Director Quality, Compliance, & Sustainability - Collaborative Environment

Role Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Quality

• Directs Product Quality Assurance and Control on a global basis with direct reports in the US and China.
• Develops new product processes and quality systems in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Owns the relationships for Third Party Services for quality inspections and testing functions.
• Acts as a liaison to Quality leadership counterparts at all customers/partners. This includes retail customers, licensing organizations, and direct/online customers such as Amazon.
• Directs new product and structural packaging projects including intellectual property assessment, conceptual development, interface with multiple internal groups including marketing, operations, and industrial design and external groups including China-based team, suppliers, and inventors.
• Directs the generation of product specifications for a wide range of product types including electronics, art materials, published media, tools and children’s toys and related.
• Advise and assist consumer affairs, sourcing, manufacturing, marketing, sales personnel, and customers regarding technical information related to capabilities of our product.
• Leads the investigation, analysis and determination of solutions, designs, and implementation for new product designs and/or technical changes to existing products in order to improve design, performance, cost, or manufacturing methods.
• Directs VA/VE (Value Analysis/Engineering) Projects
  • Provides leadership for Continuous Improvement effort with strategic suppliers as part of the CARE (Cost Avoidance and Reduction Effort) program

• Compliance
  • Directs all Regulatory and Social Compliance activities on a global basis with direct reports in the US and China.
  • Owns the relationships for Third Party Services for Regulatory Testing and Social Compliance audits.
  • Acts as a liaison to Responsible Sourcing/Social Compliance/Regulatory leadership counterparts at all customers/partners. This includes retail customers, licensing organizations, government organizations and direct/online customers such as Amazon.
  • Executes all regulatory changes in a timely manner
  • Develops detailed plans to conform to all social compliance requirements so that all Horizon customer accounts are in good standing.

• Sustainability
  • Directs all Sustainability activities on a global basis for Horizon and all customer accounts. This involves collecting and reporting data for the Horizon facilities as well as all supplier partners.
  • Owns the relationships for Third Party Services for Sustainability activities.
  • Acts as a liaison to Sustainability leadership counterparts at all customers/partners. This includes retail customers, licensing organizations, and direct/online customers such as Amazon.
  • Develops detailed plans to conform to all Sustainability requirements so that all Horizon Customer accounts are in good standing.

Requirements

• Ability to come to the office in Warren, NJ ~3 days/week required.
• 10-15 years’ experience in leading the compliance and regulatory requirements of consumer products (kids, toys, and/or crafts industries preferred) and 5-10 years leading a quality assurance team.
• Working knowledge of Sustainability and Social Compliance required.
• Strong working knowledge of quality and product safety standards and protocols including ISO9000, cGMP, F963 and EN71 Toy Safety Standards.
• Understanding of EU regulatory requirements is strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of Six Sigma (Design for Six Sigma etc.). Certification at Green Belt or higher a plus.
• Ability to apply design integrity tools such as DFMEA (Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis).
• Ability to lead root cause analyses of issues and generate a corrective action plan.
• Ability to lead multiple projects of varying priorities under tight deadlines.
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally (25-35%) including China trips of up to 14 days.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in leading the technical assessment of factories and commercialization of new products and packages internationally.
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering (MS in Engineering/MBA a plus) preferred.
• Experience in applying lean manufacturing techniques a plus.

About Us:

HORIZON GROUP USA CONNECTS PEOPLE THROUGH CREATIVITY.

Horizon’s rich history in the craft industry dates to 1912 — and while many things have evolved over the past century, one element remains the same: Creativity. It is universally human, and we believe creativity is for everyone. As a global leader providing trend-driven D.I.Y. and educational activity kits, our mission is clear: To fuel each generation with the power to explore the world around them and unlock their potential. By supporting each stage of development with thoughtful, hands-on entertainment — Horizon Group USA does not just deliver products with lasting benefits, we inspire the entire creative family to be the best version of themselves — proudly expressive, confident, and unique.

Together, we create what’s next!

#LI- Hybrid