Sr Product Quality Manager

Clearwater Paper Corporation; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Paid time off

Incentive plan

Job summary

Clearwater Paper is seeking a senior quality leader to oversee the mill quality function, drive internal quality culture, and ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and food safety standards. You will lead audits, manage customer quality issues, and partner with operations and engineering to reduce defects and waste.

The role requires 7+ years in quality within the pulp and paper industry, 4+ years of supervisory experience, and strong familiarity with TAPPI/ISO testing methods and regulatory

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive quality experience in pulp and paper

Responsibilities

• Lead the mill quality function with priorities and quality objectives
• Drive built-in quality through SPC, risk management, and continuous improvement
• Serve as SME for SBS product quality, customer requirements, and quality risks
• Develop and maintain Quality and Food Safety Management Systems aligned with ISO 9001, FSC, PEFC, FSSC 22000
• Ensure compliance with FDA, BfR, EU and other regulatory requirements
• Maintain document control, product specs, procedures, records, and audit readiness
• Lead internal and external quality and certification audits and resolve findings
• Monitor critical product attributes and use SPC to reduce variability
• Manage customer quality concerns from intake to root cause analysis and corrective action
• Support new product development and change management through quality validation
• Participate in Management of Change processes for materials and equipment

Skills

Leadership

Quality systems

SPC

ISO 9001

FDA compliance

Risk management

Continuous improvement

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science

Tools

TAPPI/ISO testing methods

Job description

Clearwater Paper is a premier independent supplier of high-quality paperboard packaging products. Headquartered in Spokane, Washington, the company specializes in producing sustainable paperboard solutions used primarily for consumer goods, folding cartons, liquid packaging, and food service applications like cups and plates.

Leadership

• Lead the mill quality function by establishing priorities, performance objectives, and quality expectations aligned with business goals
• Drive a culture of built-in quality through proactive process control, risk management, and continuous improvement
• Serve as the subject matter expert for SBS product quality, customer requirements, and quality-related risks
• Develop, implement, and maintain Quality and Food Safety Management Systems aligned with ISO 9001, FSC®, PEFC™, FSSC 22000, and applicable regulatory requirements
• Ensure compliance with product standards and regulations, including FDA, BfR, EU, and other domestic and international requirements
• Maintain effective document control, product specifications, procedures, records management, and audit readiness
• Lead internal and external quality and certification audits, ensuring timely resolution of findings

Process Control & Product Quality

• Monitor critical product attributes including basis weight, caliper, moisture, formation, surface properties, print performance, sheeting, and roll quality
• Drive effective use of statistical process control (SPC), control charts, and trend analysis to identify improvement opportunities and reduce variability
• Partner with Operations and Engineering to reduce defects, waste, off-grade production, and process variation.

Customer Quality, Product Development & Change Management

• Manage customer quality concerns from intake through root cause analysis, corrective action, and resolution
• Partner with Sales, Customer Service, and Technical Service teams to address customer requirements and quality issues
• Lead structured problem-solving investigations using tools such as 5-Why, Fishbone, and DMAIC
• Track customer satisfaction metrics, claims, and cost of poor quality
• Support new product development, grade development, and customer trials by validating product quality, specifications, and performance requirements
• Participate in Management of Change (MOC) processes for raw materials, chemicals, equipment, and process modifications

Laboratory & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure laboratory testing accuracy and reliability in accordance with TAPPI, ISO, and customer-specific methods
• Oversee calibration programs, sample handling, test reproducibility, and data integrity requirements
• Improve laboratory efficiency, safety, and technical capability
• Lead quality improvement initiatives using data-driven analysis to reduce claims, rework, waste, downtime, and quality-related costs

Other duties as assigned

Education and Work Experience

• 7+ years of progressive quality experience within the pulp and paper industry
• 4+ years of supervisory experience, including performance management, coaching and employee development
• Strong knowledge of paper and paperboard testing methods, including TAPPI/ISO, statistical process control, data analysis, and quality management systems such as ISO, GMP, and SQF
• Working knowledge of fiber certification, food-contact packaging requirements, and translating customer specifications into operational quality controls

Physical Requirements

• Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in manufacturing and operational areas, including eye and hearing protection, hard hat, and steel-toed footwear
• Work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, dust, odors, temperature variations, and industrial conditions
• Frequent bending, reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling as required by the role
• Extended periods of standing, walking, and working on concrete or uneven surfaces
• Climbing stairs, ladders, platforms, or elevated work areas as required by the role

Total Rewards Details

We prioritize an exceptional workplace experience, offering a comprehensive total reward package. This position is eligible for our Incentive Plan. Compensation ranges are estimates based on market data. Actual offers account for internal equity and candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, education, experience, and geographic location.

• Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and more, generally begin after 30 days.
• Our paid time off will include vacation days, personal days, and company holidays.

For more on our compensation philosophy,

Clearwater Paper will not offer sponsorship for employment-based visa status (including, but not limited to, H-1B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require Clearwater Paper's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

This role will be open for a minimum of 2 weeks