Quality Assurance Manager

Overview Our Operations professionals manage and support the creation of our world-class flow control products in a low-volume, high mix manufacturing environment. These folks are our manufacturing leaders - shop managers, purchasing professionals, production and demand planners, engineers, and quality professionals who value working with other top manufacturing professionals and helping solve complex production problems. In addition to a work environment that promotes learning and promote-from-within opportunities, we understand what matters to our production workers: competitive, market-drive pay, outstanding benefits, and a stable and dependable job place supported by over 140 years of being in business. If you are looking for a place to call home in your next manufacturing role, come and explore all that Chesterton has to offer! Our benefits offering include: “Work Today, get paid tomorrow” - withdraw up to 30% of your earned daily wages the next day after you work rather than waiting for pay day! Chesterton Student Loan Repayment Program BCBS Medical Coverage Delta Dental 401K savings plan with a Chesterton contribution PTO including vacation sick, time, 11 paid holidays, and paid to time off to volunteer for causes Vision insurance Tuition Reimbursement Short-term disability and long-term disability insurance HSA & FSA options to cover additional medical costs Parental leave for moms and dads to be "Grandternity" leave for new grandparents Hiring referral bonuses (up to $3,000 for select roles) A host of other fringe benefits including legal services, pet insurance, Chesterton relief fund for employees in need, and more! Job Summary This position is focused on our customers as it is responsible for driving all end of line quality assurance. Embedded in the Product Line Production team, the Manager, Quality Assurance (QA) ensures products consistently meet or exceed customer specifications/expectations and external certification standards while complying with all applicable legislative and regulatory requirements. The Manager, QA leads factory-specific efforts to implement the Chesterton Quality System. This Manager, QA will be leading factory specific activities related to preventing defects and reducing variation & waste in the manufacturing processes. The Manager QA leads factory-specific efforts to ensure that production line operators are properly equipped to assume responsibility and accountability for quality at the source. Job Model: On-Site On-Site positions will require employees to work on-site for each of their scheduled shifts. Responsibilities Consistent, regular and punctual attendance is an essential function of this job. Manage and lead all factory quality activities and consistently assess the overall effectiveness of these activities. Lead efforts to identify and rectify gaps in quality training and information accuracy that impact the line operator’s ability to deliver quality product. Communicate with customers, suppliers, certification bodies and agencies regarding factory specific quality and compliance issues. Ensure robust and accurate process control systems are deployed to identify and rectify abnormal processing conditions. Serve as a critical advocate and subject matter expert regarding the Chesterton Quality System Policies, Standards and Requirements. Lead efforts to involve line operators in the development and implementation of factory specific systems that demonstrate improved performance results associated with the Chesterton Quality System policies, standards and requirements. Proactively and thoroughly execute performance management practices to address issues that have a negative impact on our ability to meet quality requirements. Effectively utilize data to prioritize improvement opportunities and actively lead the develop and implementation of effective containment and root cause corrective actions. Effectively utilize quality tools to collect and interpret data to prioritize and realize improvement opportunities, i.e., Cause & Effect Diagram, Flowcharting, Check Sheets, Pareto Diagram, Histograms, Control Charts, Scatter Diagrams. Execute internal audits and lead the structured problem-solving process to ensure all audit findings and observations are adequately addressed. Lead efforts to clearly understand all factory customer complaints and resolutions. Drive supplier performance controls and work with global quality and the Sr. Materials Manager in solutioning appropriate corrective actions. Ensure compliance with all ISO 9001:2015 Standards. Report the factory specific quality performance results and associated improvement plans monthly. Able to create effective presentations to communicate to all levels of the company. Execute external audits where needed. Leads, coaches, and develops a team to achieve departmental and organizational objectives by providing clear direction, expectations, and updates on priorities and progress. Provides timely ongoing performance feedback, conducts performance reviews, and supports employee development planning. Fosters an inclusive, engaged, and high-performing team environment while embracing Chesterton’s core values. Ensures team adherence to company policies, procedures, and applicable regulations. Initiates and partners with HR to review and update direct reports’ job descriptions, ensuring clarity in roles, expectations, and leveling. Effectively conducts sensitive employee discussions, including compensation-related conversations and disciplinary actions, with sound judgment and professionalism. Communicates & collaborates effectively across functions, levels and teams within the organization while supporting and driving departmental initiatives. Complexity of Duties Work is highly independent, with minimum instruction or supervision. Handles moderate to complex issues. Makes decision based upon sound judgment and data. Contacts are with all levels of personnel including executive and senior management, across organizations, internal and external customers & suppliers in various organizations. Interacts with multiple groups within the business. Works closely with Management to make decisions that impact the product quality. May make recommendations to Management on a regular basis. Interacts with suppliers and often represents the Company on quality issues. May be required to travel. Essential Skills Excellent leadership, interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and management skills Comprehensive knowledge of techniques of quality tools, systems and methods High degree of interpersonal sensitivity while driving successful change Knowledge of specific processes and methodologies including ISO 9001 and other voluntary national and international standards and regulations Strong influencing and communication skills Skilled and confident at independently assessing risks and making decisions Knowledge of business process design, improvement and change management Strategic planning and development skills Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills Strong tactical abilities with demonstrated results. Education and/or Experience Bachelor’s degree and 6-8 years of equivalent experience is required. Specific experience with manufacturing operations. Strong business excellence modeling systems. Other Skills and Abilities Highly self directed and self motivated. Must work well in a collaborative team environment and communicate effectively with all levels of the organization. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a proactive, positive and constructive manner. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, talk or hear and reach with hands and arms. May be required to lift up to 50 pounds. May be required to wear a respirator. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and noise (i e : manufacturing production) exists daily in the work environment. Disclaimer A.W. CHESTERTON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Targeted pay range: $130,000 - $140,000/annually depending on experience Chesterton is committed to paying all its employees in a fair and equitable manner. The pay range associated with this position ($130,000 - $140,000 DOE) is Chesterton's good-faith salary estimate for the presently available position. Several roles at Chesterton are considered “leveled” positions and as such, the company reserves the right to advertise and or hire for this position at appropriate level depending on applicant’s skillset/experience. If the salary range to be offered for a “leveled” based position (I, II, III, etc.) is different than what was advertised on any posting, that range will be discussed with the candidate before they are formally invited to interview. Hired applicants may be eligible for additional incentive compensation depending on the level and or function of the position which will be discussed with the candidate prior to formal interview. Payments under these programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance. Please note that the final salary offered for any position will be based on many factors, including but not limited to: candidate qualifications such as education and experience, internal equity, geographical location, and budget. Please note, it is not the company's usual practice to hire near or at the top of a pay range for any position that is available. Chesterton anticipates the application window closing approximately 45 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require Chesterton to shorten or extend the application window. All of A.W. Chesterton Company employment is contingent upon successfully passing a background check and the respective medical surveillance requirements. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Chesterton is an equal opportunity employerM/F/V/D

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