Mgr, Proc Improvement

Smurfit Westrock plc; Texas; Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock plc in Texas is seeking an experienced Area Quality Manager to drive compliance, customer focus and continuous improvement across sites. You will lead quality systems, SOPs and CAPA processes to uphold top quality for customers and to support accreditation audits.

You will champion a total quality culture, oversee supplier and site audits, and deliver GMP training while guiding teams through change and continuous improvement initiatives to protect product integrity and brand

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in quality or a business-related discipline preferred.
• 5+ years’ experience at a senior or management level Quality Role is required.
• Experience in corrugate, folding carton, or paper industry is required.
• Working and audit knowledge of relevant accredited standards.
• Knowledge of GMP is expected.
• Project management and problem-solving skills (e.g., Six Sigma) are desirable.
• Root cause analysis and problem-solving techniques are important.
• Customer relations and information handling, analysis, and presentation skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Ensure supply of the highest quality product for the customer.
• Maintain and improve quality systems and adherence to standards.
• Lead improvement projects to meet customer requirements and accreditation audits.
• Draft and implement changes to quality systems and SOPs.
• Manage the customer complaint procedure and CAPA investigations.
• Lead site audits and customer communications.
• Promote a total quality culture and continuous improvement.
• Develop an Integrated Quality Management System including QMS, environment, health and safety.
• Support new equipment validation and safety expectations.
• Deliver GMP training and related quality initiatives.

Skills

Quality leadership

Project management

Root cause analysis

Six Sigma

Customer relations

Problem solving

Continuous improvement

Supervisory experience

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree in quality or business

Job description

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

The Opportunity:

The Area Quality Manager will focus on compliance, customers, and continuous improvement activities to create a total quality culture and reduce quality costs in line with best practice procedures.

How you will impact WestRock:

• Ensuring supply of the highest quality product for the customer.
• Working with production and support functions to maintain and improve our quality systems and adherence to operational best practice thus guaranteeing compliance to external and internal standards.
• Drive improvement activities to support quality and financial performance leading key improvement projects evolving through customer requirements, legislative changes, and amendments to accredited standards to ensure compliance with standards and pending accreditation audits.
• Draft, review, and implement changes to our current quality systems, standard operating procedures, and policies to satisfy customer and third‑party requirements. whilst ensuring conformance to the relevant accreditation standards for the sites and customers.
• 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.
• Facilitation of customer facing activities and communications including customer visits, responses, and preparation of information whilst leading sites 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.
• Develop an Integrated Quality Management System including quality, environment, health, and safety.
• 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 sites 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 sites.
• Produce data and present reports for sites, customers and corporate as required.
• Identify improvement projects and continuous improvement initiatives in line with sites 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.

What you need to succeed:

• High School Diploma or GED - Required
• Bachelor’s degree in quality or a Business-related discipline - Preferred
• 5+ years’ experience at a senior or management level Quality Role – Required.
• Industry experience in corrugate, folding carton, or paper- required.
• Working and audit knowledge relevant accredited standards
• 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)
• Project management and problem-solving skills such as 6 Sigma, or another recognised Business Improvement Technique
• Root cause analysis and problem-solving techniques
• Customer relations skills
• Skilled in information handling, analysis, and presentation

What we offer:

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
• Benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k with match, tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, employee referral bonus, and much more!
• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.