Director of Operational Excellence

About FirmaPak

FirmaPak, Your Packaging Friend™, is a fast-growing manufacturer specializing in providing high-quality, dependable, and customizable packaging solutions. We blend the strengths of a large organization with the values and community of a family business, fostering an environment that encourages growth for our team members, clients, and the company as a whole.

Position Overview

The Director of Operational Excellence (Quality & EHS) oversees quality assurance, environmental health and safety, and continuous improvement initiatives across all manufacturing sites. Reporting directly to the COO and managing a team of Quality Managers, this role is pivotal in maintaining uniform SQF and BRCG certification standards, ensuring quality and safety systems are audit-ready, dependable, and aligned with organizational goals. The Director also acts as the company's representative in various customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and maintain enterprise-wide quality systems with an emphasis on obtaining and sustaining SQF and BRCG certifications across all locations.
• Manage and oversee customer, regulatory, and third-party audits to ensure consistent readiness and compliance.
• Drive timely resolution of quality concerns and customer complaints, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Develop standardized metrics, reporting formats, and audit programs to ensure ongoing compliance and foster continuous improvement.
• Implement and harmonize safety initiatives across facilities, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and minimizing risk.
• Supervise incident investigations and promote improvements in safety performance indicators such as TRIR, DART, and near-miss incidents.
• Ensure adherence to environmental regulations, permits, and reporting obligations.
• Provide leadership and mentorship for Quality and EHS teams across multiple sites.
• Collaborate with operations leaders to integrate quality and safety into daily activities.
• Advise executive leadership on matters related to risk, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, and Root Cause Analysis methodologies.
• Prioritize and manage a pipeline of improvement projects based on data insights and business impact.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Environmental Health & Safety, Occupational Safety, or a related discipline.
• 7 to 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership in quality and/or EHS within multi-site manufacturing settings, with direct accountability for quality systems and external audits.
• Proven experience implementing and advancing ISO, SQF, or BRCG management systems, transitioning sites from GMP fundamentals to full certification.
• Expertise in managing root cause corrective actions for quality and safety incidents, demonstrating consistent closure and systemic improvements.
• Comprehensive knowledge of OSHA regulations and experience delivering compliance training.
• Successful history of reducing customer complaints, quality defects, and recordable safety incidents.
• Background in food manufacturing, consumer products, or multi-site manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and communicate effectively with both operational and executive stakeholders.
• Certifications such as SQF Practitioner or BRCG Site Champion, ISO Lead Auditor (9001 or 22000), and professional safety credentials like CSP or CHMM.
• Capacity to work cross-functionally with customer service and sales teams.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50% of the time to manufacturing plants and customer or supplier sites.

Benefits and Company Culture

• Access to medical insurance with options for company contributions to employee HSAs.
• Dental and vision insurance coverage.
• 401(k) plan with company matching.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance offerings.
• Paid time off and observed holidays.
• Opportunities for internal career advancement.
• Performance-based bonuses linked to company profitability.
• Annual salary increments based on individual performance.

FirmaPak embodies its core BOTTLE values: Be Customer Focused, Ownership Mindset, Teamwork, Trusted Partner, Learn Every Day, and Excellence, fostering a robust, value-based culture within the organization.