Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.
At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.
What are we looking for?
The Quality Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of the Quality Management System (QMS) Portfolio. The Quality Manager is the primary point of contact on all quality process improvement efforts, responds to and investigates customers complaints, and is the main contact for communications to customers on issues related to product quality. The Quality Manager is responsible for the continuous improvement of process and product capability.
The individual will directly manage quality personnel in Jefferson Hills. They will be fully accountable for ensuring the Quality Management System is functioning efficiently and aligning with the Global QMS / Continual Improvement processes with an ultimate goal of total customer satisfaction.
The Quality Manager will need to effectively utilize the expertise of their team and hold them accountable to supporting quality improvement efforts in the plants. They must be agile and be able to quickly work with their teams to identify and resolve issues as well as identify opportunities and take action to continuously improve results.
This role will regularly partner with the technology team and will frequently interface with the global quality business and commercial teams. They must be able to proactively and effectively communicate to all levels of the organization as well as customers.
WHAT YOU’LL OWN IN THIS ROLE:
Actively participate as a member of the Plant Leadership Team providing strategic insight and guidance on the quality management system and improvement efforts in the plant
Routine intermediate and finished product testing
Lead the analytical and shift labs at the site (Union and non-Union personnel)
Develop the systems, people, and teamwork within the quality organization that are needed to continuously improve the quality management system. Support ISO 9001:2015 certification and compliance.
Lead annual internal audits and liaise with corporate and external auditors.
Fully accountable for making sure the Quality Management System is functioning in an effective and efficient manner
Drive improvement in the quality areas with the goal of achieving total customer satisfaction
Lead the investigation process to resolve quality issues including customer complaints in collaboration with Technical team.
Effectively collaborate and partner with the technology team to deliver critical products and process improvements
Act as the main point of contact both internally and externally for quality issues/opportunities
Act as the primary expert on quality and pro-actively provide resources to solve and correct problems using problem solving techniques and continuous improvement tools.
Develop critical competencies in team members through training, performance evaluations, and timely information and formal feedback sessions.
Participate in and support the global technical networks for quality and their strategic goals and objectives.
Support other sites within the region on quality support
Implement systems and tools to improve process capability and reduce product variability
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:
Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Chemistry or Polymer Science, or related field
Minimum 5 years of experience in chemical plant manufacturing experience, monomer/reactive chemistry (preferred)
Chemical plant manufacturing experience
Reactive monomer chemistry experience
Excellent problem-solving skills (Root cause analysis)
Excellent cross functional collaboration
Previous experience managing ISO 9001 certified quality system
Ability to get results when there is no clear path or solution
Ability to strategize and determine where to focus when there are many competing issues/opportunities
Ability to change focus as needed and manage multiple projects at the same time
Strong planning and organization skills
Active listener with strong interpersonal skills
Ability to work in product development process environments with different functions (R&D, commercial, plant, production, safety)
Excellent communication skills to all functions at all levels
Ability to communicate and present both internally and externally to a diverse audience
QUALIFICATIONS THAT WILL SET YOU APART:
Higher level technical degree
Union environment experience
Experience with RCMS, cGMP and FDA
Certified Internal Auditor (Exemplar Global or ASQ Preferred)
RCA trained
ASQ CMQ/OE Certified
Analytical Instrument Expertise (GC, GPC, TGA, XRF, etc.)
Certified Lean Six Sigma Green / Black Belt (ASQ Preferred)
🌍 Global Benefits Overview
💰 Competitive, market-aligned compensation
🎯 Discretionary global bonus scheme
📈 Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions
🚗 Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role
🩺 Healthcare – tailored to regional locations
👶 Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)
🏡 Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs
📚 Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers
💙 Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives
🌱 Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country
🤝 Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive
🏆 Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science or related field
- Minimum 5 years chemical plant manufacturing experience
- Experience managing ISO 9001 certified quality system
- Experience leading analytical and shift labs, managing union and non-union personnel
- Strong problem-solving skills including root cause analysis
- Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills at all levels
- Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize, and drive results without clear paths
- Ability to work in product development environments with R&D, commercial, plant, production, and safety teams
- Reactive monomer chemistry experience
- Higher level technical degree
- Experience with RCMS, cGMP and FDA
- Certified Internal Auditor (Exemplar Global or ASQ), RCA training, or ASQ CMQ/OE
- Analytical instrument expertise (GC, GPC, TGA, XRF, etc.)
- Certified Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt
- Union environment experience
What We Do
Synthomer is a business-to-business speciality chemicals producer. We create value for all our stakeholders by applying our expertise and innovation capabilities to provide high-performance water-based polymers and ingredients to a wide range of blue-chip customers in multiple attractive end markets. Synthomer are headquartered and stock listed in the UK. We have more than 30 operational sites across Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia including four innovation centres of excellence. The Company employs around 4,200 entrepreneurial, highly skilled employees with the expertise and experience to drive our success worldwide.
