Job Details

POSITION OVERVIEW:

This role serves as the plant authority for Quality Management Systems, Food Safety, and Continuous Improvement, with full ownership of system design, implementation, execution, and long-term sustainability.

This facility operates in alignment with ISO 9001 principles and quality management best practices. The facility leadership is committed to achieving SQF Food Safety certification within the next 12 months and is seeking a senior quality/continuous improvement leader with proven experience building and scaling Food Safety Quality Management Systems from the ground up.

The CIM works cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Sales to reduce waste, improve reliability, and maintain audit-ready systems in a fast-paced corrugated environment

QUALITY SYSTEMS, FOOD SAFETY & COMPLIANCE:

• Own the end-to-end Quality Management System, including system architecture, documentation, governance, performance metrics, and continuous improvement
• Lead SQF certification strategy and execution, including gap analysis, system development, training, internal audits, and certification readiness within 12 months
• Maintain and elevate AIB Food Safety certification, ensuring strong system discipline throughout the SQF transition
• Design and deploy ISO 9001-aligned processes, ensuring operational consistency, risk management, and audit readiness
• Serve as the primary audit authority for AIB, SQF, FSC-SFI CoC, Corporate QMS, and customer audits
• Establish and enforce CAPA rigor, risk-based thinking, and root cause discipline across the facility
• Translate audit findings and operational data into executive-level insights and improvement priorities
• Ensure quality and food safety systems are fully integrated into production, maintenance, and change management processes

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT & OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE:

• Lead plant-wide continuous improvement strategy focused on throughput, waste reduction, defect reduction, and system reliability
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and statistical problem-solving to stabilize and optimize corrugator and converting operations
• Champion standardization, error-proofing, and process capability
• Build CI capability across supervisors and operators through coaching and structured problem-solving
• Drive accountability for sustained results, not one-time improvements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field
• 5+ years of senior-level quality and/or continuous improvement leadership in manufacturing
• Demonstrated experience building or transforming Quality Management Systems
• Hands-on leadership of AIB and/or SQF systems
• Strong knowledge of corrugated manufacturing and converting operations
• Proven success leading audits, driving CAPA, and influencing cross-functional teams
• Comfortable operating with high autonomy and accountability

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Direct experience leading an SQF certification from pre-certification through audit
• ISO 9001 lead auditor or strong working knowledge of ISO governance
• Track record of cultural transformation in quality and food safety

Here's why you'll love working at Hood Container:

• Competitive pay & benefits: We offer a competitive base salary, an annual bonus program, and a comprehensive benefits package to keep you healthy and happy. Check out more detailed information on our benefits via www.hoodcontainer.com/benefits
• Continuous learning: We invest in paid training and development to help you grow your skills and advance your career.
• Caring & Empowering Company Culture: Supportive & collaborative team dedicated to seeing you unbox your potential to help make a difference & make customers happy.
• Growing Company in a Sustainable Industry: Consider a Future in Corrugated Packaging

Our goal is to have a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens and customers we serve. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Hood Container Corporation is a family-owned, Mill to Market company, specializing in containerboard and kraft paper, corrugated boxes, high graphic displays, and contract packaging. Our commitment to customer happiness, employee well-being, environmental stewardship, and operational excellence drive our business. Over the last decade, Hood Container Corporation has grown to become one of the top ten Paper and Packaging Companies in the United States.

To learn more about Hood Container Corporation visit www.hoodcontainer.com or check us out on social media!