Materials Manager jobs in Lowell, MA

Overview

Element has an opportunity for an experienced quality professional to join its team as a Quality Manager at out Materials Testing laboratory in Boxborough, MA. Reporting to the General Manager, you are an essential member of the management team driving the overall quality performance, maintaining the ISO/IEC 17025 quality management system, numerous Nadcap AC7101 accreditations and customer approvals.

You will work closely with the Americas Aerospace & Defense Quality Manager to ensure Element quality policies, processes and procedures are effectively defined, implemented and maintained.  As a quality leader you will interact with clients, accreditation bodies and aerospace prime contractors and be capable of driving a culture of quality cross-functionally that ensures compliance, accuracy and integrity. You will drive quality improvement projects and collaborate with the wider Element quality community.

Responsibilities

• Maintenance of and driving scope extensions for all accreditations and certification bodies (e.g. ISO/IEC 17025), regulator approvals and all other regulatory requirements 
• Implement and maintain QMS excellence, ensuring robust controls are in place to govern all processes and testing performed in accordance with requirements
• Develop and effectively maintain site QMS policies, procedures, work instructions, forms, etc. including daily QMS management and provide coaching and mentorship to colleagues to ensure effective implementation across the site
• Prioritise multiple activities to meet the needs of the business, colleagues and our customers
• Embed and drive a culture of quality assurance and quality improvement in all parts of the laboratory and site operations
• Ensure the continued fulfillment of customer expectations through effective implementation of the QMS, e.g. through robust contract review, quality performance reporting and through proactive communication with customers and approval bodies
• Manage and support accreditation/certification bodies and third party assessments, visits from regulators and customers as required. Ensure that all accreditations and approvals are maintained and extended, as agreed with operational management and the Division Quality Manager, to service our customer base and retain our competitive position as a leader in materials testing
• Lead site audit readiness for all third party assessments with detailed pre-audit reports as required by internal QMS, other assessment bodies, regulators and customers
• Cross functionally mentor, coach and oversee the site’s corrective action performance to ensure effectiveness of both root cause resolution and corrective action(s) implemented
• Ensure all audit NCR’s (Non-conformance reports) from assessments are subject to robust E8 type root cause analysis and responded to in accordance with the Element’s established quality requirements, timelines and formats dictated by the assessment bodies and customers 
• Collaborate with Corporate Technical Specialist(s) on NCR review and response on audit NCR’s e.g. accreditation/certification bodies, customers
• Drive continuous quality improvement projects to reduce the cost of poor quality, improve FTR, and ensure compliance to regulations, standards. company objectives and customer requirements
• Ensure training in the Electronic Quality Management System (eQMS), for all available modules, is effectively implemented and utilized by all colleagues across the facility and ensure eQMS usage is monitored and maintained to support quality performance
• Develop, analyze and manage key quality performance metrics, and improvement countermeasures for the site, that align to business goals
• Manage robust quality training and assessment programs for new colleagues when onboarding and provide refresher training to existing colleagues at scheduled intervals
• Oversee site departmental training / cross-training, assessment and refresher training programs to ensure they are robust, timely and effective
• Implement oversee and execute method audits, system audits, and proficiency testing to ensure thoroughness and accuracy to requirements and adherence with established schedule(s)
• Actively coach, mentor and collaborate cross functionally with site colleagues and with the wider quality community to promote quality maturity and performance to achieve business objectives

Skills / Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in a scientific or engineering discipline, with ideally 5 years’ experience in materials testing or a related environment (e.g. manufacturing, quality systems experience)Experience working within an ISO/IEC 17025 environment is a prerequisite
• ISO/IEC 17065 experience would be preferred, including auditing experience.
• Auditing experience
• Proficiency in English is a prerequisiteProficiency in computer skills using Windows applications e.g. Word, Excel (data analysis, Pareto, charts, etc.), PowerPoint Ability to develop systems, write procedures, work instructions, forms and implementEffective organizational and time management skills with the ability prioritize multiple activitiesStrong project management skills and ability to manage cross-functional teams to achieve timelines / goalsExcellent communication skills Proficient in leading cross functional and dynamic quality investigations, driving robust root cause analysis, developing systemic corrective actions and ensuring the effectiveness of actions undertaken
• Ability to quickly gain and understand changes in the quality landscape and self driven to maintain personal professional development to ensure strong site quality leadership
• Adept in quickly identifying quality and technical problems and creating a collaborative environment with colleagues to determine effective and sustainable solutions
• Effective interpersonal skills (communication and writing) to collaborate with cross functional colleagues and work effectively as part of a team

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Company Overview

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’.

When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

Diversity Statement

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.