Director of Quality

Company Overview
Come join a winning Team! Since 1970 Plastic Express has met the bulk trucking, bulk terminal, packaging, and warehousing needs of the plastics industry. Our strategic locations, modern systems, and dedicated employees allow us to provide custom tailored logistical solutions to fulfill the most challenging needs of our customers. Plastic Express operates from 22 full service facilities, more than 40 bulk terminals, and 52 railcar terminals offering more than 8,500 railcar spots across the country. We are located near 9 major ports in the U.S. and rely heavily on our rail infrastructure to handle imports /exports as well as regional distribution. At many of the Plastic Express sites, we also handle some non-plastic commodities, which include; paper rolls, steel, building materials and other dry bulk materials. Plastic Express owns and operates roughly 250 trucks, with approximately 250 trailers performing full bulk truck distribution business. Plastic Express is headquartered in Houston, TX and has over 600 employees nationwide. Our goal has always been to exceed our customer's expectations, and our can do-attitude is what differentiates us from the competition.
Plastic Express employees have always been our key to success and total customer satisfaction. We are always looking for dependable & talented business professionals that will help us to grow and to continue our “Can Do” tradition.
Job Summary:
The Director of Quality at Plastic Express plays a pivotal role in collaboration with the AVP of Quality to formulate, execute, and oversee the quality management system according to ISO 9001 standards, aimed at achieving operational excellence, elevating customer satisfaction, and supporting continuous improvement. This position spearheads endeavors to establish and uphold quality benchmarks, protocols, and performance indicators across the organization, encompassing core functions such as transportation, warehousing, and rail operations. The Director's responsibilities include assisting the AVP of Quality in prioritizing improvement opportunities, managing both internal and external audits, collecting and scrutinizing data, and instituting appropriate remedial measures to bolster efficiency, curtail expenses, and mitigate risks. This all necessitates continual engagement with management, stakeholders, and multifunctional teams to cultivate a culture of quality and professionalism within the enterprise. The Director of Quality must stay abreast of regulatory frameworks and industry developments to ensure compliance and adaptability within a dynamic commercial landscape.
  
Essential Functions/Duties: in coordination with AVP of Quality;

• Assist with developing, implementing, and expanding the following programs
  
  • ISO 9001-2015, including subsequent revisions
  • Weighmaster program, including Weighmaster Licensing for applicable sites per State regulations
  • Operation Clean Sweep-Blue (In coordination with AVP EHS)
  • CTPAT certification
  • EcoVadis assessment
• Develop and implement a Company Audit Team plan, to include recruiting, selecting, organizing, and training candidates, and providing leadership, goals, tasking, and oversight.
• Plan, prepare for, and facilitate annual ISO 9001 surveillance audits as assigned, addressing any remediation needs.
• Manage the Corrective Action and Preventative Action (CAPA) program for internal and customer complaints.
• Provide feedback and assistance to Managers on CAPA investigation techniques to include effective Root Cause analysis and Preventative Action implementation.
• Work as a liaison between customers and operations for quality-related topics including monetary claims.
• Manage and maintain the Plastic Express Quality Management System platform, EHS Insight.
• Manage and maintain the Plastic Express Quality Manual.
• Manage internal audit program for all Plastic Express facilities and functions.
• Assist Managers with customer audits to include pre-audit preparation and on-site participation as needed.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate quality-related risks and opportunities to safeguard product quality, customer satisfaction, and organizational reputation.
• Collaborate with AVP of Learning and Development on developing and maintaining a training program for Managers and employees based on audit results, CAPA results, and customer needs.
• Analyze quality-related data to identify trends, patterns, and improvement opportunities, utilizing statistical tools for informed decision-making.
• Coordinate quality system enhancements with upper management.
• Ensure employees adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices, quality policies, and ISO standards.
• Manage and ensure the completeness, currency, relevance, and accessibility of all controlled documents, including policies, procedures, work instructions, training aids, and other written guidance to be followed by all employees.
• Collect and present data for the annual Management Review Meeting with company executives, and execute strategic directives provided by them.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Specific Duties:

