Job Summary

The Manager, Quality Assurance is a mid-level management role responsible for ensuring that products, processes, and systems consistently meet defined quality standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. This role focuses on prevention-focused quality assurance through robust systems, controls, and governance rather than end-product inspection alone.

Job Description

The Manager, Quality Assurance leads quality assurance activities for a defined scope, which may include a plant, business unit, product line, or functional area. The role develops and executes tactical and operational QA plans aligned with enterprise quality strategy, ensuring effective prevention, compliance, and continuous improvement. This position manages quality assurance professionals and serves as a key advisor to leadership on quality system effectiveness, audit readiness, and quality risk mitigation. The role typically reports to a Director of Quality, Regulatory Leader, or Operations Leader.

Key Responsibilities
Quality Assurance Systems & Governance

Lead development, implementation, and maintenance of quality assurance systems and procedures
Ensure effective document control, change management, and quality governance practices
Maintain alignment with internal quality policies and external regulatory standards

Compliance & Audit Management

Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, industry, and customer QA requirements
Lead preparation for and response to internal, customer, and regulatory audits
Manage corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes and verification of effectiveness

Risk Management & Prevention

Identify quality risks through audits, data analysis, and process reviews
Proactively implement preventive actions to reduce quality incidents and nonconformances
Support risk assessments for new products, process changes, and suppliers

Process & Product Quality Assurance

Partner with Operations and Engineering to ensure quality is built into processes and designs
Support development and maintenance of control plans, standards, and validation activities
Oversee investigation and resolution of systemic quality issues

Continuous Improvement & Performance Management

Drive moderate to significant improvements in quality assurance effectiveness and maturity
Define and track QA KPIs such as audit results, CAPA effectiveness, and compliance trends
Support Lean, Six Sigma, or other improvement initiatives through a QA lens

Cross‑Functional Partnership

Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Regulatory, and Customer teams
Support new product introductions, changes, and transfers from a QA perspective
Influence alignment on quality priorities and prevention-focused decision‑making

People Leadership & Talent Management

Manage and develop quality assurance staff through coaching, performance management, and development planning
Establish staffing and capability plans to meet compliance and quality system needs
Provide input and authority for hiring, promotion, and reward decisions in alignment with company guidelines

Communication & Influence

Communicate quality system performance, risks, and improvement plans to leadership
Prepare and present QA metrics, audit outcomes, and compliance updates
Influence adoption of a strong quality culture and accountability across the organization

Qualifications
Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related field required
Master’s degree or professional certification (CQE, CQA, Six Sigma Black Belt) preferred
Typically 7 or more years of progressive experience in quality assurance, quality systems, or regulated environments
Prior people management or QA leadership experience required

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strong knowledge of quality assurance systems, audits, and compliance requirements
Experience leading CAPA, risk assessments, and preventive quality initiatives
Proven ability to lead teams and deliver results through others
Demonstrated capability to manage moderately complex quality and regulatory challenges
Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills
Ability to influence cross‑functional partners and senior stakeholders
High level of integrity, rigor, and prevention‑oriented mindset

Additional Job Details

Management – M2 Organizational Impact • Works to achieve operational, functional, and/or business targets within team with direct impact on departmental or job family results • Delivers operational results that have impact on the immediate or short-term results (e.g., less than 1 year) for the department and/or job family group • Plans and establishes goals and objectives for a team typically comprising of intermediate-level professionals and entry level professionals Communication & Influence • Communicates with parties within and occasionally outside of own department or job family, which may include external clients or partners depending upon the job area • Requires ability to influence others outside of own job area on policies, practices and procedures Innovation & Complexity • Responsible for making moderate improvements of processes, systems, or products to enhance performance of the job area • Problems are difficult and moderately complex and typically impact multiple departments or job family • Problems are typically solved through drawing from prior experience and analysis of issues Leadership & Talent Management • Manages a team typically comprising of intermediate-level professionals and entry level professionals • Leads, directs and reviews the work of team members in order to accomplish operational plans and results • Typically has hiring, firing, promotion, and reward authority within own area, in accordance with manager review and approval Knowledge & Experience • Requires practical knowledge in leading and managing the execution of processes, projects and tactics within one job area • Typically has advanced knowledge and skills within a specific technical or professional discipline with understanding of the impact of work on other areas of the organization • Typically has a bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional certification and 5 years of prior relevant experience

Work Shift Schedule

No Soliciting

Nidec will not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third party recruiting agencies in response to Nidec job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers. Pre-approval from the Nidec Talent Acquisition team is required before any external candidate can be submitted and such candidate must be submitted to the Nidec Talent Acquisition team.