Job Description

Position Summary

The Quality Manager serves as a key leader within the Quality organization, responsible for driving operational excellence by implementing and maintaining robust quality systems, supplier quality programs, compliance initiatives, document control processes, and continuous improvement efforts. This role partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Customer Service to ensure products and processes consistently meet or exceed customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and company standards. The Quality Manager provides leadership for quality assurance, quality control, supplier development, corrective actions, audits, and document control while fostering a culture of accountability, customer focus, continuous improvement, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Quality Systems Leadership

• Lead the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS).
• Ensure compliance with ISO standards, customer requirements, regulatory requirements, and company policies.
• Develop, maintain, and improve quality policies, procedures, work instructions, and standards.
• Support and lead internal audits, management reviews, customer audits, and external certification audits.
• Drive quality initiatives that support operational excellence and business objectives.

Manufacturing Quality

• Manage quality assurance and quality control activities for incoming, in-process, and finished products.
• Lead nonconforming material control processes and Material Review Board (MRB) activities.
• Monitor key quality performance indicators and drive improvements in product quality, first-pass yield, scrap reduction, and process capability.
• Partner with Operations and Engineering to improve manufacturing effectiveness and reduce defects.

Supplier Quality Management

• Lead supplier qualification, evaluation, development, and performance management activities.
• Establish supplier quality metrics and reporting processes.
• Coordinate supplier audits, supplier corrective actions, and supplier development initiatives.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and suppliers to improve quality, reliability, and delivery performance.
• Drive resolution of supplier-related quality concerns through structured problem-solving methodologies.

Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving

• Lead root cause analysis, corrective action, and preventive action activities.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies throughout the organization.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams focused on process improvement, waste reduction, cost savings, and defect prevention.
• Use data analysis and quality metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Promote a proactive culture focused on prevention rather than detection.

Document Control & Change Management

• Lead and oversee the company's document control function.
• Ensure proper control, review, approval, revision, distribution, and retention of quality and operational documents; Maintain document integrity and compliance with ISO requirements.
• Coordinate engineering change notices (ECNs), document updates, and controlled documentation workflows.
• Ensure employees have timely access to current and approved procedures, specifications, and work instructions.
• Monitor document control effectiveness through audits and periodic reviews.

Customer Quality & Compliance

• Serve as a primary quality contact for customers, suppliers, auditors, and regulatory agencies.
• Lead investigations and resolution of customer complaints and quality concerns.
• Manage customer corrective action responses and ensure timely closure.
• Support new product introductions, process validations, and engineering changes.
• Monitor customer satisfaction metrics and develop actions to address performance gaps.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop quality team members.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures.
• Identify training needs and support employee development plans.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on teamwork, engagement, and continuous improvement.

Supervisory Responsibilities

May directly supervise: Quality Engineers, Quality Supervisors, Quality Inspectors, Quality Technicians, Document Control Coordinator(s) and Supplier Quality Representatives

Qualifications

Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Business, or related field

Preferred:

• Master's Degree in Engineering, Operations, Business Administration, or related discipline

Experience Required:

• 7+ years of progressive quality experience within a manufacturing environment
• 3+ years of leadership or supervisory experience
• Experience maintaining ISO-based Quality Management Systems
• Experience leading corrective action and continuous improvement initiatives
• Experience managing supplier quality programs

Preferred:

• Experience in heavy industrial manufacturing, fabrication, rail, transportation equipment, or engineered-to-order manufacturing; Customer-facing quality leadership experience
• Experience with document control systems and engineering change management

Preferred Certifications

• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt / ISO Lead Auditor Certification
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
• ASQ Certified Manager of Quality / Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of Quality Management Systems and ISO standards
• Expertise in root cause analysis, CAPA, and structured problem-solving methodologies
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement tools
• Strong understanding of supplier quality management principles
• Knowledge of document control, revision control, and change management processes
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

Success Measures

Success in this role will be measured by:

Improvement in quality performance metrics; Reduction of defects, nonconformances, and rework; Improvement in supplier quality performance; Timely closure and effectiveness of corrective actions; Enhanced customer satisfaction and reduced customer complaints; Effective management of document control and change management processes; Development and engagement of a high-performing quality team.