• Support the AVP of Quality in gathering relevant data for monthly quality reports and quarterly scorecards across all trucking and warehouse operations.
• Participate in monthly Quality meetings for bulk trucking and warehousing, and lead same in the absence of the AVP of Quality.
• Regularly compile comprehensive current and background information to support the AVP of Quality’s conduct of claims meetings, in order to facilitate senior leadership decisions.
• Oversee the tracking and sale of aftermarket and subprime material obtained from claims, negotiating optimal offers to minimize claim payouts, and cultivate relationships with existing and prospective customers/buyers.
• Generate and distribute a bi-weekly report detailing CAPAs, audits, and training activities for review by Bulk Trucking AVPs during their routine Terminal Manager meetings.
• Be prepared to handle Quality Department responsibilities in the AVP's absence.

 Qualifications:  
Required Education and Experience

• Must have or be actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years of previous Management/ Supervisory experience.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Advanced degree in an applicable field of study.

Physical Demands: These tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Office work, sitting, walking, standing, lifting up to 55 pounds.
• Being able to stand and walk for long periods, climbing stairs and ladders, while conducting several-hour audits in large facilities, both inside and outside.

Licenses/Certificates:

• Must possess or be open to obtaining ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor certification.

Skills:  

• Must have the ability to think independently and make decisions that are in the company’s best interest.
• Must be highly organized and able to manage multiple tasks and lines of effort concurrently.
• Interpersonal Skills - Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing. Listens effectively and clarifies information as needed. Works well with others in a team environment across the organization by fostering credibility through trust and relationships. Uses candor effectively to create an atmosphere of openness and trust where feedback is highly valued and modeled. Demonstrates respect for all.
• Partnering - Demonstrated success in partnering across an organization. Able to coach, develop, and motivate others within and across the organization. Knows who to engage and how to engage others to achieve results. Fosters commitment, pride, and team spirit. Direct reports grow and learn under their leadership.
• Continual Learning - Actively engages in continually identifying ways to improve himself/herself as well as the business, and utilizes tools and processes to ensure consistent, reliable, high-quality results. Seeks feedback and acts upon it. Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability. Proactively pursues and demonstrates continuous learning and a continuous improvement mentality.
• Leading Innovation & Change - Leads and drives change. Is a persistent, visible, and active sponsor and catalyst of purposeful change. Persists with a positive attitude to overcome adversity and obstacles.
• Accountability in Achieving Results - Demonstrates high levels of initiative and a sense of urgency and responsiveness; consistently achieves measurable results; takes accountability for actions. Translates priorities and actions into measurable results & holds self and others accountable to achieve them. Takes action when results fall short.
• Inspiring Others to Action – Motivates and develops others. Recognizes and rewards achievements. Fosters spirit and pride in others.

Additional Job Details:
Supervisory Responsibility:

• Lead, mentor, train, organize, and empower Company Audit Team members to facilitate the conduct of their duties.

Work Environment:  

• Must be able to operate in an office environment, and perform audits in warehouses, trucking terminals, and rail yards.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:  

• This is a full-time position. Work week is typically Monday to Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Must be able to work/travel additional hours as needed, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Travel:  

• Must be willing and able to travel frequently within the United States in order to conduct required audits, inspections, and site visits, as well as to attend relevant conferences, workshops, and training.

Compensation:
$90,000.00 - $120,000.00 annually, exempt, based on experience
Benefits and Perks:

• Family health benefit packages - after 90 days
• Vacation pay - after 90 days
• Holiday pay - after 90 days
• Company matching 401k retirement program - after 90 days

Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted and/or changed at any time at the discretion of management.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
In line with Plastic Express’ Environmental Promise, the hired individual is expected to enthusiastically support all facets of Operation Clean Sweep; specifically, making a conscious effort to prevent pellet, flake and powder loss into the environment and ensure any spills are swiftly and effectively cleaned up.