Quality Systems Engineer

Description

At American Packaging Corporation (APC), you’ll find the packaging career you’ve been looking for. With competitive salaries, excellent benefits, 401(k) plans and tuition reimbursement programs, we nurture our employees while advancing and promoting diversity and inclusion. As the leading flexible packaging converter in North America for over a century, APC’s longstanding success is fueled from the inside out. We’re constantly seeking to improve our internal operations and were named a “Best of the Best” in the Best workplaces in the America’s awards for 12 years in a row. It’s how and why we engage the best and brightest talent to continue propelling our shared success into the future.

LOCATION: Rochester, NY

SUMMARY: Responsible for championing the Integrated Business Management System (IBMS), maintaining certification to ISO9001, FSSC, FSC, ISCC+ and other standards as required. Provide training, write procedures and processes to support IBMS development, lead and undertake audits across all areas of the business and supply chain, maintain statistical tools for continuous quality and profit improvement projects, and drive improvement actions from audits, customer complaints, and continuous improvement initiatives. Act as the change agent for quality-related projects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Technical Knowledge

• Standards and Compliance: Ensure thorough understanding and application of fundamental quality, food safety, and Chain of Custody (CoC) standards (e.g., GFSI, HACCP, ISO 9001, FSSC, FSC, ISCC+).
• Audit Performance: Demonstrate the ability to identify areas where APC is not conforming to applicable standards and system requirements through internal audits. Implement Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPAs) to prevent third-party or customer audit findings.
• Documentation: Provide accurate and timely documents and records required for audits and customer requests for information (RFI).
• CAPA Management: Produce effective corrective action responses for audit findings and ensure timely closure of gaps.

2. Organizational Skills

• Task Management: Efficiently manage tasks, schedule audits, and maintain accurate records.
• Audit Planning and Execution: Plan and schedule audits, ensuring site personnel are aware and prepared. Utilize a backroom approach during audits when preparing evidence.
• Record Keeping: Maintain an accurate and up-to-date audit tracker and audit records. Ensure proper submission of invoices for audit activities.
• Process Implementation: Effectively implement assigned food safety and quality processes, including audits, management reviews, food safety verification and validation, food safety PRPs, customer surveys, information requests, and Trace Gains.

3. Communication Skills

• Professional Communication: Maintain clear, concise, and professional communication in all written and verbal interactions with customers, auditors, and internal colleagues.
• Timely Responses: Respond promptly to all emails and inquiries, ensuring no instances of unprofessional or ineffective communication.
• Documentation and Reporting: Ensure all audit findings are properly substantiated and recorded. Provide clear and well-written CAPA responses.

Requirements

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Quality Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in quality systems management, preferably in the packaging or food industry.
• Strong knowledge of quality, food safety, and CoC standards (e.g., GFSI, HACCP, ISO 9001, FSSC, FSC, ISCC+).
• Proven experience in audit planning, execution, and CAPA management.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Proficiency in statistical tools and continuous improvement methodologies.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, r