Job Description

General Summary

The Sr. Manager, Corporate Quality is responsible for the strategic leadership, governance, and continuous improvement of the company's Quality Management Systems (QMS) across North America operations. This role ensures sustained compliance with applicable international quality standards while embedding Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and Operational Excellence principles into quality systems execution to deliver measurable business results.

This position serves as a senior liaison between site Quality organizations, Corporate Quality, Customers, Commercial and Operational Excellence leadership, driving standardization, capability development, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement across the enterprise.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Quality Management System Leadership
• Owns and governs the North America Quality Management System, including policies, procedures, documentation, and process architecture.
• Ensures quality system effectiveness, consistency, and alignment with corporate standards and business strategy.
• Acts as senior Quality Systems subject-matter expert and escalation point for system compliance and performance issues.

Quality Agreement, Specification, Certification & Regulatory Compliance
• Maintains as signature authority, Quality Agreements, Specifications, PPAP\PSW and Change Notification agreements for all EM North America locations.
• Maintains third-party quality certifications and accreditations, including but not limited to:

o ISO 9001

o ISO 13485

o NSF

o UL
• Develops and maintains the Plant level Internal Calibration, Audit Plan and Internal Audits.
• Serves as senior management representative for external audits, certification bodies, and customer assessments/surveys
• Ensures timely, sustainable corrective actions for audit findings and systemic nonconformances.

Continuous Improvement
• Provides leadership for enterprise-wide Quality Systems to ensure rigor, consistency, and measurable outcomes.
• Partners with Operational Excellence and Manufacturing leaders to:

o Select and prioritize improvement opportunities

o Translate business needs into improvement charters
• Drives KPI development, tracking, trending, and management review to support data-driven decision making.
• Leads and sponsors complex, cross-functional improvement initiatives with significant quality, cost, and risk impact.
• Manage statistical evaluations of incoming raw materials and outgoing products, in accordance with established procedures.

Corporate & Cross-Functional Leadership
• Serves as North America liaison to Corporate Quality, Quality Council, and Operational Excellence governance forums.
• Facilitates communication, translation, and incorporation of best practices across plants, business units, and regions.
• Collaborates with Engineering, Supply Chain/Manufacturing, Commercial, and EHS leaders to ensure quality systems enable business execution and customer satisfaction.
• Supports development, deployment, and sustainment of quality aligned with enterprise priorities. Maintains Toll Vendors. Including, as applicable, Toll Vendor Audits, Certification, Quality Agreements and Production COA management

Talent & Organizational Leadership
• Leads, develops, and mentors Quality Systems leaders and professionals.
• Drives engagement, accountability, and succession planning within the Quality organization.
• Assesses organizational capability gaps and supports targeted development actions.

Additional Responsibilities
• Supports enterprise risk management, change management, and major transformation initiatives.
• Provides executive-level reporting on Quality Systems health, risks, and improvement progress.
• Performs additional duties and projects as assigned.

Scope
• Multi-plant / Regional (North America)
• Enterprise Quality Management Systems

Education
• Bachelor's Degree required (Engineering, Quality, or related technical discipline preferred)
• Master's Degree preferred

Experience
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Manufacturing Quality and/or Operational Excellence
• Minimum 7 years in Quality Systems or enterprise quality leadership roles
• Demonstrated experience in ISO-based Quality Management Systems
• Experience applying Lean Six Sigma methodologies in operational and quality environments
• Proven success leading cross-functional, enterprise-scale improvement initiatives
• Experience developing and coaching leaders and indirect teams

Skills & Certifications

Technical & Professional
• Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485 preferred)
• Continuous Improvement & Process Excellence (Black Belt or equivalent strongly preferred)
• Risk-based thinking and change management
• Audit leadership and corrective action systems

Leadership & Personal
• Strategic Thinking
• Analytical & Statistical Skills
• Influence and coaching without authority
• Training and mentoring capability
• Time and priority management
• Executive-level communication

Software
• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• SAP or equivalent ERP
• Quality Management Systems tools