Quality Specialist Launch Team

About the role

Ball Corporation is looking for a Quality Specialist to join its Launch Team in Waterford, County Waterford, Ireland. The position sits within a global sustainable packaging business focused on aluminum solutions and will play a key role in getting new builds, new lines, and line conversion projects up to stable, high-quality performance.

Working alongside process specialists, this role concentrates on launch-phase efficiency, spoilage, product quality, and related operational KPIs. It also supports compliance with environmental requirements, chemical usage optimization, and quality systems across the plant.

What you will do

• Drive efficiency and spoilage performance for new builds, new lines, and line conversions in line with approved ramp-up targets.
• Own quality outcomes during start-up, ensuring the first product and all subsequent output meet specifications and customer expectations.
• Monitor process conditions, materials, and finished output to protect food safety and product quality, and act quickly when deviations appear.
• Coordinate inspections and audits, making sure process checks, material checks, and finished goods audits are completed to the required standard.
• Take specialist responsibility for gauges, inspection tools, and measurement equipment so they remain maintained, calibrated, validated, and dependable for quality verification.
• Monitor quality trends and key performance data, then use findings to trigger corrective or preventive actions and strengthen process capability.
• Support the Plant Quality Manager in maintaining ISO, HACCP, and other customer or regulatory quality and food safety systems.
• Help implement SOPs, SPC, and other quality tools to improve repeatability and consistency during ramp-up.
• Train production and quality personnel on process basics, quality expectations, defect prevention, inspection methods, and food safety practices.
• Ensure backup coverage is in place for critical quality and food safety responsibilities.
• Work with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, and suppliers to reduce variation, prevent defects, and improve launch performance.
• Gather, review, and report quality and food safety data to support decisions and continuous improvement work.
• Support customer complaint resolution during the launch period, including root cause analysis, corrective action, and supplier quality improvement.
• Assist with new product or design introductions from trials through full production, ensuring all quality and food safety requirements are met.
• Provide training to site teams on process fundamentals and performance expectations during recruitment and throughout the start-up phase.
• Step in during urgent breakdown situations, using strong troubleshooting skills to restore operations while protecting quality and output.
• Support size changeovers by ensuring they are safe, accurate, efficient, and capable of being repeated by the local team.
• Capture lessons learned and share best practices to improve future builds, start-up performance, and long-term operational excellence.
• Support the rollout of BOE standards to level 3 across safety, quality, business management, and maintenance pillar elements within the assignment scope.

Requirements

• A college degree or diploma in a relevant area, or equivalent training gained through school education plus related work experience.
• A training qualification at least to Train the Trainer level.
• At least 5 years of experience in can manufacturing.
• Hands-on use of basic problem-solving methods and Lean fundamentals.
• Experience working in cross-cultural teams.
• 3 or more years in a similar role with proven ability in quality assurance, customer support, and relevant product knowledge.
• Previous exposure to ISO, food safety, and audit work is preferred.
• Green Belt certification is preferred.
• Strong understanding of the full can-making process, with deep expertise in at least one area.
• Ability to pass process knowledge on to others effectively.
• Strong capability in equipment setup, fault finding, optimization, and line performance support.
• Good computer skills for data analysis and report preparation.
• Communicative English language skills.
• Experience with line launches or rebuild projects is preferred.
• Ownership mindset with a focus on reducing waste and improving continuously.
• Ability to coach and develop less experienced colleagues.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong discipline around specifications.
• Effective communication across departments and seniority levels.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork orientation.
• Results-focused, proactive, and future-oriented.
• Comfortable working independently as well as within a team.
• Willingness to travel at short notice.
• Empathetic, supportive, and capable of working well in team settings.

Additional information

Ball Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, including different genders, ages, ethnicities, faiths, abilities, and orientations. The company has more than 16,000 employees worldwide and produces infinitely recyclable aluminium cans, cups, and aerosol bottle solutions that help customers contribute to a better world.

Diversity and inclusion are central to the company culture, and the organization emphasizes belonging and making a positive difference through its work.

The job title shown in local employment documents may differ from the advertised title because of local title structures and global HR systems.

No agencies please.