Corporate Quality Manager, QSR

Corporate Quality Manager

Corporate Quality Manager – responsible for quality assurance, food safety, and compliance across multiple facilities, driving process improvements and supporting regulatory requirements.

• Report to the Director of Quality with a dotted line to OU operations leaders.
• Interact with Corporate teams, Customers, Sales, Customer Service, Product Development, and all aspects of Operations.
• Lead plant quality teams by facilitating alignment across the OU through standard work routines such as routine calls and visits.
• Drive RCCA methodologies and training with the plants and support customers and operations in leading RCCA for customer issues; develop and implement sustainable corrective action plans.
• Analyze and trend data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and/or improve the OU’s quality strategy and objectives with Operations leaders; recommend and develop procedures and processes that optimize consistency across all aspects of manufacturing.
• Lead and support improvement efforts in all areas to meet performance targets.
• Assist in developing and implementing quality programs to ensure finished goods meet all quality, customer, and food safety requirements.
• Become subject‑matter expert in customer requirements for the OU and promote awareness and adherence throughout the organization; assist plants in investigating and resolving customer quality issues and internal/external product failures.
• Provide technical support and expertise in statistical methods, problem‑solving techniques, and process improvements; investigate application of engineering solutions where possible.
• Manage data‑gathering software, including procurement, installation, programming, and end‑user training.
• Support scrap and cost‑reduction projects and champion plant improvement efforts for COPQ.
• Prepare and distribute internal and external reports on a weekly, monthly, or as‑needed basis.
• Manage customer communications for the OU as appropriate.
• Lead or support in customer meetings (visits, audits, quality reviews).
• Support company compliances and certifications through gap assessments, internal audits, training, and program management; participate in third‑party audits such as forestry, food safety GFSI, Kosher, FDA.
• Conduct internal audits as scheduled and needed.
• Participate in or support third‑party audits, providing support to all plants related to annual audits.
• Serve as interim quality manager and support the candidate search process as required.
• Lead and support onboarding of new quality and food safety resources.
• Identify and drive training opportunities across the organization and OU, including HACCP, food safety, internal auditing, and quality topics.
• Follow company policies and practices while representing Novolex in an ethical and business‑like manner.
• Travel within the United States and Canada; travel may be up to 80% of the time.

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field preferred.
• 5+ years’ experience in a quality management role in a manufacturing environment, preferably in the plastics, paper, or packaging industry.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Self‑starter who works independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work as part of a team and lead a team by influence.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects under tight timelines with a sense of urgency.
• Detail oriented, analytical thinker who consistently demonstrates accuracy, thoroughness, and dependability.
• Analysis, critical thinking, good judgment, and strong problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to operate under deadlines while meeting standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with individuals at all levels of the company and enjoy a fast‑paced environment.
• Establishes and maintains effective channels of communication with internal and external contacts.
• Practical experience with risk management, product testing, capability studies, and control plans.
• Strong leadership experience with compliance program requirements such as food safety, SQF, BRCGS, HACCP, forestry, and sustainability…