This role ensures that products, processes, and suppliers consistently meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction. The Director oversees the Quality Management System, drives continuous improvement, ensures compliance with applicable regulations and codes-including NHTSA and RVIA-and fosters a culture where quality is embedded into every stage of the product lifecycle. As a key member of the leadership team, this role partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Customer Experience to deliver world class quality performance.
Day to Day of the Role:
- Set the strategic direction for the company's quality function, ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer expectations.
- Establish strong governance and accountability across all quality disciplines, with clear standards and measurable performance expectations. Define and track quality KPIs, driving accountability and progress toward strategic targets.
- Lead the development and continuous improvement of the QMS, ensuring it reflects industry best practices and supports the unique needs of the RV industry.
- Promote practical and effective quality methodologies that drive consistency in design, sourcing, manufacturing, and service.
- Ensure processes and standards are well defined, easy to follow, and consistently applied across the organization.
- Ensure compliance with federal regulations and industry codes, including NHTSA, FMVSS, and RVIA requirements. Oversee internal, supplier, and regulatory audits, ensuring systemic closure of findings and effective risk escalation and communication.
- Maintain audit and inspection readiness and lead corrective actions that address issues at the root cause and ensure long term effectiveness.
- Oversee customer complaints, field issues, and warranty performance, ensuring strong investigation, timely resolution, and meaningful improvements to reduce recurrence and cost. Translate field and customer insights into product and process improvements through effective cross functional collaboration.
- Lead supplier qualification and performance management, strengthening capability, accountability, and timely issue resolution, including cost recovery when appropriate.
- Set clear expectations for manufacturing quality, including incoming, in process, and final inspection standards.
- Support Operations with strong controls and issue containment practices that protect customers while supporting efficient production.
- Lead Management Reviews focused on performance, risk, and continuous improvement.
- Partner with Engineering and Operations in new product development, ensuring designs are robust, manufacturable, and launched with first time right quality.
- Serve as senior escalation point for complex or high visibility quality issues.
- Drive continuous improvement efforts using lean and data driven methods to eliminate waste, reduce defects, and improve reliability.
- Build and develop a high performing quality team, fostering capability, engagement, and strong leadership at all levels.
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, prevention, and continuous learning across the company and supply base.
- Represent Newmar in enterprise quality initiatives, sharing best practices and elevating quality systems across Winnebago Industries.
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, Quality, Manufacturing Management, or a related technical field required.
- Master's degree or MBA preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive quality experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
- Proven experience managing a Quality Management System and leading certification or customer audits.
- Deep understanding of quality methodologies (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, CAPA, Lean, Six Sigma).
- Certifications such as ASQ CQE, CQM, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt strongly preferred.
- Experience leading quality in manufacturing, engineering, or regulated industries (e.g., automotive, aerospace, medical devices, consumer goods) is a plus.
