Job Description

Enterprise Director of Quality

Our client is seeking a seasoned Enterprise Director of Quality to lead a comprehensive overhaul and redeployment of their Quality Management System (QMS) across all commercial print manufacturing sites. The ideal candidate is a leading practice driven quality leader with deep expertise in print production, regulatory compliance, and enterprise-wide quality reporting. This role will be responsible for redefining and executing a robust QMS framework, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring consistent quality standards across diverse plant environments. The enterprise Director of Quality also manages two key functional channels: Compliance & Internal Audit and Regulatory activities. The enterprise quality group supports plants in safeguarding certifications, managing risk, and keeping pace with evolving industry regulations. This position’s objective will be to create a culture of quality excellence, train and coach site-level teams, and publish actionable performance metrics that inform leadership decisions and drive operational improvements.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

QMS Revamp & Deployment

• Lead the redesign, documentation, and rollout of a unified QMS tailored to high-volume print manufacturing, ensuring alignment with ISO 9001 / ISO13485 (or equivalent) and other relevant standards.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and process maps for critical print workflows (prepress, press, post-press).
• Coordinate with IT and operations teams to implement or upgrade quality management systems (e.g., document control, non-conformance tracking, CAPA modules).
• Establish clear project plans, milestones, and change-management strategies to achieve timely QMS deployment at all plant sites.

Enterprise Reporting & Analytics

• Design and publish a centralized quality dashboard that aggregates key metrics (e.g., defect rates, scrap percentages, customer complaints, corrective action timelines) from all plant sites on a regular cadence (real-time, weekly, monthly, quarterly).
• Partner with site Quality Managers and Analysts to standardize data collection methods, ensure data integrity, and automate reporting wherever possible.
• Present enterprise quality performance summaries to Operations Leadership, highlighting trends, root-cause analyses, and strategic recommendations.
• Monitor scorecards for each plant, drive accountability for quality targets, and recognize high-performing sites.

Site-Level Quality Performance & Training

• Develop and roll out a training curriculum for site Quality Managers, press operators, and front-line supervisors covering QMS processes, statistical process control (SPC), root-cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
• Conduct periodic audits (virtual or on-site) to assess adherence to QMS processes, identify gaps, and coach site teams on best practices.
• Facilitate cross-site “quality forums” to share lessons learned, standardize successful practices, and foster a continuous improvement mindset.
• Implement a structured program for site-level performance reviews, including metrics-driven scorecards.

Print Manufacturing–Specific Responsibilities

• Oversee pressroom quality standards, including color management registration accuracy, and substrate handling protocols.
• Collaborate with Engineering, CI, and Maintenance teams to track and minimize machine downtimes, ensuring preventive maintenance schedules align with quality goals.
• Drive initiatives to reduce waste (paper, ink, plates) through process optimization, standardized material specifications, and lean-printing techniques (e.g., make-ready reductions, quick changeover).
• Validate and optimize prepress processes to minimize press-side defects and rework.
• Manage supplier quality for consumables (inks, substrates, plates), including supplier audits, incoming inspection criteria, and corrective action follow-up.

Compliance & Internal Audit (Channel Oversight)

• Lead a dedicated Compliance & Internal Audit team responsible for conducting planned internal audits (site, process, and system audits) to verify QMS conformance and identify nonconformities.
• Ensure audit findings are documented, root causes are addressed, and corrective/preventive actions are tracked to closure in a timely manner.
• Oversee development and maintenance of all quality records, ensuring document control practices meet audit and certification requirements.
• Coordinate with plant-level Quality Coordinators to prepare for external audits (e.g., ISO recertification, customer-specific audits) and drive successful outcomes.
• Establish a risk-based audit schedule, leveraging risk assessments and previous audit results to prioritize focus areas.

Regulatory Affairs & Certifications (Channel Oversight)

• Manage Regulatory activities that monitor relevant industry and environmental regulations and impact print operations.
• Ensure timely updates to QMS documentation and training materials in response to new or changing regulations.
• Maintain and renew all necessary certifications (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 13485, Food Contact SQF) and ensure ongoing compliance through annual reviews and gap assessments.
• Liaise with Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) and Legal teams to address regulatory findings or customer audit observations, driving prompt resolution.
• Serve as the primary informed owner for regulatory agencies, customers’ compliance teams, and external certification bodies.

Continuous Improvement & Customer Focus

• Champion root-cause analysis methodologies (e.g., Fishbone, Five Whys) to address chronic quality issues and drive sustainable corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Sales and Customer Service to analyze customer complaints, returns, and feedback data, translating findings into targeted improvement projects.
• Implement a closed-loop feedback system that ensures lessons learned from customer issues are incorporated back into process revisions and training.
• Sponsor Lean or Six Sigma projects focused on reducing variability, minimizing cycle times, and improving first-pass yield across print lines.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Directly manage two functional teams—Compliance & Internal Audit and Regulatory Affairs—providing coaching, performance reviews, and professional development plans.
• Partner with Plant General Managers, Production Leaders, and Maintenance Supervisors to align quality objectives with production targets and financial goals.
• Provide enterprise quality insight to Operations on strategic decisions related to capacity planning, capital investments, and technology upgrades (e.g., automated inspection systems, camera-based defect detection).
• Cultivate a quality-first culture by communicating vision, recognizing achievements, and modeling matrix accountability at all levels.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive quality leadership experience in high-volume print manufacturing or a closely related industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing, documenting, and deploying a unified QMS (ISO 9001, ISO 13485 or equivalent) across multiple sites, including development of SOPs, work instructions, and process maps for prepress, press, and post-press workflows.
• Proven track record implementing or upgrading quality management software (document control, non-conformance tracking, CAPA systems) in collaboration with IT and Operations teams.
• Strong analytics capability: experience building and maintaining enterprise-level quality dashboards (Power BI, Tableau, or Excel equivalent) that consolidate defect rates, scrap percentages, customer complaints, and CAPA timelines.
• Deep knowledge of print-specific quality standards, including color management, registration tolerances, substrate handling, and prepress validation to minimize press-side defects.
• Hands-on experience leading compliance and internal audit programs (site, process, system audits) with a risk-based audit schedule, root-cause analysis with timely closure.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements affecting print operations and demonstrated success maintaining certifications, including gap assessments and audit preparation.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver training on QMS processes, root-cause analysis, and CAPA for site Quality Managers, press operators, and supervisors.
• Expertise in continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) with a history of sponsoring or leading projects that reduce variability, minimize waste (paper, ink, plates), and improve first-pass yield.
• Exceptional leadership skills: experience managing multiple functional teams (Compliance & Internal Audit, Regulatory Affairs), coaching direct reports, conducting performance reviews, and driving a quality-first culture across independent sites.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with demonstrated ability to present enterprise quality performance summaries and strategic recommendations to Executive Leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Strong project management capabilities: ability to establish clear project plans, milestones, and change-management strategies to ensure on-time QMS deployment and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% for on-site audits, training, and cross-site quality forums.

CALL NOTES:

• 2 direct reports (Manager of Compliance/Internal Audit, Manager of Regulatory)
• Franklin, TN preferred. Salt Lake City will also work
• Heavy travel at first. Maybe 40% after that (some periods with no travel)
• There are 30 sites total and will probably be visiting 6 or 7 of them

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