Manager, Quality Assurance

Michelman Careers•Cincinnati, OH

23h

About The Position

General Summary We have an exciting opportunity to join the Plant Leadership Team as Manager of Quality, a highly visible leadership role with direct impact on customer outcomes and site performance. The Plant Leadership Team is accountable for creating an environment that attracts, develops, and retains top talent while delivering safe operations, reliable quality and delivery, and continuous improvement aligned with business strategy and customer needs. This position initially supports two Cincinnati-based manufacturing plants, Blue Ash and Sharonville, as they consolidate in 2026 into a single Blue Ash location. The Manager of Quality plays a critical leadership role during this transition, owning Quality Management System continuity, compliance, risk mitigation, and standardization as operations integrate into one operating model. You will partner across functions to lead site quality programs, proactively manage risk, and drive continuous improvement, ensuring effective quality assurance across manufacturing, testing, packaging, and product release throughout organizational change. The Manager of Quality has authority to stop or delay activities that present unacceptable quality, safety, or compliance risk. This role exists to protect customers, enable growth, and ensure quality is strengthened, not compromised, as the organization consolidates and positions the site for long-term success. Enterprise Risk, Compliance, and External Accountability Responsibilities Lead Quality Management System planning, execution, and sustainment during site consolidation, proactively identifying and mitigating quality risks to ensure uninterrupted certification, regulatory compliance, data integrity, and fulfillment of customer commitments Serve as the primary quality and laboratory contact for customer, regulatory, and certification audits, inquiries, and issue resolution Lead Quality Management System governance activities, including management review, performance reporting, internal auditing, and escalation of systemic risks and improvement opportunities System Execution: QMS, Lab, and Change Control Responsibilities Manage daily quality processes including evaluation and release of finished goods, raw material evaluation, and blend-off process Oversee quality responsibilities within new product development, production process, and continuous improvement Manage the customer sample process ensuring the quality and on-time delivery of samples, including coordinating sample collection, packaging, and arranging shipment of small samples through approved carriers Establish and maintain laboratory procedures, methods, and controls aligned with QMS, ISO, GMP, food-safety, and customer requirements Establish and oversee supplier and vendor quality requirements, including qualification, performance monitoring, testing procedures, and resolution of quality issues impacting product or laboratory results Ensure quality oversight of changes impacting products, processes, equipment, or laboratory methods, including risk assessment, validation or verification, and documentation prior to implementation Support product scale-up activities by applying quality, risk, and capability principles to increase process robustness, consistency, and long-term capability Performance Management and Continuous Improvement Responsibilities Use quality data and performance indicators to make informed decisions, solve problems, and drive corrective and preventive actions through routine review and escalation Facilitate corrective action system, inclusive of incident investigation and corrective action execution and verification, in pursuit of continuous quality improvement to meet internal and external customer expectations Leadership, Capability, and Collaboration Responsibilities Partner with cross-functional teams (including quality, engineering, operations, and R&D) to align priorities, remove barriers, and deliver shared business objectives Lead and develop direct reports through clear expectations, regular feedback, and accountability for performance and professional growth Ensure quality and laboratory training requirements are defined, implemented, and effective, including qualification of personnel performing quality-critical and laboratory activities Critical Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Demonstrated ability to lead Quality Management Systems through significant operational change by aligning people, processes, and standards while maintaining compliance, stability, and customer confidence Lead and maintain the Quality Management System, including implementation, audit, and continuous improvement, and develop clear standards, specifications, and procedures that ensure consistent product, process, and equipment capability Analyze quality data and clearly communicate insights to stakeholders to inform operational decisions and drive corrective or preventive action Produce and present information and reports in oral and written formats in an easy-to-understand manner Demonstrated ability to manage laboratory operations in regulated environments, including compliance with Chemical Hygiene Plans, safety requirements, and internal and external audit expectations Working knowledge of laboratory quality controls, test method validation or verification, data integrity principles, and laboratory documentation practices Develop and execute quality strategies, plans, and procedures that align with business objectives and deliver measurable results Create annual budgets, investigate variances, and take appropriate corrective action Maintain current knowledge of quality and regulatory developments and apply relevant best practices to continuously improve site performance Demonstrated ability to use software applications, inclusive of productivity applications (e.g., Microsoft Office) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) technologies Other Perform related tasks as assigned or as the situation dictates Ability to stand for long periods of time Can wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Potential for minimal travel (less than 10%) Potential for minimal off-shift work assignments Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in related science, technology, engineering, or math-based program with preference to engineering Five (5) years or more of quality management system experience (e.g., auditing, ISO-9000, Kosher, GMP) preferred Five (5) years managerial experience in an industrial setting preferred Liquid batch processing and/or emulsion chemistry experience preferred Continuous improvement experience preferred Note: The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to the job. They are not construed to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer. About Michelman Motivated by unwavering values, and ingrained with a passion for innovation, Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of specialized sustainable chemistry used in industrial and agricultural coatings, digital printing, consumer packaging, and advanced composites for automotive and aerospace. From helping grow food and keep it fresh, to making vehicles lighter and more fuel efficient, to shielding our homes from the elements, Michelman‘s environmentally conscious solutions protect and enhance the materials that shape our world. Michelman is proud of the values-focused work environment that we have crafted. We pride ourselves in our focus on our values of integrity, respect, and success. With our dedication to your technical and professional growth in addition to our rigorous onboarding experience, we guarantee that you will find yourself challenged in new ways. We offer an excellent salary, incentive and benefits package in a dynamic, empowered team environment. No phone calls please. Michelman does not hire individuals who use tobacco products. All candidates will receive a drug test prior to beginning employment which will include a test for tobacco products. For more information about Michelman, please visit https://www.michelman.com/ . It is Michelman, Inc. policy to seek and employ qualified persons in all jobs in a manner which will ensure equal employment opportunity as well as administer personnel actions in a manner as to not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Michelman is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in related science, technology, engineering, or math-based program with preference to engineering
Five (5) years or more of quality management system experience (e.g., auditing, ISO-9000, Kosher, GMP) preferred
Five (5) years managerial experience in an industrial setting preferred
Demonstrated ability to lead Quality Management Systems through significant operational change by aligning people, processes, and standards while maintaining compliance, stability, and customer confidence
Lead and maintain the Quality Management System, including implementation, audit, and continuous improvement, and develop clear standards, specifications, and procedures that ensure consistent product, process, and equipment capability
Analyze quality data and clearly communicate insights to stakeholders to inform operational decisions and drive corrective or preventive action
Produce and present information and reports in oral and written formats in an easy-to-understand manner
Demonstrated ability to manage laboratory operations in regulated environments, including compliance with Chemical Hygiene Plans, safety requirements, and internal and external audit expectations
Working knowledge of laboratory quality controls, test method validation or verification, data integrity principles, and laboratory documentation practices
Develop and execute quality strategies, plans, and procedures that align with business objectives and deliver measurable results
Create annual budgets, investigate variances, and take appropriate corrective action
Maintain current knowledge of quality and regulatory developments and apply relevant best practices to continuously improve site performance
Demonstrated ability to use software applications, inclusive of productivity applications (e.g., Microsoft Office) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) technologies
Ability to stand for long periods of time
Can wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Nice To Haves

