Position Summary

The Quality Manager is responsible for building, implementing and continuously improving Northstar Recycling's internal Quality Management System (QMS), and for owning the company's specific quality program — a subset of the QMS, for a major food and beverage client, governing internal processes and outlets handling client material. This role partners with every department to document, standardize, and continuously improve how work is done, while also serving as the primary quality point of contact for this client, and the outlets that process their material. Success in this role requires exceptional attention to detail, sound judgment about what matters most, and the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with audiences ranging from outlet staff to external client quality teams.

Key Responsibilities

Internal Quality Management System (QMS)

• Design, build, implement and maintain Northstar's internal Quality Management System, establishing the structure, tools, and governance needed to support it long-term.
• Partner with every department to identify, capture, and document existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), converting informal or undocumented practices into standardized, approved procedures within the QMS.
• Establish and maintain version control and document control processes so that SOPs, workflows, forms, and quality records stay current, approved, and easily retrievable.
• Develop and maintain training records tied to SOPs, ensuring employees are trained in current procedures and that training completion is tracked and auditable.
• Manage a new incident and corrective action process, including intake, root-cause investigation, corrective/preventive action (CAPA) tracking, and closure verification.
• Lead or support investigations into quality incidents and non-conformances, driving root-cause analysis and ensuring corrective actions are effective and documented.
• Continuously assess and improve the QMS based on audit findings, incident trends, and operational feedback.

Specific Quality Program (External-Facing)

• Own and maintain the specific quality system as a clearly defined subset of the overarching QMS, ensuring it meets client specific requirements and expectations.
• Maintain all internal SOPs, as well as SOPs for any outlet that processes client material, keeping them current, version-controlled, and audit-ready.
• Serve as the primary quality liaison, managing external interactions, communications, and inquiries with professionalism and responsiveness.
• Develop and deliver quality training to outlets that handle client material, ensuring consistent understanding and execution of specific requirements.
• Coordinate and support quality audits and reviews, ensuring documentation, training records, and corrective actions are organized and readily available.
• Proactively identify and escalate quality risks related to client material handling, distinguishing critical issues from lower-priority items and driving timely resolution.
• Maintain trackers and dashboards, identify trends and risks, and support business review readiness.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Quality, Business, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related) or equivalent professional experience.
• Prior experience in quality management, quality assurance, compliance, or a related field; experience building or maturing a QMS from the ground up is a strong plus.
• Experience with SOP development, document control, and training/compliance record-keeping systems.
• Experience managing incident investigation and corrective action (CAPA) processes.
• Experience working with or for a branded customer quality program (e.g., a major food/consumer brand) is a plus, given the external-facing nature of the program.
• Familiarity with the recycling, waste, or manufacturing industry is a plus but not required.
• Familiarity with eQMS, workflow automation and data tools also a plus.
• Travel throughout North America approximately 20% of the time.

Skills & Competencies

• Highly detail-oriented, with a rigorous, organized approach to documentation, version control, and record-keeping.
• Outstanding communicator across written, verbal, and presentation formats, comfortable engaging both internal teams and external partners such and outlet contacts.
• Sound judgment in identifying what matters most — able to prioritize effectively amid competing demands and escalate the right issues at the right time.
• Strong collaborator who builds trust and works effectively across departments and functions, from operations to compliance to leadership.
• High level of professionalism and discretion, particularly when representing Northstar externally to a key customer partner.
• Self-directed and comfortable building new processes and systems where none currently exist.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and openness to learning quality/document-management software tools.

Northstar Specific Performance Competencies

The Quality Manager role at Northstar requires alignment with our core Northstar Performance Competencies, including:

• Excellence: Achieving high standards of performance and creativity, managing tasks effectively, respecting data confidentiality, and demonstrating reliability in attendance and task completion. 
• Collaboration: Actively fostering teamwork and a positive work environment, contributing to team efforts, and sharing expertise with colleagues. 
• Stewardship & Ownership: Taking full responsibility for work, adhering to company standards, setting clear goals, and seeking solutions proactively. 
• Empathy & Passion: Displaying genuine care for others, showing enthusiasm for Northstar’s mission, and engaging in professional, meaningful work. 
• Humility & Integrity: Demonstrating honesty, self-awareness, openness to feedback, and a commitment to exceeding client expectations through trust and transparency. 
• Flexibility & Tenacity: Embracing adaptability, persisting through challenges, and continuously seeking growth opportunities. 

Working Relationships

• Reports to: Director of Audit & Regulatory.
• Partners closely with: All internal departments (Operations, Commodity Sales, Client Services, Finance, OOEE, FTF)

This position is available as a remote position. This is a full-time, benefits eligible, exempt role. Our business hours are Monday – Friday, from 8:00am – 5:00pm EST. 

This position requires valid driver’s license and clean driving record as a condition of employment.  

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time (including STEM OPT). 

DEIB Statement & Commitment

At Northstar Recycling, our company’s intention behind Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is to create a more inclusive and equitable culture, business practices and methods of operation. As an organization, we are continuing the work that allows for unlearning, accountability, and acceptance. We are incorporating DEIB thinking in all our interactions including hiring, promotion, and retention efforts. 

To hold ourselves accountable, Northstar utilizes a DEIB scorecard to measure the following performance metrics: Employee Education and Participation; Leadership Support and Investment; Data Practices; and Retention, Hiring and Promotion. Each metric is evaluated on a quarterly basis and Northstar’s progress is reviewed annually with our leadership team to drive accountability organizationally. 

Northstar takes many actions to promote DEIB practices, especially as they relate to recruitment, retention, and promotion. We support our employees through educational resources and training, professional development opportunities, and formal Mentorship programs. We also offer several Affinity Groups and our DEIB Employee Resource Group (ERG).  

Employee Benefits

Northstar offers a comprehensive benefits package, and provides a generous employee contribution to our health, dental, and vision insurance premiums. We offer a 401(k)-retirement plan and match 100% of your first 4% of pay contribution to the plan; this matching contribution is 100% immediately vested. We also provide company sponsored short-term, long-term, and life coverage, as well as a multitude of supplemental and voluntary benefit programs. 

Northstar promotes a healthy work-life balance. In that spirit, we offer a competitive PTO package that includes vacation time, sick time, 7 observed federal holidays, 3 floating holidays, and additional time off each year for volunteer efforts. 

Northstar is a remote-first organization! We offer a fully remote working environment with virtual culture and teambuilding events to create and maintain a sense of belonging, connection, and inclusivity between our team members. We also take great pride in our coaching culture! Northstar fosters professional development for employees within their roles and works to create opportunities for promotion to cultivate meaningful growth for Northstar employees. 

EEOC Statement

Northstar Recycling adheres to all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age (40 or older), handicap or disability, genetic information, or military status. It is also illegal to discriminate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit. 

Northstar Recycling is committed to fully complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which ensures equal opportunity for qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation is available to all disabled employees, where their disability affects the performance of job functions.  

All employment decisions are based on the merits of the situation in accordance with defined criteria, and not on the disability of the individual. The Company will follow any state or local law that provides individuals with disabilities greater protection than the federal ADA law.