Manager, Plant Quality Assurance

About the Role

Manages the plant quality assurance function, ensuring a safe and secure work environment while overseeing the development, implementation, review, and maintenance of the food safety system. This role directs quality assurance activities, establishes standards, and maintains customer relations related to quality matters.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe and secure work environment by correcting unsafe acts/conditions, facilitating monthly safety meetings, performing safety inspections, and investigating accidents.
• Oversee the food safety system, including training and certification, and ensure trained backups for key food safety roles.
• Direct and coordinate quality assurance activities in the plant and interface with the group office.
• Establish and maintain quality assurance standard procedures, methods, facilities, and equipment to meet customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain a customer relations program for plant quality matters.
• Implement quality training and development programs to maintain departmental competence and technical skills.
• Analyze quality areas, including goals, problems, defective materials, and customer issues, and advise plant management.
• Oversee the application and administration of the Infinity system within the plant, if applicable.
• Work with material suppliers on quality issues and cost reductions.
• Administer customer and vendor claim reimbursement systems.
• Conduct leaker awareness training at the customer level.
• Access, input, and retrieve information from computer systems.
• Initiate, review, master, and follow all standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the area of responsibility.
• Foster an employee relations climate of trust and confidence to promote plant and company goals.
• Maintain effective work relationships within the department, division, group, and company.
• Work weekends and overtime as required by management.
• Comply with hazardous waste management and environmental requirements through scheduled training.
• Respond effectively to emergency directions and implement contingency plans as required.
• Adhere to job safety practices, policies, and procedures.
• Minimize waste generation through proper material use, disposal, and segregation.
• Comply with environmental regulations when handling hazardous and non-hazardous materials.
• Prepare, coordinate, and conduct internal and external audits, ensuring timely closure of action items.
• Coordinate customer, corporate, and cross-departmental trials at the plant.
• Perform internal mock recalls to ensure readiness and compliance.
• Lead quality investigations, conduct root cause analysis, and implement preventive and corrective actions.
• Oversee the Hold for Inspection (HFI) and embargo processes, developing action plans to reduce occurrences.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Broad training in a related field, typically acquired through college or work-related experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum of 4 years of job-related experience.
• Certifications/experience with GMPs, SQF, ISO, FSSC, and/or HACCP (preferred).
• Cross-functional experience within a manufacturing environment (e.g., production, engineering) (preferred).

Skills

• Ability to apply intensive and diversified evaluation, selection, and adaptation of standard plant quality assurance techniques and procedures.
• Handle sensitive and proprietary information confidentially.
• Negotiate with customers to promote or sell ideas or concepts.
• Operate and functionally use a computer.
• Maintain professional competence, ethical integrity, knowledge, and skills.
• Working knowledge of company policies, quality assurance principles, managerial practices, business principles, and customer expectations.
• Adhere to company policies, procedures, and standards of conduct.

Work Environment

• Works in both office and manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to occupational hazards, including high noise levels, physical obstacles, and exposure to chemicals.
• Must wear appropriate safety gear (e.g., safety glasses, hearing protection, protective clothing, and footwear) in designated areas.
• Regular working cycle is typically 5 days (Monday-Friday), but may include weekends and overtime as directed by management.

Pay

Expected hiring salary range: $98,900 - $141,330. Salary determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and market alignment. Eligible for annual incentive compensation plan.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits structure. Visit the "Total Rewards" page to learn more about Ball’s benefits.

Schedule

• Regular schedule: 5 days on (Monday-Friday), with potential for weekends and overtime as required.
• Onsite role based in Saratoga Springs, NY, requiring regular in-person engagement.
• Relocation assistance may be available.
• Travel and local commute between Ball locations and other non-Ball locations may be required.