Continuous Improvement Manager

Hood Container Corporation•Houston, TX

About The Position

This role serves as the plant authority for Quality Management Systems, Food Safety, and Continuous Improvement, with full ownership of system design, implementation, execution, and long-term sustainability. This facility operates in alignment with ISO 9001 principles and quality management best practices. The facility leadership is committed to achieving SQF Food Safety certification within the next 12 months and is seeking a senior quality/continuous improvement leader with proven experience building and scaling Food Safety Quality Management Systems from the ground up. The CIM works cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Sales to reduce waste, improve reliability, and maintain audit-ready systems in a fast-paced corrugated environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field
5+ years of senior-level quality and/or continuous improvement leadership in manufacturing
Demonstrated experience building or transforming Quality Management Systems
Hands-on leadership of AIB and/or SQF systems
Strong knowledge of corrugated manufacturing and converting operations
Proven success leading audits, driving CAPA, and influencing cross-functional teams
Comfortable operating with high autonomy and accountability

Nice To Haves

Direct experience leading an SQF certification from pre-certification through audit
ISO 9001 lead auditor or strong working knowledge of ISO governance
Track record of cultural transformation in quality and food safety

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end Quality Management System, including system architecture, documentation, governance, performance metrics, and continuous improvement
Lead SQF certification strategy and execution, including gap analysis, system development, training, internal audits, and certification readiness within 12 months
Maintain and elevate AIB Food Safety certification, ensuring strong system discipline throughout the SQF transition
Design and deploy ISO 9001-aligned processes, ensuring operational consistency, risk management, and audit readiness
Serve as the primary audit authority for AIB, SQF, FSC-SFI CoC, Corporate QMS, and customer audits
Establish and enforce CAPA rigor, risk-based thinking, and root cause discipline across the facility
Translate audit findings and operational data into executive-level insights and improvement priorities
Ensure quality and food safety systems are fully integrated into production, maintenance, and change management processes
Lead plant-wide continuous improvement strategy focused on throughput, waste reduction, defect reduction, and system reliability
Apply Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and statistical problem-solving to stabilize and optimize corrugator and converting operations
Champion standardization, error-proofing, and process capability
Build CI capability across supervisors and operators through coaching and structured problem-solving
Drive accountability for sustained results, not one-time improvements

Benefits

Competitive pay & benefits: We offer a competitive base salary, an annual bonus program, and a comprehensive benefits package to keep you healthy and happy. Check out more detailed information on our benefits via www.hoodcontainer.com/benefits [https://www.hoodcontainer.com/benefits]
Continuous learning: We invest in paid training and development to help you grow your skills and advance your career.
Caring & Empowering Company Culture: Supportive & collaborative team dedicated to seeing you unbox your potential to help make a difference & make customers happy.
Growing Company in a Sustainable Industry: Consider a Future in Corrugated Packaging [https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XTByLqZZgs&t=1s__;!!CW3w2ehPo0Bu!Y5wQXjGEiEM9xvQflGGBmWIWmbYH7H2n7Tnpd0c4BTON_PeYorMU9ZQ3OPnZAtPNfWECw7boLKe67A0EeXmlOGuI$]

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume