Senior Manager, SEMA Quality

Avient•McHenry, IL

About The Position

The Senior Manager, SEMA Quality provides strategic leadership, governance, and continuous improvement of the company’s Quality Management Systems across North America operations. The role ensures sustained compliance with applicable international quality standards while embedding Lean Six Sigma and Operational Excellence principles into quality systems execution to deliver measurable business results. The position serves as a senior liaison among site Quality organizations, Corporate Quality, customers, Commercial, and Operational Excellence leadership. It drives standardization, capability development, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement across the enterprise. The role has multi-plant and regional scope across North America and responsibility for enterprise Quality Management Systems. The Senior Manager owns and governs the North America Quality Management System, including policies, procedures, documentation, and process architecture. The role maintains Quality Agreements, Specifications, PPAP/PSW and Change Notification agreements for EM North America locations, along with third-party quality certifications and accreditations such as ISO 9001, ISO 13485, NSF, and UL. It also develops and maintains plant-level calibration and audit plans, represents senior management in external audits and customer assessments, and ensures sustainable corrective action for findings and systemic nonconformances. The role leads enterprise-wide Quality Systems and cross-functional improvement initiatives, partnering with Operational Excellence and Manufacturing leaders to prioritize opportunities and translate business needs into improvement charters. It drives KPI development and management review, oversees statistical evaluations of incoming raw materials and outgoing products, and provides executive-level reporting on Quality Systems health, risks, and improvement progress. The position represents North America in Corporate Quality, Quality Council, and Operational Excellence governance forums; supports the sharing of best practices; and collaborates with Engineering, Supply Chain/Manufacturing, Commercial, and EHS leaders. It also maintains toll vendor quality activities, including applicable audits, certification, agreements, and production COA management. The role leads, develops, and mentors Quality Systems leaders and professionals and supports engagement, accountability, succession planning, and capability development. Additional duties and projects may be assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Engineering, Quality, or a related technical discipline preferred.
10 or more years of progressive experience in Manufacturing Quality and/or Operational Excellence.
At least 7 years in Quality Systems or enterprise quality leadership roles.
Demonstrated experience with ISO-based Quality Management Systems.
Experience applying Lean Six Sigma methodologies in operational and quality environments.
Proven success leading cross-functional, enterprise-scale improvement initiatives.
Experience developing and coaching leaders and indirect teams.
Knowledge of Quality Management Systems, including ISO 9001; IATF 16949 and ISO 13485 are preferred.
Knowledge of risk-based thinking and change management.
Experience with audit leadership and corrective action systems.
Strategic thinking, analytical and statistical skills, influence and coaching without authority, training and mentoring capability, time and priority management, and executive-level communication.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Experience with SAP or an equivalent ERP and Quality Management Systems tools.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Engineering, Quality, or a related technical discipline preferred.
IATF 16949 and ISO 13485 knowledge preferred.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Own and govern the North America Quality Management System, including policies, procedures, documentation, and process architecture.
Ensure quality system effectiveness, consistency, and alignment with corporate standards and business strategy; serve as a senior subject-matter expert and escalation point for compliance and performance issues.
Maintain Quality Agreements, Specifications, PPAP/PSW and Change Notification agreements for EM North America locations.
Maintain third-party quality certifications and accreditations, including ISO 9001, ISO 13485, NSF, and UL.
Develop and maintain plant-level internal calibration and audit plans and conduct internal audits.
Represent senior management in external audits, certification-body audits, and customer assessments or surveys.
Ensure timely and sustainable corrective actions for audit findings and systemic nonconformances.
Lead enterprise-wide Quality Systems to promote rigor, consistency, and measurable outcomes.
Partner with Operational Excellence and Manufacturing leaders to prioritize improvement opportunities and translate business needs into improvement charters.
Drive KPI development, tracking, trending, and management review to support data-driven decisions.
Lead and sponsor complex cross-functional improvement initiatives with significant quality, cost, and risk impact.
Manage statistical evaluations of incoming raw materials and outgoing products in accordance with established procedures.
Represent North America in Corporate Quality, Quality Council, and Operational Excellence governance forums.
Facilitate communication and adoption of best practices across plants, business units, and regions.
Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain/Manufacturing, Commercial, and EHS leaders to ensure quality systems support business execution and customer satisfaction.
Support development, deployment, and sustainment of quality aligned with enterprise priorities.
Maintain toll vendor activities, including applicable toll vendor audits, certification, Quality Agreements, and production COA management.
Lead, develop, and mentor Quality Systems leaders and professionals; drive engagement, accountability, and succession planning.
Assess organizational capability gaps and support targeted development actions.
Support enterprise risk management, change management, and major transformation initiatives.
Provide executive-level reporting on Quality Systems health, risks, and improvement progress.
Perform additional duties and projects as assigned.