience within geosynthetics, textiles, industrial materials, or similar manufacturing environments.
• SAP or similar ERP system experience.
• Lean/Six Sigma training or certification (Green/Black Belt).

What This Role Offers

• Opportunity to lead quality strategy for a growing and established manufacturing organization.
• High visibility across operations, technical teams, customer interfaces, and executive leadership.
• A role that directly impacts product performance, operational efficiency, and long-term business success.