Quality Manager

Synthomer; Ketchikan (AK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Synthomer seeks a Quality Manager to oversee the QMS portfolio, respond to customer complaints, and drive continuous improvement of process and product capability at the Jefferson Hills site.

The role manages quality personnel, ensures ISO 9001:2015 certification, and coordinates with technology and global quality networks. It requires strong leadership, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering or science field.
• 5+ years of chemical plant manufacturing experience.
• Experience with ISO 9001 quality systems.
• Strong root-cause analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication across functions and levels.

Responsibilities

• Participate as a Plant Leadership Team member, guiding the quality management system.
• Routine intermediate and finished product testing.
• Lead analytical and shift labs (Union and non-Union).
• Develop systems, people, and teamwork to improve quality; support ISO 9001:2015 certification.
• Lead annual internal audits and liaise with corporate/external auditors.
• Ensure Quality Management System is effective and efficient.
• Drive quality improvements to achieve total customer satisfaction.
• Investigate quality issues, including customer complaints, with the Tech team.
• Collaborate with technology for product/process improvements; act as quality contact.
• Provide resources and training to develop quality competencies.

Skills

Problem solving

Cross functional collaboration

Communication

Planning & organization

Active listening

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering / Engineering / Chemistry / Polymer Science

Job description

The Quality Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of the Quality Management System (QMS) Portfolio. The Quality Manager is the primary point of contact on all quality process improvement efforts, responds to and investigates customers complaints, and is the main contact for communications to customers on issues related to product quality. The Quality Manager is responsible for the continuous improvement of process and product capability.

The individual will directly manage quality personnel in Jefferson Hills. They will be fully accountable for ensuring the Quality Management System is functioning efficiently and aligning with the Global QMS / Continual Improvement processes with an ultimate goal of total customer satisfaction.

The Quality Manager will need to effectively utilize the expertise of their team and hold them accountable to supporting quality improvement efforts in the plants. They must be agile and be able to quickly work with their teams to identify and resolve issues as well as identify opportunities and take action to continuously improve results.

This role will regularly partner with the technology team and will frequently interface with the global quality business and commercial teams. They must be able to proactively and effectively communicate to all levels of the organization as well as customers.

WHAT YOU’LL OWN IN THIS ROLE:

• Actively participate as a member of the Plant Leadership Team providing strategic insight and guidance on the quality management system and improvement efforts in the plant
• Routine intermediate and finished product testing
• Lead the analytical and shift labs at the site (Union and non-Union personnel)
• Develop the systems, people, and teamwork within the quality organization that are needed to continuously improve the quality management system. Support ISO 9001:2015 certification and compliance.
• Lead annual internal audits and liaise with corporate and external auditors.
• Fully accountable for making sure the Quality Management System is functioning in an effective and efficient manner
• Drive improvement in the quality areas with the goal of achieving total customer satisfaction
• Lead the investigation process to resolve quality issues including customer complaints in collaboration with Technical team.
• Effectively collaborate and partner with the technology team to deliver critical products and process improvements
• Act as the main point of contact both internally and externally for quality issues/opportunities
• Act as the primary expert on quality and pro-actively provide resources to solve and correct problems using problem solving techniques and continuous improvement tools.
• Develop critical competencies in team members through training, performance evaluations, and timely information and formal feedback sessions.
• Participate in and support the global technical networks for quality and their strategic goals and objectives.
• Support other sites within the region on quality support
• Implement systems and tools to improve process capability and reduce product variability

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Chemistry or Polymer Science, or related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in chemical plant manufacturing experience, monomer/reactive chemistry (preferred)
• Chemical plant manufacturing experience
• Reactive monomer chemistry experience
• Excellent problem-solving skills (Root cause analysis)
• Excellent cross functional collaboration
• Previous experience managing ISO 9001 certified quality system
• Ability to get results when there is no clear path or solution
• Ability to strategize and determine where to focus when there are many competing issues/opportunities
• Ability to change focus as needed and manage multiple projects at the same time
• Strong planning and organization skills
• Active listener with strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in product development process environments with different functions (R&D, commercial, plant, production, safety)
• Excellent communication skills to all functions at all levels
• Ability to communicate and present both internally and externally to a diverse audience

QUALIFICATIONS THAT WILL SET YOU APART:

• Experience with RCMS, cGMP and FDA
• Certified Internal Auditor (Exemplar Global or ASQ Preferred)
• RCA trained
• ASQ CMQ/OE Certified