Quality Manager

WestRock Company; Belfast; On-site; GBP 45,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in sustainable packaging solutions is seeking a Quality Manager in Belfast to oversee compliance and drive continuous improvement efforts. This position requires a minimum of 5 years' experience in quality management and a strong background in manufacturing processes. You will manage a team to enhance quality systems, optimize operations, and ensure product excellence. The role includes a focus on quality improvement activities and involvement in customer interactions to uphold company standards.

Qualifications

• Experience in a manufacturing/production environment is ideal.
• Documentable experience leading change and implementing improvement processes.
• Supervisory experience is required.

Responsibilities

• Ensure supply of the highest quality product.
• Manage corrective and preventative problems to ensure quality standards.
• Lead quality initiatives to promote continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Customer relations skills

Project management

Problem-solving techniques

Root cause analysis

Education

Minimum 5 years’ experience in a Quality role

Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

Job description

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions. We are materials scientists, packaging designers, mechanical engineers and manufacturing experts with a shared purpose: Innovate Boldly. Package Sustainably. Guided by our values of integrity, respect, accountability and excellence, we use leading science and technology to move fiber-based packaging forward.

Job Purpose

The role focuses on compliance, customers, and continuous improvement activities to create a total quality culture and reduce quality costs in line with best practice procedures.

• To protect and please the customer by ensuring supply of the highest quality product
• 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
• To 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

Job Responsibilities/Key accountabilities:

Key Responsibilities - Quality

• Support the Cluster Manager and site Leadership team in quality governance
• Lead and support meetings as required and provide information and analysis as required to support the business in understanding KPI’s and decision making
• Review the quality system as appropriate to ensure full compliance with customer and company best practice guidelines and maximize effectiveness of production contributing to consistent operational performance and standards whilst ensuring conformance to the relevant accreditation standards for the site and customers
• Provide authoritative guidance and advice on all aspects of quality to the site management team and employees; train and coach employees improving knowledge and skills in quality improvement
• Recruit, develop, motivate, and manage a Quality team (QA/QC) that optimises quality operations and is flexible in the support it offers the business, meeting current and future needs
• Establish and develop professional working relationships with customers, providing a technical service and reference point as required to support the company’s products and reputation as a quality supplier
• 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.
• The facilitation of customer facing activities and communications including customer visits, responses, and preparation of information whilst leading site 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 and health and safety

Key Responsibilities – Business Improvement

• Lead improvements to enhance quality system and ensure optimum process in place to meet customer specifications whilst maximising production
• Review amendments to standards and ensure compliance with accreditation bodies
• Support introduction of new equipment on site 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 site

Key Responsibilities – Other

• Produce data and present reports for site, customers and corporate as required
• Identify improvement projects and continuous improvement initiatives in line with site 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

Knowledge, Skills, Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a Quality role at a senior or management level
• Working and audit knowledge relevant accredited standards
• Experience in a manufacturing/production environment ideally 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

People Management

• Leadership & Vision – Ability to inspire a team with a clear vision and purpose
• Coaching & Developing people – The ability to teach operational skills to others and mentor/coach accordingly
• Managing performance – Ability to monitor and evaluate performance and take appropriate action.
• Communication – Ability to convey ideas and decisions to internal and external customers
• Determination – Ability to overcome obstacles
• Influence/Persuasiveness – Ability to influence and inspire others to act

Managing the Business

• Organisation – The ability to judge situations accurately and make sound operational decisions to deliver results on time
• Continuous Improvement – The ability to continually monitor and review current working practices and make the best use of resources to improve organisational results

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.