Quality Manager

INTRODUCTION

The role focuses on compliance, customers, and continuous improvement activities to create a total quality culture and reduce quality costs in line with best practice procedures.

Key Responsibilities - Quality

• Support the Regional Manager and site Leadership team in quality governance
• Lead and support meetings as required and provide information and analysis as required to support the business in understanding KPI’s and decision making
• Review the quality system as appropriate to ensure full compliance with customer and company best practice guidelines and maximize effectiveness of production contributing to consistent operational performance and standards whilst ensuring conformance to the relevant accreditation standards for the site and customers
• Provide authoritative guidance and advice on all aspects of quality to the site management team and employees; train and coach employees with knowledge and skills in quality improvement
• Recruit, develop, motivate, and manage a Quality team (QA/QC) that optimizes quality operations and is flexible in the support it offers the business, meeting current and future needs
• Establish and develop professional working relationships with customers, providing a technical service and reference point as required to support the company’s products and reputation as a quality supplier
• Manage the customer complaint procedure, facilitate the investigation of quality problems, faults, and non-conformances with production teams; manage corrective and preventative problems to ensure quality standards are maintained. Initiate and control robust investigations to provide corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and support the complaints handling process and participate in implementing improvement actions to prevent re-occurring issues.
• The facilitation of customer facing activities and communications including customer visits, responses, and preparation of information whilst leading site audit activities (external body, internal and customer)
• Lead quality initiatives and focus groups to support knowledge and understanding of all operatives and grow awareness of quality issues to improve quality
• Promote a total quality philosophy at all levels developing a culture of right first time and continuous improvement
• Integrate Quality Management System including quality, environment and health and safety

Key Responsibilities – Business Improvement

• Lead improvements to enhance quality system and ensure optimum process in place to meet customer specifications whilst maximizing production
• Review amendments to standards and ensure compliance with accreditation bodies
• Support introduction of new equipment on site and validation processes to meet safety and customer expectations
• Take on other projects and responsibilities as required.
• Contribute ideas and participate in ongoing business improvement initiatives to reduce overall operating costs, improve margin, and provide input into the strategy and operations of the site

Key Responsibilities – Other

• Produce data and present reports for site, customers and corporate as required
• Identify improvement projects and continuous improvement initiatives in line with site and corporate requirements to improve quality and safety and work with colleagues to implement these
• Support senior leadership team in introducing systems and procedures to enhance operating effectiveness and efficiencies
• Deliver GMP, Quality and FSC training to all employees as required
• Take on other projects and responsibilities as required

Knowledge, Skills, Experience

• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in a Quality role at a senior or management level
• Working and audit knowledge relevant accredited standards
• Experience in a manufacturing/production environment ideally with experience and knowledge of Industry standards and guidelines
• Demonstrable experience of leading change and implementing continuous improvement processes.
• Supervisory experience
• Demonstrable experience of validating new equipment and processes
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Root cause analysis and problem-solving techniques
• Customer relations skills
• Skilled in information handling, analysis, and presentation
• Competency in use of Microsoft Office packages

Behaviors

• Analytical thinking
• Self-Control
• Tenacity
• Rational Persuasion
• Efficiency Focused
• Concern for standards and Results focused
• Communication/briefing skills
• Negotiation/consultation skills
• Commercial awareness

People Management

• Leadership & Vision – Ability to inspire a team with a clear vision and purpose
• Coaching & Developing people – The ability to teach operational skills to others and mentor/coach accordingly
• Managing performance – Ability to monitor and evaluate performance and take appropriate action.

Personal Competencies

• Communication – Ability to convey ideas and decisions to internal and external customers
• Determination – Ability to overcome obstacles
• Influence/Persuasiveness – Ability to influence and inspire others to act

Managing the Business

• Organisation – The ability to judge situations accurately and make sound operational decisions to deliver results on time
• Continuous Improvement – The ability to continually monitor and review current working practices and make the best use of resources to improve organisational results

Other Requirements

Flexible and adaptable to change and prepared to take on additional responsibilities with other duties as required to meet business needs. Successfully adapts to changing demands and conditions. Be able to be self-motivated, standards-driven, with a keen eye for detail, whilst being team-focused and harnessing the collaboration and co-operation of others.

SAFETY

• Helps develop safety rules, procedures, and proactive measures to ensure a safe working environment
• Proactively identifies and removes hazards
• Reports all near misses, incidents, first aid rendered, or unsafe working conditions to the Plant Manager and Safety Manager immediately without
• Responsible for the safety and well-being of self and employees

SAFE WORK REQUIREMENTS:

• PPE: Safety Glasses, Ear Plugs or Earmuffs, Safety Shoes, Gloves when required, Hard Hats, and any other PPE required based on the job or task.
• Compliance with Smurfit Westrock employment policies, handbook, and workplace safety policies, rules, and procedures.
• Submission of Safety Concerns and Safety Work Order / Incident Reporting and Learning / Basic understanding of the Safety Excellence System
• Follow the site management (General Manager, Plant Manager, Department Manager, Shift Supervisor) assignments for completing tasks and managing programs as part of the Safety Excellence System.
• Must follow the Training Matrix assigned in the Learning and Development System. Training could be assigned annually, Quarterly, or at the time of a new process/procedure.
• Must have a clear understanding of the STOP Work Process – Employees have the right to STOP the work at any time to gain a better understanding of the process or to ensure safety standards are met.