Plant Quality Leader

Fresh Step Plant Quality Leader

At Fresh Step, we're passionate about creating a cleaner, fresher worldnot just for cats and their owners, but for our employees too. As a trusted name in pet care, we combine innovation, science, and care to make products that improve the lives of pets and the people who love them. When you join our team, you become part of a collaborative, forward-thinking culture that values creativity, compassion, and a commitment to excellence. Every role at Fresh Step contributes to delivering the freshness and odor control pet parents rely on. If you're excited to work at the intersection of innovation and care, Fresh Step is the place to grow your careerwhile making life better for pets everywhere.

This leader is responsible for overseeing the Plant Quality function and related activities in their plants. This leader ensures that their plant will successfully fulfill key QMS processes, creates a strong quality continuous improvement system, and develops a strong plant quality culture. The Plant Quality Leader reports to the Plant Manager, with dotted-line accountability to the Business Unit Quality Manager.

In this role, you will:

• Develop, implement, and manage key Quality Management System (QMS) operational processes.
• Continuously analyze quality systems to maintain the health of our QMS and report issues to Senior Management.
• Act as the primary contact for third-party and regulatory inspections and audits of the corporate QMS.
• Manage internal manufacturer release, internal auditing programs, and assist with Annual Product Review and Quality Management Review.
• Drive Continuous Improvement - Proactively identifying and leading improvement projects to drive improved capability, eliminate waste, and increase performance.
• Establish credibility with the business unit management team to enhance product design and supply quality. (R&D, AMS, Micro, etc)
• Develop, implement, and manage key Quality Management System (QMS) operational processes using SAP S4/HANA, Aveva MES, SAP EWM, PLM & Intelex.
• Continuously analyze quality systems to maintain the health of our QMS and report issues to Senior Management.
• Function as the single point of contact for all plant quality issues and concerns.
• Drive a culture of quality within the plant team by leading Quality Control, Laboratory, and Compliance functions.
• Develop a diverse and high-performing organization that can drive growth while ensuring compliance.
• Provide strategic leadership and vision for quality journey milestones.
• Identify key leverage points to drive quality improvements.
• Provides leadership and development to maintain a culture of Quality, which delights our consumers. Works cross-functionally within the plant to develop an organization of diverse and high performing enthusiastic owners that have the skills and capabilities to drive growth while ensuring compliance.
• Establish credibility with the business management team to enhance product design and supply quality.
• Implement new quality systems, SOP program, environmental monitoring program, and document control.

What we look for:

• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing quality
• Proven ability to lead plant-wide quality initiatives, drive accountability, and build a strong culture of continuous improvement across manufacturing operations.
• Experienced in identifying root causes, reducing defects and variation, and implementing robust quality systems that improve process capability, customer satisfaction, and operational performance.
• Effective partner to Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Customer teams, translating quality requirements into actionable improvements while developing and coaching high-performing teams.
• Experience with SAP
• BS/BA Degree or higher in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field preferred or equivalent experience

Workplace type: Onsite