Liquid batch processing and/or emulsion chemistry experience preferred
Continuous improvement experience preferred

Responsibilities

Lead Quality Management System planning, execution, and sustainment during site consolidation, proactively identifying and mitigating quality risks to ensure uninterrupted certification, regulatory compliance, data integrity, and fulfillment of customer commitments
Serve as the primary quality and laboratory contact for customer, regulatory, and certification audits, inquiries, and issue resolution
Lead Quality Management System governance activities, including management review, performance reporting, internal auditing, and escalation of systemic risks and improvement opportunities
Manage daily quality processes including evaluation and release of finished goods, raw material evaluation, and blend-off process
Oversee quality responsibilities within new product development, production process, and continuous improvement
Manage the customer sample process ensuring the quality and on-time delivery of samples, including coordinating sample collection, packaging, and arranging shipment of small samples through approved carriers
Establish and maintain laboratory procedures, methods, and controls aligned with QMS, ISO, GMP, food-safety, and customer requirements
Establish and oversee supplier and vendor quality requirements, including qualification, performance monitoring, testing procedures, and resolution of quality issues impacting product or laboratory results
Ensure quality oversight of changes impacting products, processes, equipment, or laboratory methods, including risk assessment, validation or verification, and documentation prior to implementation
Support product scale-up activities by applying quality, risk, and capability principles to increase process robustness, consistency, and long-term capability
Use quality data and performance indicators to make informed decisions, solve problems, and drive corrective and preventive actions through routine review and escalation
Facilitate corrective action system, inclusive of incident investigation and corrective action execution and verification, in pursuit of continuous quality improvement to meet internal and external customer expectations
Partner with cross-functional teams (including quality, engineering, operations, and R&D) to align priorities, remove barriers, and deliver shared business objectives
Lead and develop direct reports through clear expectations, regular feedback, and accountability for performance and professional growth
Ensure quality and laboratory training requirements are defined, implemented, and effective, including qualification of personnel performing quality-critical and laboratory activities