Sr. Quality and CI Manager

SOUTHERN CHAMPION TRAY LLC•Chattanooga, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This role has significant organizational impact and is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving the Division Quality Management System (QMS), Quality Assurance, Food Safety, and Continuous Improvement strategy across two manufacturing locations and a distribution center. This role serves as the quality leader for the division, providing direct leadership to one site Quality team while providing functional (dotted-line) leadership, coaching, and standardization to Quality teams at two additional manufacturing sites. This position is responsible for building a best-in-class quality organization by establishing standardized quality systems, selecting and implementing an enterprise Quality Management System (eQMS) software platform, developing common quality metrics, and creating consistent processes that improve customer satisfaction, operational performance, and regulatory compliance across all facilities. The Divisional Quality Manager influences and drives a quality-focused culture that is enthusiastically engaged in customer satisfaction, operational excellence, audit readiness, and continuous improvement while maintaining best-in-class ratings for food safety and industry-specific certifications. As the divisional quality leader, this position develops strategic initiatives, quality standards, and best practices while upholding SCT's Mission, Vision, and Values. Actively collaborates with executive leadership, plant leadership, sales, operations, engineering, and key stakeholders to influence change, increase organizational capability, and align resources toward common quality objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing / Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field preferred
Minimum five (5) years of directly-related experience in a manufacturing, production or operations role; folding carton/paperboard packaging experience is strongly preferred
Demonstrated working knowledge and direct experience with GMP, food safety and quality certifications (BRC, SQF, AIB, etc.)
Six Sigma and/or other professional Lean Manufacturing training and/or certifications required; Black Belt certification a plus
Eighteen (18) years of age or older
Successful completion of pre-employment drug screen, physical and background check
Dependability
Valid driver's license
Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle
Willingness to travel as needed by air and land up to 10-20%
Good interpersonal and communication (both verbal and written) skills
Highly relational with ability to engage and influence others towards change within 24-hour production facility
Excellent presentation and training skills
Ability to work satisfactorily as a Team Member and communicate with all levels within the company
Excellent organizational skills
Detail oriented
Adept at problem solving and finding creative solutions
Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment on a customary and regular basis
Ability to set, adjust and change daily priorities
Ability to handle sudden changes in project/priority and multiple tasks simultaneously in a positive fashion
Ability to manage conflict and resolve issues in the most positive fashion for all parties concerned
Ability to read and understand complex documents, letters, etc. and write legibly in English.
Ability to understand and speak clearly, and communicate in English
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide both fractions and decimals, solve equations, read measurements
Ability to use formulas to calculate and analyze data
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
Regularly required to remain in a stationary position a minimum of 25% of the time, move and regularly operate a computer and other office equipment and properly employ objects, tools and/or controls.
Frequently required to communicate and exchange accurate information.
Regularly required to walk, stand, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with arms and hands and occasionally attain non-standard physical positions for varying amounts of time.
Specific vision abilities include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Must regularly transport up to twenty-five (25) pounds and occasionally transport up to seventy-five (75) pounds. Lifting devices must be used or help must be requested for anything over twenty-five (25) pounds.
Required to occasionally ascend/descend, balance and work at various heights.

Nice To Haves

Black Belt certification

Responsibilities

Owns development, implementation, governance, and continuous improvement of the Division Quality Management System across all manufacturing and warehouse locations
Builds standardized quality operating system that establishes common processes, procedures, metrics, documentation, and expectations across all facilities
Leads evaluation, selection, implementation, and long-term administration of an enterprise Quality Management System (eQMS) software platform
Develops multi-year Quality Roadmap that advances the division from reactive quality management to a robust preventive quality system
Provides direct leadership to the Compress Quality team while providing functional (dotted-line) leadership, coaching, and standardization to Centre South and the Amnicola DC.
Develops quality leaders throughout the division through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and standardized leadership expectations
Develops and deploys standardized internal specifications to meet or exceed customer requirements across all facilities
Establishes divisional quality standards, defect classifications, inspection methodologies, and acceptance criteria
Develops and maintains standardized procedures for document control, calibration, change management, corrective actions, preventive actions, and internal auditing
Conducts investigations into significant non-conformities and leads cross-functional Root Cause Analysis to eliminate recurrence
Reviews and analyzes quality performance trends to identify systemic opportunities and drive corrective and preventive actions throughout the division
Leads divisional Customer Complaint and Corrective Action processes while ensuring rapid communication and resolution with customers
Tracks, analyzes, and reports divisional quality Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) including customer complaints, internal defects, cost of poor quality, first-pass yield, audit performance, and corrective action effectiveness
Partners with Plant Managers, Operations Leaders, Engineering, Sales, and Customer Service to improve quality performance and customer satisfaction
Acts as primary liaison between manufacturing operations and commercial teams regarding quality performance, customer concerns, and continuous improvement initiatives
Develops and implements standardized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, inspection plans, and quality documentation across all facilities
Plans and organizes division-wide quality training programs that promote a customer-focused culture and develop internal quality champions
Facilitates supplier, subcontractor, certification body, and customer audits across all manufacturing locations
Serves as divisional subject matter expert for quality systems, regulatory requirements, and customer quality expectations
Collaborates closely with Corporate Shared Services and executive leadership to align quality initiatives and leverage organizational resources
Maintains standardized internal audit systems and ensures audit findings are effectively addressed throughout the division
Acts as owner of the divisional document control system and quality records
Develops standardized quality dashboards and communicates performance to executive leadership
Provides divisional leadership for compliance with Local, State, and Federal regulations related to Food Safety, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP, BRCGS certification, and other applicable regulatory requirements
Ensures consistent implementation of food safety programs across all manufacturing facilities
Establishes proactive systems that maintain clean, organized, and hygienic manufacturing environments that consistently produce safe, high-quality packaging
Develops and delivers standardized food safety training programs utilizing multiple learning methodologies while measuring effectiveness throughout the division
Maintains robust divisional internal audit programs and ensures compliance with all quality and food safety certification requirements
Leads certification audits and develops action plans that sustain best-in-class certification results
Monitors changes in regulatory requirements and industry best practices while ensuring timely implementation throughout the division
Partners with plant leadership and corporate resources to strengthen food safety culture and accountability at every level of the organization
Functions as divisional expert in Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, and Quality Improvement methodologies while serving as a change agent throughout the organization
Leads strategic Continuous Improvement initiatives focused on reducing variation, eliminating waste, improving process capability, and lowering Cost of Poor Quality
Utilizes project management principles and Lean methodologies to lead cross-functional projects across all manufacturing locations
Develops and deploys standardized problem-solving methodologies including A3, PDCA, DMAIC, and Root Cause Analysis
Coaches plant leadership and quality teams in statistical process control, mistake-proofing, process capability, and continuous improvement techniques
Works directly with operations teams to identify, prioritize, and execute continuous improvement opportunities
Develops systems to measure, communicate, and sustain operational improvements including productivity gains, quality improvements, customer satisfaction, and cost savings
Leads divisional 5S and Visual Management initiatives to improve workplace organization, process stability, and operational excellence
Establishes governance processes that ensure improvements are standardized, documented, and sustained across all manufacturing locations