Continuous Improvement Associate Manager

Graphic Packaging•Marietta, GA

About The Position

Direct the facility’s Quality and Continuous Improvement processes, including developing, implementing, and maintaining the validity of the Quality System. The role allocates available capital to equipment and processes that advance the business and identifies personnel training needs related to new equipment and processes. Its objective is to improve people and processes, reduce costs, improve product quality, strengthen marketplace competitiveness, and support business growth. The position aligns department operations with customer expectations and Graphic Packaging International’s business, cultural, financial, and operational objectives. The role also leads and maintains the plant’s Safe Quality Food (SQF) system, including its documentation, records, audits, training, controls, and corrective actions. The employee must perform the essential functions satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor of Arts degree or related work experience in lieu of a degree.
Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Competencies listed: business acumen, curiosity, interpersonal skills, influence skills, self-starter, negotiation skills, organization skills, and results oriented.

Responsibilities

Meet and maintain divisional Quality Process Management objectives established by GPI.
Direct activities, duties, and projects to ensure compliance with customer specifications.
Serve as the plant contact for customer complaints and customer compliance audits.
Maintain internal and external complaint reporting systems in SAP in accordance with GPI requirements.
Develop SPC in production and QC areas to achieve process control that meets or exceeds customer expectations.
Execute and manage continuous improvement initiatives, including Six Sigma, process improvement, and Lean projects.
Track and report financially validated savings through the GPI Project Tracking Database.
Communicate plant quality expectations and monitor performance against objectives in a timely and effective manner.
Solicit input from employees to support the quality and continuous improvement objectives.
Share responsibility for compliance with facility product safety (GMP) and sanitation policies and procedures, and promote workplace orderliness and cleanliness in support of product stewardship standards.
Lead QC Gemba walks.
Be trained and certified as the plant’s SQF and HACCP Lead Practitioner, and maintain knowledge of SQF prerequisites including HACCP, GMP, and Food Defense.
Develop, implement, review, maintain, and communicate the current version of the SQF Code.
Lead and coordinate the annual plant review of the SQF system, internal audits, and scheduling of the annual third-party audit.
Contact the third-party certification body with proposed dates and justification for blackout dates for the unannounced audit, submitting this information one month before the 60-day recertification window.
Coordinate SQF-related root cause and corrective action activities.
Perform SQF control verification and validation on an established schedule.
Establish and maintain methods and criteria for monitoring, sampling, inspecting, testing, and analyzing raw materials, in-process materials, and finished goods.
Review and update SQF training skill requirements for onsite personnel.
Develop and maintain SQF-related documents and records.
Protect and strengthen Graphic Packaging International’s reputation and act consistently with its core values of Integrity, Respect, Accountability, Relationships, and Teamwork.
Follow plant rules and procedures for hygiene, allergens, and production of Safe Quality Foods; report potentially unsafe SQF conditions or customer complaints to an authorized person; and participate in SQF root cause and corrective actions as required.
Perform other duties as assigned.