Senior Quality Leader

Senior Quality Leader Location: Eastover & Sumter, South CarolinaDepartment: QualityReports To: Product Performance ManagerPay Grade: 12-15 Position Summary The Senior Quality Leader provides strategic and operational quality leadership for assigned manufacturing areas, ensuring a strong customer-focused culture throughout the mill. This role is accountable for driving quality performance, reducing quality costs, maintaining compliance with quality management systems, and leading continuous improvement initiatives. The position serves as a key liaison between operations, customers, technical teams, and corporate functions to ensure products consistently meet customer expectations and business objectives. Key Responsibilities Quality Leadership & Customer Focus Foster and maintain a culture that prioritizes customer satisfaction and product quality at all organizational levels. Influence decision-making across operations by helping teams understand customer impacts and quality risks. Lead efforts to improve quality performance and workmanship standards within assigned operating areas. Prepare operating areas for customer visits and interact directly with customers as required. Quality Systems & Compliance Develop, implement, and sustain practical quality management systems and processes. Support compliance with ISO 9001 standards and corporate quality requirements. Lead and participate in internal audits and quality program assessments. Convert lessons learned from quality events into improved work systems and preventative measures. Problem Solving & Risk Management Lead investigations, containment activities, root cause analyses, and corrective actions for quality events. Make timely decisions regarding quality concerns to minimize business and customer risk. Monitor emerging operational risks and implement proactive quality improvement measures. Balance operational impacts, customer expectations, and business costs when resolving quality issues. Team Leadership & Development Manage and develop direct reports within the quality organization. Coach and mentor quality technicians and provide technical guidance to operations and engineering teams. Promote accountability for quality standards across both salaried and hourly employees. Serve as a backup to the Product Performance Manager when needed. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Sales, Supply Chain, Customer Service, IT, CTS, and other corporate teams to address customer concerns and business needs. Act as the primary quality contact for customer inquiries, investigations, product development initiatives, and follow-up activities. Communicate quality performance, business impacts, and recommendations to management and operational teams. Operational Support Maintain responsibility for quality performance across more than 50% of mill production operations. Support mill on-call responsibilities, including nights, weekends, and extended hours as required. Travel to customer and downstream converting locations as needed. Required Qualifications Education & Experience Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or 10+ years of experience in the graphic paper industry. Experience in quality leadership, manufacturing, paper production, or related industries. Minimum 5-10 years of industry experience. Previous leadership experience with responsibility for quality systems and continuous improvement initiatives. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Strong knowledge of quality management systems and manufacturing quality processes. Experience maintaining and auditing ISO 9001 programs. Proven problem-solving and root cause analysis skills. Ability to influence and lead individuals without direct reporting authority. Knowledge of paper properties, roll testing, and paper manufacturing processes. Familiarity with manufacturing execution systems (MES), such as PPR Omega. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. Strong communication, coaching, and leadership skills. Ability to balance customer needs, operational requirements, and business objectives. Key Competencies Customer Focused Operationally Excellent Business Savvy Development-Minded Trustworthy