Plant Quality and Continuous Improvement Manager

Plant Quality and Continuous Improvement Manager W.C. Bradley Co. United States, Arkansas, Hope Apr 27, 2026 Thank you for your interest in joining W.C. Bradley Co.! We're excited you're here. Our application system is intuitive and easy to use, and we look forward to learning more about you as you complete your profile and submit your application. Good luck, and thank you again for applying! Job Summary The Plant Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager leads in-process quality, audit compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives for the pellet mill facility. This role ensures operations consistently meet customer specifications and regulatory standards, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), SMETA, and Chain of Custody (COC). This position drives plant performance through Lean manufacturing principles, standardized work, and data-driven decision-making. The role partners cross-functionally to reduce process variation, improve product integrity and traceability, and ensure sustained audit readiness and operational discipline. This role supports the Peebles, Ohio facility with additional support to the Hope, Arkansas plant and operates in a high-volume industrial manufacturing environment Duties and Responsibilities Quality, Compliance & Audits Achieve firstpass quality targets and reduce process variation. Lead GMP, SMETA, and Chain of Custody audit readiness, execution, corrective actions, and sustainability. Maintain robust inprocess quality systems, process control limits, realtime monitoring, and product traceability. Oversee nonconformance, hold/release, and documentation integrity. Operational Excellence Implement Lean tools including 5S, standard work, visual management, and waste reduction. Drive rootcause problem solving, Kaizen events, and improvements in yield, throughput, and process stability. Ensure improvements are standardized, sustained, and embedded in daily operations. Process Auditing & Verification Implement and sustain layered process audits (LPA). Conduct routine audits of SOPs, GMP requirements, and process controls. Lead corrective/preventive actions and hold leadership accountable for results. Leadership & Accountability Drive accountability across operations, maintenance, quality, and safety. Set expectations for quality, standard work adherence, and audit readiness. Coach supervisors and frontline leaders on GMP, compliance, and operational excellence. Reinforce a culture of safety, integrity, and ownership. Data & Performance Management Analyze production, quality, and compliance data to identify trends and risks. Develop dashboards and reporting tools to track KPIs and audit readiness. Lead performance reviews and ensure alignment with customer and corporate expectations. CrossFunctional Collaboration Partner with operations, engineering, maintenance, and safety to ensure aligned execution. Support troubleshooting of quality issues and major process disruptions. Contribute to capital and process improvement projects. Financial Support Support cashflow monitoring and forecasting. Serve as backup for Accounts Receivable processes including monitoring, payments, bonus verification, and reimbursements.

Qualification Requirements Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent experience

Minimum Work Experience:

Five years of experience in manufacturing, operational excellence, quality, or compliance roles Three to five years of leadership or influencing experience in a manufacturing environment Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Strong understanding of in-process quality systems and audit requirements Working knowledge of GMP, SMETA, and Chain of Custody standards Proven ability to drive behavioral and cultural change in frontline operations without direct authority Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on root cause and prevention Strong leadership, communication, and accountability skills Highly organized with strong attention to detail and follow-through Results-driven with a strong sense of ownership and operational discipline Strong knowledge of GMP, audit processes, and regulated manufacturing environments Experience with SMETA, Chain of Custody (COC), or similar compliance standards preferred Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies Experience in wood products, pellet manufacturing, or heavy industrial environments preferred Proficiency with CMMS systems and Microsoft Office tools Ability to travel occasionally to the Hope, Arkansas facility Ability to work extended hours, weekends, or on-call as needed Ability to maintain regular and predictable attendance Abilityto work in a constant state of alertness Physical Requirements Industrial Environment, including hot, cold, dusty, or noisy conditions. Additionally, this role requires the ability to work at heights and enter confined spaces using proper personal protective equipment. For employment within the United States, the W.C. Bradley Co. uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired team members. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service at www.uscis.gov/e-verify. The W.C. Bradley Co. is an Affirmative Action / Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Discrimination and all unlawful harassment (including sexual harassment) in employment is not tolerated. We encourage success based on our individual merits and abilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military status, or veteran status. We support and obey laws that prohibit discrimination where we do business. Federal law requires the W.C. Bradley Co. to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. If you are interested in applying for employment with the W.C. Bradley Co. and require special assistance or accommodation to complete any part of the application and pre-employment process, please contact our Human Resources Office