Quality Development and CI Manager

Would you like to join a global, growing company that innovates for a more sustainable tomorrow? UPM could be the team for you. We are frontrunners in developing renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials. Besides enabling both businesses and consumers make more sustainable choices, we strive to create a positive UPM experience for all our employees around the world. We live by our values – trust and be trusted, achieve together, renew with courage. Join us in creating a future beyond fossils!

We are looking for a Quality Development Manager to join our team in Mills River, NC who will be responsible for all aspects of Quality Development and Quality Laboratory functions in Mills River, including full implementation of “UPM Step Change in Quality” program initiatives for the site.

Greetings from your future colleague

We are looking for a driven and results-oriented individual to lead Quality Development and prioritize Continuous Improvement (CI) activities for our Mills River Operations team. Your main focus will be on enhancing product quality in manufacturing by addressing issues related to raw material quality and product design, collaborating with both internal and external stakeholders. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to work in a highly agile business environment and to be part of UPM Raflatac’s positive company culture - Everett Lynch, HR Manager

What you will do

• Responsible for creating and maintaining Quality Excellence culture with continuous improvement, innovation and initiative at all levels within the Mills River factory.

• Responsible for quality control and quality/food safety management systems. Review of specifications and quality control plans. Responsible for factory level risk management re. quality, service and food safety (together with FS-team). Ensuring preventive and corrective action are taking place on quality/service/food safety issues within factory, escalation of issues to other organizations

• Food Safety Team Leader. Responsible for the implementation, change management, performance evaluation and improvement of the food safety management system according to ISO 22000:2018 standard.Collaborate with a regional FS-team.

• Support factory level continuous improvement activities and capabilities with training, coordination, tools and expertise related to CI-methodology and CI-processes. Collaboration, reporting and benchmarking of CI with other factories

• Manager for Quality engineers and the Quality Laboratory.

• Production and claim data analysis, evaluating opportunities for process and quality improvement. Works closely together with production, R&D and business for quality improvement projects.

• Develop, implement, and improve quality plans, procedures, and systems using statistical analyses, lean manufacturing concepts, and six sigma tools and analyses.  Lead and/or participate in quality improvement projects.

• Local owner of the Product specifications after NPD process and ISO 9001 quality management system

• Conduct internal ISO 9001/14001 audits and coordinate corrective actions for ISO 9001 compliance

• Maintain high level of communication with and between all teams. Works closely with sourcing, business and sales on corrective action communication on higher level claims.

• Responsible for all equipment quality equipment verification and calibration process and certificate compliance.

Who you are

• Requires any combination of education and experience equivalent to a 5 years managerial experience in a Paper converting / Coating or Finishing, and BS in Engineering or related discipline.

• Previous background in process and / or quality development and Lean six sigma is required.  Must be able to act as a change agent and serve as an effective team leader. 

• Must have excellent communication oral and written skills, ability to relate well with a diverse constituency. 

• Must have well-developed problem solving skills, and demonstrated inventiveness and initiative. 

• Previous computer experience, including MS Office products and automated production management systems, required.  

This is what we offer to you

• A meaningful job – We have an inspiring purpose ‘We create a future beyond fossils. Our work is impactful and transformative.

• A caring community – Our community is built on great team spirit and shared commitment. We care about each other and the well-being of our colleagues. We support the work-life balance of all our employees.

• Development opportunities – We offer you great opportunities to learn and grow throughout your career.  We are an international, multi-business organization offering plenty of avenues for personal growth.

• Responsible employer - Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to ambitious, science-based sustainability targets in all areas from climate change to biodiversity. We foster diversity and inclusivity, offering a work environment in which everyone can be themselves.

• Comprehensive benefit package - UPM’s benefit package includes medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off and a 401(k) retirement plan.

Additional information

Location: Mills River, NC.

Travel requirements: 20%

Workplace type: On-Site

If you are interested in this job offer, please submit your application via Apply button by March 21st, 2025.

This Job Description is intended to be a guide and is not intended to be a contract of employment, explicit or implicit. All contents are subject to change at the sole discretion of the company.

Only candidates authorized to work within the United States without sponsorship will be considered.

UPM North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

UPM Raflatac offers high-quality self-adhesive paper and film products including label materials, graphics solutions and removable self-adhesive products. We operate 12 factories and deliver our innovative and sustainable products through our global network of distribution terminals. We are one of UPM’s growth businesses and employ around 3,100 people. Our sales reached almost EUR 1,5 billion (USD 1,6 billion) in 2023. Find out how we are labeling a smarter future beyond fossils at  www.upmraflatac.com.

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