Director of Quality, Compliance & Sustainability

Company Background 

Founded in 1958, Gemline is a multi-award-winning consumer products supplier servicing the $27B promotional products industry and is recognized as one of the largest and most respected companies in its industry. Ranked as the 12th largest supplier in revenues industrywide by the Advertising Specialty Institute, Gemline offers a diverse product portfolio that includes bags, backpacks, headwear, umbrellas, luggage, drinkware, electronics, stationery, writing instruments, gourmet foods, lifestyle gifts, and more. In addition to its 12 in-house developed brands, Gemline partners with 34 renowned global consumer brands, including Ahead™, American Tourister®, Anker®, Cool Gear®, CORKCICLE®, Cuisinart®, Hartmann®, High Sierra®, Igloo®, iLive®, MiiR®, Moleskine®, New Balance®, Osprey®, Paper Mate®, Samsonite®, Sharpie®, Timbuk2®, Yankee Candle® and more. 

Gemline is widely recognized for its high-quality products, innovative design, retail brand portfolio, responsible business practices and exceptional customer service. The company has deep expertise in design, product engineering & development, CI/Lean, factory oversight, compliance and global sourcing diversification, and is an industry leader in sustainably made products. Its business model makes the process seamless and efficient for distributor partners, creating a strong B2B2B experience. 

At Gemline, community is at the core of the company’s purpose, "We Promote Community," which shapes the company’s culture, influences product design, and drives its commitment to creating a positive global impact. Guided by its betterwayTM corporate social responsibility efforts, Gemline focuses on bettering people and the environment. In 2024, the company became both a globally certified B Corporation and registered Massachusetts B Corporation, reinforcing its dedication to balancing purpose and profit. 

Gemline has been recognized as one of the Greatest Companies to Work For on multiple occasions, and most recently in 2026 by PPAI, a leading industry association. "Pride in People, Pride in Product" is more than a motto at Gemline, it is a way of life. The company’s associates play a crucial role in delivering an exceptional customer experience, guided by strong foundational values of trust, integrity, humility, diversity, community, and truth. Gemline's success reflects its associates' success, and its culture thrives on collaboration, initiative, continuous problem-solving, safety, and respect for people.

Headquartered in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Gemline operates an integrated light manufacturing facility and distribution center, along with a secondary overflow warehouse, also in Lawrence. Additionally, the company operates a global technical center in Southern China that manages supply chain functions across Asia, including product development, sourcing, quality assurance, compliance, and logistics. It also has two sourcing offices in Vietnam and India. With approximately $140 million in annual revenue and 500 employees worldwide, Gemline is poised for continued growth. 

The Director of Quality and Compliance serves as a strategic and tactical leader, tasked with spearheading cutting-edge initiatives in quality and sustainability management across the Company. This individual will manage a team of three direct reports in Lawrence, MA, and have indirect responsibility for directing quality teams in Asia, including QC and supplier quality, to ensure we maintain leadership as an industry frontrunner in both quality and sustainability. This pivotal role, reporting to the VP of Supply Chain and Sustainability, is instrumental in upholding our dedication to environmental stewardship and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities: 

1.Quality Management:

· Develop, implement, and maintain effective quality management systems (QMS) based on relevant standards and regulations.

· Conduct internal audits and identify opportunities for improvement in quality processes.

· Develop and implement product safety protocols, proactively identifying and mitigating risks to ensure compliance and customer safety throughout the product lifecycle.

· Manage external audit process to include SMETA, EcoVadis, and B Corp related projects.

· Analyze data and generate reports to track quality performance and identify trends.

· Work closely with our Asia team to ensure quality standards are implemented throughout our overseas supply chain.

· Manage and resolve customer complaints and product issues, ensuring timely and satisfactory resolution.

· Lead the implementation of corrective and preventive actions to continuously improve quality.

· Own final approval of product specifications and test protocols, supplier CAPA sign-off, and claim approvals within defined dollar thresholds, including for work executed by the Asia QC team.

· Collaborate with other departments to ensure quality is integrated into all aspects of the business.

2. Compliance:

· Lead the product compliance program for US consumer product safety and chemical regulations, including CPSIA, CPSC rules, Prop 65, state PFAS laws, Reese's Law, and FDA food-contact requirements.

· Own compliance gating at product introduction: identify applicable regulations and required tests for every new item before PO release, so no product enters production without a defined compliance plan.

· Manage General Certificates of Conformity and CPSC eFiling, ensuring certificate data is complete and filed on time for every regulated import.

· Manage third-party lab testing (e.g., SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas): test plans, lab selection, report review, and tracking of test-report validity and retest triggers.

· Own Gemline's certification and audit compliance: B Corp recertification, EcoVadis, SMETA/amfori BSCI social audits, and material chain-of-custody certifications (GRS/RCS, FSC, OEKO-TEX), including evidence, submissions and corrective action plans to closure.

· Monitor new and pending regulations (federal and state) and translate them into updated requirements for suppliers, Product Development and Sourcing.

· Maintain compliance documentation, supplier declarations and audit records in a single system of record, ready for customer, B Lab or regulator review.

3. Sustainability:

· Develop and implement comprehensive sustainability strategies aligned with our business goals and industry best practices.

· Manage and track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to energy consumption, waste reduction, resource efficiency, and environmental impact.

· Lead the annual Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas inventory and its third-party verification to support B Corp recertification.

· Identify and implement sustainable procurement practices throughout the supply chain.

· Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate sustainability into product development, operations, and marketing initiatives.

· Lead and facilitate employee engagement programs to promote a culture of sustainability within the organization.

· Stay abreast of evolving sustainability regulations and best practices, adapting our approach accordingly.

Required Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in quality management, Operations Management, Sustainability Management, Environmental Science, Engineering, Materials/Textile Science, Chemistry or a related field, or equivalent experience.

·10+ years of experience in quality or product compliance for consumer products sourced from Asia, with hands-on experience running sustainability programs.

· 5+ years of direct people management, including hiring, goal setting, performance reviews and coaching.

· Proven ability to lead offshore QC teams through a dotted-line relationship across time zones, including running KPIs, review meetings and escalation paths.

· Working knowledge of US consumer product safety and chemical regulations, including CPSIA, CPSC certificates and eFiling, Prop 65, state PFAS laws, Reese’s Law and FDA food-contact requirements.

· Hands-on supplier quality experience: AQL inspections, factory audits, 8D/CAPA root cause analysis, and test plans with third-party labs (e.g., SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas).

· Experience managing social compliance audits (SMETA, amfori BSCI) and EcoVadis submissions, including corrective action plans.

· GHG accounting experience under the GHG Protocol, including Scope 3 (purchased goods, transportation), and supporting third-party verification.

· Experience with material certifications and chain of custody (GRS/RCS, FSC CoC, OEKO-TEX).

· Track record of developing and implementing successful quality and sustainability initiatives.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach.

· Strong communication and collaboration skills; able to work independently and influence across functions.

· Advanced Excel and Power BI (or similar); experience with ERP (IFS a plus) and PLM systems.

· Ability to work in-office at our Lawrence facility 3-4 days per week.

· Willingness to travel to Asia 3-4 times per year.

Desired Qualifications:

· ASQ CQE/CQM or ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification.

· B Corp certification or recertification experience under B Lab’s 2025 standards.

· Experience setting science-based targets (SBTi).

· Experience with product carbon footprint or LCA tools (Dayrize a plus).

· Mandarin or Vietnamese language skills.