Quality Excellence Lead

WELCOME HOME! – QUALITY EXCELLENCE LEAD – Mississauga, ON   Cascades is seeking a driven, detail‑oriented, and collaborative Quality Excellence Lead to oversee product quality, continuous improvement, and certification compliance at our Mississauga packaging facility. In this leadership role, you’ll ensure our corrugated packaging meets customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and Cascades’ high standards of operational excellence—while championing a quality culture across the plant.
WHAT WE OFFER     Career pathways that support your goals in a collaborative, values driven environment where your work directly supports customer success.
Excellent Benefits Package:
Health options, life insurance, paid time off;

Financial Benefits:

Retirement Savings Plan, profit sharing, stock options;
Well Being: EAP and Lifestyle Flex Benefit.
Salary Range: $81,000 – $110,000 CAD + Profit Sharing (based on qualifications and alignment with role requirements).
At Cascades, sustainable development means respecting the true nature of our 10,000 talented employees. Bring out the best in yourself every day!

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES   Quality Systems & Standards     Lead the implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of the site Quality Management System (QMS); monitor compliance with specifications, standards, and procedures.
Serve as site SME for certifications (e.g., FSC, SFI; RPTA knowledge an asset); maintain audit readiness, documentation accuracy, and execution of SOPs and quality procedures.
Plan and lead internal audits; prepare for and support external audits/certifications; drive effective CAPA.
Utilize SAP to document and track quality activities
Product Quality, Testing & Analytics     Oversee daily product testing and performance verification (e.g., ECT, Mullen, compression, caliper); ensure line checks, packaging inspections, raw‑material verification, and final product approval.
Track and analyze quality KPIs, trends, and systemic issues; support process control improvements and testing standards.
Manage site lab equipment (calibration, repairs, replacement) and documentation control.
Leadership & Continuous Improvement     Act as the Voice of the Customer and Quality Pillar lead; coach teams on best practices and build ownership for quality at the frontline.
Apply structured problem‑solving (RCA, 5 Whys, DMAIC, PFMEA) to reduce defects and variability; facilitate cross‑functional CI initiatives focused on waste reduction, capability, and consistency.
Provide training and mentoring on QA principles; enable a platform where operator input is valued with clear follow‑up; lead change with clarity, collaboration, commitment, and empathetic leadership.
Customer & Supplier Support     Serve as the site point of contact for customer quality inquiries, qualifications, trials, and complaint management; conduct root‑cause analysis and communicate resolutions.
Establish site quality objectives for product issues, defective materials, and customer/supplier complaints; partner closely with Customer Service and Sales to ensure standards meet expectations.
Operational Collaboration
Partner with operations, maintenance, and planning to ensure products meet specifications; support trials, new product qualifications, and raw‑material evaluations.
Conduct capability studies and statistical analyses; champion SPC/MSA/statistical tools to drive control and decision‑making.
QUALIFICATIONS   Education & Experience     Degree/Diploma in Quality Assurance, Engineering, Industrial Technology, Science, or related field; equivalent experience and certifications considered.
3–5+ years in a quality‑related manufacturing role; corrugated/packaging, paper, pulp, converting, or continuous‑process experience is an asset.
Technical Skills     Strong working knowledge of QMS implementation/ISO, SOPs, GMP principles, non‑conformance programs, and internal/external audits.
Proficiency with CI/Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher preferred); adept with RCA, DMAIC, PFMEA.
Data & statistics: SPC, capability analysis, sampling plans; advanced problem‑solving and critical‑thinking skills.

Experience with SAP and quality analytics/reporting.
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