Sr. Quality and CI Manager

All jobs at Southern Champion Tray (SCT) require Team members to act in accordance with the shared Core Values & Operating principles of the company as they perform specific job functions. These include:

• Trustworthy – We strive for our actions to match our words in all our relationships.
• Servant – Hearted – We enable and empower our team to serve the needs of customers, Team members, suppliers and the community.
• Relational – We aim to build healthy relationships while fostering and environment that promotes compassion, balance, and personal and professional growth.
• Resourceful – We value strategic insourcing, first looking to create solutions internally, and then looking to apply that knowledge to future opportunities.

SUMMARY

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.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Quality

• 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

Food Safety Compliance

• 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

Continuous Improvement

• 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

AUTHORITY

Must have the ability to lead people to execute the demands of production departments efficiently and to respond to oral instructions from his/her supervisor and other written instructions.

DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS

• Demonstrates readiness to lead quality and continuous improvement strategy across multiple manufacturing locations with increasing scope, complexity, and accountability
• Builds and sustains a standardized divisional Quality Management System, with evidence of consistent processes, clear governance, improved audit readiness, and effective corrective and preventive actions
• Successfully leads selection, implementation, adoption, and long-term administration of an enterprise Quality Management System software platform
• Develops and executes a multi-year Quality Roadmap that shifts the division from reactive issue resolution toward preventive, risk-based quality management
• Uses divisional quality metrics and trend analysis to improve customer complaints, internal defects, cost of poor quality, first-pass yield, audit performance, and corrective action effectiveness
• Leads Lean Six Sigma and cross-functional improvement initiatives that deliver documented, sustained gains in quality, process capability, productivity, customer satisfaction, and cost savings
• Maintains strong food safety and regulatory performance across all facilities, including timely closure of audit findings and sustained best-in-class certification results
• Develops quality leaders and internal champions through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, standardized expectations, and documented growth in team capability
• Influences plant, operations, engineering, sales, customer service, and executive leaders to align resources, adopt common standards, and resolve systemic quality risks
• Communicates divisional quality performance, risks, priorities, and recommendations through clear dashboards, executive updates, and timely escalation of significant issues
• Creates a visible culture of accountability, prevention, customer focus, and continuous improvement, demonstrated by sustained adherence to standards and active engagement at all organizational levels

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• 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[DF1] 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

• 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%

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• 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

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to read and understand complex documents, letters, etc. and write legibly in English. 
• Ability to understand and speak clearly, and communicate in English

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide both fractions and decimals, solve equations, read measurements 
• Ability to use formulas to calculate and analyze data

REASONING ABILITY

• 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

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team member successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, but the essential functions cannot be eliminated or performed by others. 

While performing the duties of this job, 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. 

While performing the duties of this job, 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.

Ability to occasionally travel by land and/or air for extended periods of time. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and cannot be eliminated or performed by others.

While performing the duties of this job, regularly exposed to a climate-controlled office environment and a shop manufacturing environment. 

Office environment exposures include frequent telephone and computer use. The noise level in the office is usually moderate consistent with an office environment. 

Shop manufacturing environment exposures include exposure to moving mechanical parts, machinery, tools and equipment, heights, vibration, fumes or airborne particles, motorized vehicles, machining operations, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the shop is usually loud consistent with an industrial manufacturing facility and may require hearing protection in certain areas.

Occasionally exposed to travel hazards associated with automobile and/or airplane travel.