Reporting to the CTO, the Quality Control Manager is a proactive, strategic thinker who ensures our marine coatings meet rigorous quality and safety standards from end to end. This role is responsible for developing and implementing quality control procedures, managing QC teams, and collaborating across departments to meet organizational goals. A primary objective is to prevent defective products from reaching customers by establishing effective testing, inspection, and monitoring systems.

The QC Manager will lead a team overseeing all quality control activities, from raw material inspection to final product testing, including random inspections, checkpoints, and ensuring product quality during shipment and application. This position ensures compliance with internal standards and regulatory requirements, safeguarding quality at every stage.

Key Areas of Focus

• Test raw materials and final products as needed to ensure quality.
• Inspect raw materials and finished goods to maintain quality standards.
• Evaluate raw materials and finished products, establishing re-work plans when necessary.
• Design and implement sampling plans for routine inspections, ensuring sufficient data to confirm product quality consistency.
• Collaborate with the R&D department to define pass/fail criteria for raw materials, packaging, and finished goods.
• Lead investigations into quality issues, identifying root causes and working with production to adjust processes as needed.
• Develop and establish quality control standards, guidelines, and testing methodologies.
• Maintain accurate records of inspections, test results, and corrective actions, providing regular QC reports to management.
• Implement Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for quality risk management.
• Train, supervise, and build a skilled QC team, ensuring adherence to testing procedures, quality standards, and safety protocols.
• Update and create QC procedures, SOPs, work instructions, and policies as standards and processes evolve.
• Create and manage a detailed calibration schedule for all testing and measurement equipment used in field coating applications.
• Verify and audit calibration and maintenance records, including certificates, tags, logs, and reports.
• Oversee testing and inspection of raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods, ensuring proper documentation.
• Identify and document non-conforming products, collaborating with teams to resolve issues.
• Coordinate with production, R&D, and other departments to troubleshoot quality issues.
• Prepare for internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with quality standards.
• Use statistical tools to analyze product SPC ranges and update, as necessary.
• Prepare reports and summaries on quality performance, KPIs, and trends.
• Maintain detailed records of QC activities, deviations, and corrective actions.
• Address quality issues related to supplier materials or components.
• Conduct supplier audits to ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Collaborate with customer service teams to meet customer quality expectations.

Talents & Competencies

The QC Manager at GIT must be detail-oriented, analytical, and proactive, with strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. They possess a deep understanding of quality standards and they work tirelessly to ensure that GIT products meet those standards while leading a team to achieve continuous improvement. Success in this role will be achieved by candidates who possess the following attributes:

• Culturally Aware: A flexible individual who thrives in a multicultural environment within a global organization, fostering collaboration across diverse teams.
• Adaptability: must be adaptable to changing circumstances, whether it's adjusting to new quality standards, implementing innovative technologies or processes, or addressing new quality challenges that arise unexpectedly.
• High Attention to Detail: It's all about the details! This mindset must be ingrained in the QC Managers daily activities and habits. Possessing a sharp eye for detail, as their role requires identifying small defects or deviations from standards that could impact product quality. They need to be meticulous in their inspections and audits to ensure every aspect meets the required specifications.
• Analytical Thinking: The ability to analyze data and identify trends, causes of defects, and areas for improvement is critical. The Quality Managers should be able to interpret test results, use statistical tools, and perform root cause analysis to address quality issues effectively.
• Problem-Solving Mindset: A resourceful and driven individual with strong critical thinking skills, naturally proactive, and skilled at addressing unexpected challenges when quality issues arise, they need to work with cross-functional teams to implement corrective actions and prevent future occurrence.
• Leadership Skills: strong leadership and team management skills are essential. The incumbent leads and motivates a team of technicians and quality inspectors, ensuring that all follow standardized procedures and maintain high-quality standards. They should also be effective in coaching and training their team.
• Strong Communication Skills: A confident communicator with excellent verbal and written abilities, essential for fostering collaboration with production, R&D, and customer service teams. They must be able to clearly explain quality issues and improvements to various stakeholders, as well as draft reports and document findings for management and stakeholders.
• Organizational Skills: The ability to manage multiple tasks, track inspection schedules, and maintain thorough records of test results, corrective actions, and audits is vital. The QC Manager must be highly organized to ensure compliance with QC standards and to keep track of all quality control processes.
• Commitment to Continuous Improvement: A mindset focused on continuous improvement, always looking for ways to enhance quality control processes, reduce defects, and ensure consistent product quality is a requirement. They should stay informed about industry trends and evolving quality standards.
• Risk-Aware: Possess a strong understanding of risk management to identify potential risks to product quality early and mitigate them before they escalate. This includes proactively addressing potential failures in the production process or issues with suppliers.
• Integrity and Accountability: Demonstrate high ethical standards, ensuring that quality control processes are followed strictly and that products meet QC requirements. They are accountable for the quality of the products leaving the production line and for the maintenance of quality standards.
• Customer-Centric: Understanding customer expectations and aligning the quality control processes to meet or exceed those expectations is critical as the QC Manager collaborates with customer service teams to address customer complaints and feedback related to product quality.
• Technical Competence: A solid understanding of quality management systems (e.g., ISO standards, FMEA, Six Sigma) and testing methodologies is essential. The candidate should be proficient in the use of various testing tools, software, and data analysis techniques.
• Fluency in English: Proficient in English, with the ability to operate comfortably in an English-speaking environment.

Academic Qualifications & Professional Experience

• Educational Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree: BSc in Polymer Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Relevant Experience: At least 3 years of relevant quality control experience in a paint manufacturing environment, combined with 3 years of leadership experience in similar environment.
• Quality Control Expertise: In-depth knowledge of quality control procedures, including legal and international standards such as ISO 9001.
• Maritime Industry Experience: Experience in the marine coating industry is a valuable asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required.

Physical Expectations & Environmental Factors

• Ergonomic Awareness: Awareness of repetitive motions and ergonomic risk factors is essential, requiring the implementation of mitigation strategies to maintain safety and efficiency.
• Physical Demands: Active and mobile throughout the day when required. The role involves sitting for prolonged periods while working at a desk and using a computer or possibly standing for long period in the lab and production environments. Must be able to lift heavy object up to 50lbs.
• Mobility Requirements: A full range of motion and barrier-free mobility are necessary for effectively performing the responsibilities of this role.
• Safety Protocols: All GIT employees entering the lab, production or warehouse environments are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).