Product Development & Quality Manager

The Manager Product Development and Quality reports directly to the President.  This position is required to work in concert with the Operations Superintendent as well as the Director Administration, Purchasing/Logistics and Business Relations.  This position requires detailed knowledge of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Certification requirements and administers both certifications daily. 
Key Responsibilities

• Ensure all formulations are technically current.
• Stay abreast of new additives, new raw materials and new processes for new product development and existing product improvement.
• Ensuring that all site employees have awareness and training on site quality and safety requirements.
• Championing, developing, and implementing optimized quality assurance procedures and other processes to boost site and product quality.
• Conforming to quality and safety standards, customer specifications, and site quality and safety guidelines
• Verifying procedure, training, and documentation updates
• Ensures all raw and finished products meet quality specifications, documenting the approvals or rejections and properly filing/managing all reports.
• Monitoring the performance of quality equipment by ensuring the verification, calibration, and maintenance records are up to date.
• Supervising the actions associated with batch reports and operational progress towards final approval. 
• Lead all scale-up and critical formula projects and work with Operations Superintendent, and other outside experts to deliver product to customers.
• Troubleshooting issues impacting quality, process variation, and process capability with the Product Production team.
• Support external and internal ISO audits and other Company initiated audits.
• Assist in development of training materials for Sales team and wider organization.

Key Skills Sets:

• Superior knowledge in Blending Operations planning, testing and documentation of raw material and final product specifications.
• Develops new products cost effectively by investigating competitor product samples, testing and upscaling formulas to match or exceed product requirements, bring new product into Blending level scale.
• Identify and approve new processes to improve current product cost, competitiveness and quality.
• Work closely with Operations Superintendent and other team members in the development and implementation of blending processes, testing, recording of production methodology and testing of the final product
• Work directly with Customers to determine needs, address product deficiencies and develop means to remedy issues.
• Oversee all lab tests processes, ensure proper utilization of analytical lab equipment, calibration and verification requirements and documentation.
• Write and maintain all batch reports and other related records of lab work and reports.
• Identify potential cost-effective raw material which can be substituted in product formulations and provide economic justification for the change.
• Scale up blending process which involves the changes to raw materials or components and process parameters.
• Mentor all employees in the understanding ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 requirements, document all training, report requirements, lead internal audits and documentation and work with an outside auditor to fulfill ISO requirements to ensure the Company maintains its certification.

Requirements

• Advanced Degree in Chemistry with core competencies including critical thinking, problem solving and analysis.  Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry acceptable with demonstrated direct blending experience.
• 5-10 years’ experience in product blending operations
• Awareness of ISO Certification 9001 and 14001 and ability to gain certifications in both.
• Must be an effective representative of the Company when addressing technical product issues with existing customers, potential customers, suppliers and third-party test suppliers. 
• Strong organizational and analytical skills are required with an emphasis on attention to detail and maintain accurate and organized workflow of product formulation and production
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite applications and experience with QuickBooks.
• Must have a positive attitude and be self-motivated with excellent interpersonal skills. 
• Must be able to communicate effectively with all levels of employees
• Provide assistance to co-workers when needed
• Ability to multi-task
• High attention to detail

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.