Job Title: Manager, Quality Management, Supplier Quality Job Location: Northampton, MA Job Schedule: 9/80 Job Description:The Supplier Quality Manager is responsible for overseeing and developing the supplier quality program for the Northampton site within the Maritime Acoustics & Imaging division. This role ensures that all external suppliers meet required quality, technical, and delivery standards to support high-reliability maritime products. The Supplier Quality Manager drives supplier performance improvement, manages incoming quality processes, and works closely with Procurement, Engineering, and Operations to maintain a robust and compliant supply chain.Essential Functions:- Lead the supplier quality program for the Northampton site, including standards, procedures, and best practices for supplier qualification and performance management.
- Plan and execute supplier qualification, audits/assessments, and ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance with internal, industry, and customer requirements.
- Act as the primary escalation point for supplier quality issues-manage nonconformances, root-cause/corrective actions, recovery planning, and Get-To-Green execution.
- Drive preventive quality and risk mitigation-identify process gaps and implement closure plans to strengthen supply chain robustness.
- Support Procurement with supplier selection, onboarding, and risk evaluation through data-driven assessments and technical review.
- Partner with Engineering on specs/drawings, NPI/design changes, and ensure technical reviews have appropriate SME coverage.
- Lead continuous improvement with suppliers (defect prevention, process capability, delivery performance) and align with corporate improvement initiatives and common processes/lean/quality systems training.
- Monitor and report supplier performance via scorecards and KPIs (defect rates, audit findings, corrective-action timeliness), including line-of-balance metrics to gauge manufacturing health.
- Ensure supplier compliance with applicable standards (e.g., ISO 9001), regulatory requirements, and customer-specific quality clauses.
- Verify suppliers' capacity, demand, and resource planning to demonstrate rate readiness.
- Foster cross-functional collaboration across Supply Chain, Engineering, and Quality; build transparent partnerships with suppliers based on clear expectations and accountability.
- Represent the Northampton site and align supplier-quality efforts with USS divisional strategy, reviews, and improvement initiatives.
- Requires up to 50% business travel
Qualifications:- 12+ years in Operations/Quality/Supply Chain or related fields, with hands-on experience in supplier quality/quality engineering within a manufacturing/technical environment.
- Proven leadership/management. Ability to lead cross-functional teams, interface across levels, and engage effectively with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
- Demonstrated supplier development and performance improvement, including constraint management and lean manufacturing principles.
- Strong command of quality systems and auditing practices; supplier development methodologies and compliance frameworks (e.g., AS9100 or ISO 9001).
- Analytical and critical-thinking skills-data-driven oversight, KPI/scorecard management, and effective prioritization.
- Executive-level communication and presentation; relationship building, team facilitation, and conflict resolution to create a trust-based partnering environment.
- Ability to work independently with minimal oversight.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to obtain and/or maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance
Preferred Additional Skills:- Experience in aerospace, defense, maritime, acoustics, imaging, or other high-reliability industries.
- Certifications such as ASQ Certified Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP), CQE, CQA, or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt.
- Familiarity with PPAP, APQP, FMEA, and other advanced quality tools.
- Experience with high-mix, low-volume production environments and complex supply chains.
In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role is $116,500-216,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
