Quality & Safety Manager

Ancos is a fast-growing polymer company located in Disputanta, VA. Ancos is focused on building an efficient business with strong operations and assets that are poised to scale and grow. We are intently focused on building a culture around continuous improvement and data driven decision making. We are looking for highly talented and motivated individuals that are excited to join the team and play a significant role in leading the efforts to achieve our goals. Leaders at Ancos will be given autonomy to build their departments utilizing best practices and innovative approaches. Ancos is a lean organization that supports quick decision making and no bureaucracy. Ancos expects to continue strong investment in both locations to increase capacity and improve operations. In addition, Ancos expects to seek opportunities to acquire new business to increase our footprint and the services we offer our customers.

Reports: President – Rice Industries

Position Summary: This individual will lead efforts to improve the quality of the services we offer to customers and ensure we have a safe working environment. The business units are focused on building a continuous improvement culture and improvement initiatives. We hope to bring new and innovative approaches to what is a traditionally slow-moving manufacturing industry.

In addition, as a lean organization, all leaders have the opportunity to support multiple areas of the business. We operate in a team-based environment, and all leaders pitch in to occasionally support areas outside of their department. Individuals successful in this role will be motivated by the opportunity to truly shape the quality programs and the broader company, with full authority to do whatever it takes to build best-in-class programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include, but not limited to:

• Manage, coordinate, and maintain the company’s quality management system and ISO certifications. Including liaising with the external certification body on and during surveillance and recertification audits.
• Plan, lead, and conduct internal audits in line with the requirements of the company’s integrated quality management framework to achieve consistency of approach across the organization.
• Conduct induction, awareness & safety training/program Quality/Safety management systems to keep the staff updated, aware, and informed.
• Identify, manage, and ensure continuous improvements in the Quality and management systems in compliance with business objectives, business excellence standards, and the external certification body.
• To champion and liaise with respective personnel on the investigation of root cause(s) of non-conformance and procedural failures.
• To ensure that corrective actions are in place and implemented for all non-conformances detected during audits and daily work processes.
• To manage, review and approve required specifications and revisions in the documentation before releasing for production to customers.
• To prepare monthly non-conformance analysis and KPI report.
• Reduce the cost of poor quality though the reduction of internal and external failure modes, risk mitigation, and coaching teams
• Be the primary contact for all Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) compliance audits
• Investigate all accidents and near miss incidences with the goal of root cause identification and hazard elimination
Rewrite, retrain, audit & maintain all safety guidelines, documents & process changes related to EHS controls

Required Skills/Abilities

• Hands-on manufacturing experience ideally in a known lean organization
• A self-starter with a focus on results delivery and customer service; moves with a sense of urgency and easily organizes priorities, follow-up actions and leadership direction; comfortable with ambiguity.
• Unwavering integrity and ethics
• Consistent mindset of continuous improvement and problem-solving
• Self-motivated and execution-oriented leader with a passion for success
• Excellent communicator with strong influencing skills
• Natural collaborative leader and a team-builder (coach)
• Change agent with a high degree of personal accountability.
• Detail oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver solutions to problems without supervision.
• Excels in high-growth, entrepreneurial environments, comfortable rolling-up his/her sleeves when necessary.

Education & Experience

• 8-10 years’ experience minimum leading quality & safety programs in a manufacturing setting
• Experience leading ISO qualifications and audits
• Experience managing customer complaints and audits
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field.
• Six sigma certification is preferred.
• Required Certificate(s): ASQ CQE, CMQ/OE, or SSBB & OSHA 30 or 500 required OR the willingness to get the certs after employment begins.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of a manufacturing job. This role requires ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (hard hat, safety glasses, safety shoes) at all times in the production area. Individuals must be able to work in non-climate-controlled settings. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employees must wear hardhats and safety shoes at all times.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This role requires standing for extended periods of time, ability to lift 50 lbs, Work in open air & outdoor areas. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Rice Industries LLC is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or job applicants based on race, religion, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental impairment, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal or state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies.