Sr. Corporate Quality Manager

Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

• This position will provide centralized governance over all aspects of quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance for Phoenix Closures, Inc., and J.S. Plastics, Inc. The person in this role will: provide technical expertise and business leadership to the Company in support of product development, manufacturing, and customer service to ensure quality standards are met; conduct risk assessments and make timely decisions that balance business and quality factors while guaranteeing food safety and regulatory compliance; and employ data, sound judgment, and innovation to deliver reasonable, defensible, and sustainable solutions for day-to-day problems and inquiries.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Define, implement, maintain, and improve quality systems across all facilities and monitor their effectiveness via a system of written procedures, formal audits, training, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance to SQF requirements. Maintain site certification and designate SQF practitioners at all facilities.
• Ensure compliance to FDA and other food and food packaging safety regulations, including but not limited to Interstate Milk Shippers (IMS), current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), HACCP, and Drug Master Files.
• Research, benchmark, and maintain leading-edge knowledge of all applicable federal, state, local, and international regulations, industry standards, and customer audit requirements. Identify gaps and emerging issues, consult third parties, and employ benchmarking and training to develop and implement system-wide compliance solutions and improvements. Work with QA staff to translate applicable requirements into operational programs and procedures that effectively manage risk.
• Provide leadership and technical support to monitor customer complaints, product holds, raw material defects, and other problems or nonconformances affecting quality and/or food safety. Drive actions to determine root cause, prevent reoccurrence, and achieve quantifiable loss reductions / improvements.
• Provide organizational leadership for QA/Food Safety Managers, Senior Quality Engineer, and Regulatory Affairs Manager. Lead professional development and performance management for all assigned direct reports. Motivate and empower the staff.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Follow all food safety policies and procedures.
• Follow all human safety rules, policies, procedures, and work instructions.
• Work closely with R&D, Engineering, Supply Chain, and other functions as necessary to ensure early management of quality, food safety, and regulatory requirements for all products both as-designed and as-manufactured.
• Support and uphold a culture of continuous improvement. Champion the use of CI tools to facilitate product and process quality improvement initiatives where applicable. Identify and monitor quality key performance indicators (KPIs) and establish targeted goals for improvement.
• Represent the company (directly or via designate as appropriate) during customer, regulatory, or other external audits. Ensure timely and thorough responses to audit results.
• Support the development of and adherence to product specifications. Employ and encourage the use of statistics to evaluate system capability, analyze data on key product attributes, and drive improvements wherever possible.
• Work with the VP of Quality to develop strategies and long-range plans, set department objectives, and measure and communicate progress.
• Assist the VP of Quality to develop and manage an annual budget to support all required department activities.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and foster an external focus by monitoring relevant industry trends and events, visiting with customers and suppliers, and pursuing continuous education and training as appropriate.
• Backup: VP of Quality

Requirements

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

• BS degree in Engineering, Science, Math, Statistics, or other relevant technical field
• HACCP certification
• American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Quality Engineer or equivalent certification preferred
• SQF Practitioner, PCQI, and/or Lead Auditor preferred

EXPERIENCE:

• 7+ years in QA management role in manufacturing environment; some experience in food/beverage or food contact packaging preferred.
• Knowledge and experience in developing and improving quality, regulatory, and food safety management systems.
• Solid understanding of applicable federal, state, local, and international regulations and enforcement agencies relevant to packaging and plastics (e.g. 21 CFR, U.S. Food Code, PMO, cGMPs, U.S. FDA, OSHA, EPA, CFIA, EU, et al.).
• Solid understanding of various industry standards and auditing schemes (e.g. GFSI / SQF, ISO) relevant to plastics injection molding, manufacturing, and customer markets (e.g. food, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, personal care, consumer goods, industrial chemicals, et al.).
• Knowledge and experience in QA/QC methodology; metrology; statistical tools; product and process capability; internal, supplier, customer, and third-party audits; product quality inspections; APQP; CQV/ IQ OQ PQ/ PPAP; FMEA; continuous improvement (e.g. lean manufacturing / Six Sigma); and other generally employed quality practices.
• Demonstrated excellence in the following skills: verbal, written, and technical communication; project management; networking and benchmarking; critical thinking and decision-making; risk management; sound judgment and problem-solving; learning agility; cross-functional collaboration; navigating ambiguity; and operationalizing new and ongoing business needs and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings; lead problem-solving sessions between departments; communicate with all levels of the organization (e.g. shop floor employees, supervisors, managers, and executives) and with external business partners; perform risk assessments; and drive decision-making.
• Experience with managing, leading, and developing other employees. Effectiveness at working with geographically dispersed teams and in hybrid environments preferred.

TRAVEL:

• The duties of this position require it to be based on-site in the corporate headquarters in Aurora, IL, and may be performed in a hybrid working arrangement. Must be able to travel 25-30%.

EQUIPMENT USED:

• Personal computer, calculator, phone, printer/scanner, metrology tools and equipment

CONTACTS:

• QA/Food Safety Team, Sales, Customer Account Coordinators, Purchasing, Product Development, Engineering, Marketing, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Warehousing and Logistics, customers, suppliers, Executive Staff

SUPERVISION:

• VP of Quality