Quality Manager

WestRock Company; Cerritos (CA); Hybrid; USD 83,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Short-term bonus

Health, dental and vision insurance

Flexible spending accounts / Health-s

Retirement savings plans

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off (vacation/holidays)

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to lead internal quality programs and respond to customer issues. You will coordinate the facility QMS, contact inter-plant teams, and ensure continuous production adherence to quality standards.

The role emphasizes data-driven decision making and a lean approach to quality systems. You will oversee testing, metrics, and root-cause analysis, manage CAR/RCCA activities, and mentor QA staff while partnering with operations to prevent errors

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; relevant experience considered.
• 3–5 years in corrugated packaging or similar manufacturing environment, with supervisory experience.
• Strong mechanical acumen and working knowledge of inspection methods and tools.
• Solid understanding of quality assurance, data analysis, and driving continuous improvement (Six Sigma helpful).
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with ability to lead cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate testing and measurement programs to validate capability and customer specifications.
• Develop, collect, and report performance metrics to senior management (defects, returns, scrap).
• Use CIS data to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead CAR and RCCA activities for systemic issues to improve products and processes.
• Plan and measure process performance and voice of customer for quality system effectiveness.
• Conduct internal quality audits of materials, in-process goods, and finished products.
• Train and develop quality control personnel to ensure consistent quality interpretation.
• Foster a positive quality culture and establish efficient QA systems and procedures.

Skills

Quality assurance

Process management

Data analysis

Six Sigma

Communication

Organizational skills

Leadership

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CIS (Customer Issues System)

Quality inspection tools

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.

Opportunity summary: As a Quality Assurance (QA) Manager, you are responsible for tracking, analyzing, and leading initiatives for all internal quality and customer complaint issues. In this role, you will be responsible for coordinating and executing the facility quality control program to ensure continuous production of products are consistent with established quality standards. You will serve as the central point of contact for inter-plant communication and plan development, assuring a cohesive lean management approach to meeting internal and external quality system requirements. Overall, you will ensure that processes needed for the Quality Management System (QMS) are established, implemented and maintained.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:

• Coordinate testing and measurement program to validate capability and customer specifications are being met
• Develop, collect, and report performance metrics to senior management, including defects, quality returns, and scrap data
• Utilize the Customer Issues System (CIS) for data collection and analysis to drive continuous improvement activities
• Lead and monitor CAR (Corrective Action Request) and Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) activities for systemic issues to ensure robust product and process improvements
• Plan, lead, and measure process and voice of customer performance and quality system effectiveness and make adjustments in strategy and/or procedures as needed
• Conduct internal quality audits to oversee inspections of raw materials, materials in process, and finished products
• Develop and facilitate a cohesive team environment which builds confidence and strong morale among inspection personnel and manufacturing support personnel
• Train and manage the activities of quality control personnel engaged in the inspection and testing of work-in-process and finished products to ensure continuous control of materials and products and consistency in the interpretation of quality requirements
• Manage, coach, and develop the quality team and promote a positive quality culture throughout the facility by establishing efficient systems and processes
• Partner with operating staff to establish procedures, standards, and systems and monitor an associated feedback loop that ensures error prevention

What you need to succeed:

• Bachelors Degree preferred, relevant experience considered
• 3 to 5 years of experience in corrugated box plant industry; 1 year of supervisor experience
• Demonstrated mechanical acumen
• Working knowledge of mechanical inspection methods and tools
• Solid understanding of and experience in quality assurance, delivery excellence, data analysis and development of business insights
• Demonstrated expertise in process management to ensure production efficiency
• Ability to respond quickly to changing demands, process, and updated information
• Demonstrated quality process understanding and continuous improvement such as Six Sigma certification
• Possess excellent communication skills and ability to interact across all levels of the organization and accomplish organizational goals
• Possess exceptional organizational and program management skills
• Ability to guide team with sound decision-making through rational, balanced judgment
• Establish a course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a specific planning goal

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.

The salary range for this position is $83,250.00 - $138,750.00, depending on your role, level, and location. The range listed is also the expected pay for roles in Illinois and Colorado. The benefits for this role include short-term bonus incentive, health, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and paid sick leave as required by applicable state/local law, 15 days of paid vacation, and 11 days of paid holidays, subject to annual change. Your pay will be based on factors such as your skills, experience, and education. To learn more about this posting, please contact your recruiter during the hiring process. You may apply online at Smurfit Westrock External Careers and the application window is expected to close by 30-Oct-2026.