Manager, Plant Quality Assurance

Primary Purpose

Manages the plant quality assurance function as directed.

Essential Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe and secure work environment, including correcting unsafe acts/conditions, facilitating monthly safety meetings, performing monthly safety inspections, and investigating accidents as required.
• Be trained and certified in the food safety system and oversee its development, implementation, review, and maintenance; provide trained backups in the case of absence of key food safety system employees.
• Direct and coordinate the activities of the quality assurance function in the plant and its interface with the group office.
• Establish and maintain quality assurance standard procedures, methods, facility, and equipment to meet customer requirements.
• Establish and maintain a customer relations program in plant matters relating to quality.
• Direct and implement quality training and development programs to maintain the competence and technical skills required for the effective performance of the plant quality assurance department.
• Establish and analyze quality areas, including quality goals, quality problems, defective materials, claims, and customer quality problems; advise plant management and the manufacturing department of the results of such analysis.
• 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.
• Perform leaker awareness training at the customer level.
• Access, input, and retrieve information from the computer.
• Initiate, review, master, and follow all standard operating procedures (SOPs) for area of responsibility.
• Establish and maintain an employee relations climate of trust and confidence with employees, their union steward, and representatives to promote achievement of plant and company goals.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships within the department, division, group, and company, including handling stress and interacting with others to maintain a positive and productive work environment and minimize personal conflicts.
• Work weekends (Saturday and Sunday) as needed; work hours may vary; work overtime on a regular basis and/or be on call as directed by management.
• Maintain awareness and comply with hazardous waste management and other environmental management requirements by attending scheduled training sessions.
• Communicate with the emergency coordinator (EC) or Environmental Focal Point/Environmental Manager (EFP/EM) regarding environmental management activities.
• Understand and respond effectively to EC directions during emergencies; be familiar with emergency procedures, equipment, and systems; implement contingency plan to the level required by the position.
• Understand, complete, and maintain environmental documentation as trained or directed by the EC, EFP, or EM (inspections, labeling, record keeping, equipment maintenance, etc.); report to the EC, EFP, or EM on assigned responsibilities.
• Comply with established job safety practices, policies, and procedures as specified in plant and corporate directives.
• Recognize waste streams and minimize waste generation through prudent use of materials, proper disposal, and segregation as directed; understand and practice proper accumulation and storage requirements for wastes.
• Comply with environmental regulations when using, dispensing, or handling hazardous and non-hazardous materials and wastes.

Qualifications

• Broad training in a related field usually acquired through college or work-related experience.
• Minimum 4 years of job-related experience.
• Certifications/experience with ISO, FSSC, and HACCP (preferred).
• Ability to apply intensive and diversified evaluation, selection, and substantial adaptation and modification of standard plant quality assurance techniques, procedures, and criteria.
• Must be able to handle sensitive and proprietary information in a confidential manner.
• Ability to negotiate with customers to promote or sell ideas or concepts.
• Ability to operate and functionally use a computer.
• Must maintain professional competence, ethical integrity, knowledge, and skills.
• Working knowledge of company policies, procedures, and products; quality assurance principles, practices, nomenclature, and procedures; generally accepted managerial practices and procedures; business principles, legal practices, customer needs and expectations.
• Must follow company policies, procedures, practices, and standards of conduct as outlined in the Ball Corporation manuals.

Work Environment

• Works in both office and manufacturing environments.
• Exposed to occupational hazards including high noise levels, physical obstacles, and exposure to chemicals.
• Must wear appropriate safety glasses, hearing protection, clothing, and footwear in appropriate areas and follow safety practices.

Pay & Schedule

• Expected hiring salary range: $98,900 - $141,330 (determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and market data).
• Eligible to participate in the annual incentive compensation plan.
• Regular in-person engagement by working on-site.
• Travel and local commute between Ball locations and other possible non-Ball locations may be required.
• Relocation assistance may be available.
• This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will remain open until filled or adjusted based on applicant volume.