Senior Quality Manager

The Process Engineering and Quality Manager will lead integrated efforts to optimize manufacturing processes and ensure product quality. This role combines process engineering expertise with quality management to drive operational efficiency, reduce defects, and align quality initiatives with continuous improvement strategies. They will oversee all Process Engineers, the SEM HUB Quality Lab, Quality Supervisor and Process Technicians.

Essential Functions

* Process Optimization & Engineering: Develop, implement, and maintain efficient manufacturing processes using Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies. Identify and eliminate sources of waste, variability, and inefficiency in production workflows. Collaborate with production teams to ensure processes meet safety, quality, and productivity standards.

* Quality Management & Assurance: Oversee quality systems and compliance with industry standards and customer requirements. Integrate quality standards into process design and improvement initiatives. Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for quality issues, ensuring sustainable solutions.

* ISO Management Representative: Establishes, implements and maintains the quality system requirements as required by the ISO Standard and described in the Quality Manual.

* Cross-Functional Leadership: Serve as a technical bridge between engineering, production, and quality teams to foster collaboration and innovation. Drive alignment between quality objectives and operational goals. Provide training and mentorship to team members on process improvement and quality best practices.

* Continuous Improvement & Cost Reduction: Implement strategies to reduce Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ). Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to process efficiency and product quality. Champion initiatives that enhance operational agility and responsiveness.

* Compliance & Documentation: Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and internal standards. Maintain accurate documentation for processes, quality audits, and improvement projects.

* Other duties as assigned

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• ISO Management Representative: Establishes, implements and maintains the quality system requirements as required by the ISO Standard and described in the Quality Manual.
• Overall responsibility for maintaining and updating the IQS procedures and documentation system.
• Oversees the manufacturing-related process controls and that all products produced at the facility meet the requirements of the end-user/customer.
• Ensures that process conditions are monitored and controlled for product consistency and according to the specified conditions.
• Ensures that products and process changes are made only according to the sequence of activities specified in the MSA/CSA process.
• Oversees the testing in accordance with Avient Lab Performance Policy and that all product grading is accomplished in a timely and accurate manner.
• Represents the plant and Avient in all aspects of professional dealings with customers, the technology community and the commercial group. Resolves and communicates on customer complaints, and handles technical and quality questions from internal and external sources.
• Coordinates investigation and corrective action on all plant-related customer complaints.
• Assesses training needs and provides training to lab/production employees.
• This position will also manage plant capital plan.
• Other project/duties as assigned.

Physical/Environ. Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, toxic or caustic chemicals, and fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment ranges from normal office noise levels to loud.

Scope

Manufacturing Plant.

Other

Reports to: Manufacturing Director, Plant Manager or Manufacturing Manager.

* Preferred Certification in Six Sigma, ASQ, CQE, ISO, or PMP

Education and Experience

* Bachelor's of Engineering Degree or equivalent experience.

* Experience: Minimum 5-7 years in manufacturing, process engineering, or quality management roles. Proven track record in Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.

* Quality System Management with ISO experience, medical device system management preferred

* Minimum 5-7 years in manufacturing, process engineering, or quality management roles. Proven track record in Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Additional Qualifications

* Software skills; Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, SAP

* Demonstrated success with critical communications - internal and external customers to gain alignment and progress toward goal.

* Demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions to resolve critical issues

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Excellent leadership and communication skills. Proficiency in quality systems, statistical analysis, and process optimization tools.

Competencies

* Each position at Avient focuses on eight Core Competencies as a Leader of Self. Additionally, management positions focus on Leadership Competencies as a Leader of Others and/or a Leader of the Business. These competencies are designed to drive behavior that will ultimately help our associates excel at their current roles, while supporting individual and career development.

Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.

Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it's powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you're a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you'll find your place at Avient.

Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!

We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.

By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient's strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.

At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person's qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.

Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran's status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, ApplicationAccommodation@Avient.com.