About the Role

As a Sr. Supervisor – Supplier Quality & Development, you will lead the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of supplier quality across components used in HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment).

This role combines technical leadership, team management, and supplier development, ensuring supplier processes are capable, materials meet specifications, and risks are proactively mitigated across both New Product Introduction (NPI) and serial production.

You will directly influence product performance, reliability, and compliance, while developing a high-performing SQE team and strengthening supplier partnerships to achieve long-term quality excellence.

This role is critical in ensuring that supplier-provided components consistently meet the performance, reliability, and regulatory standardsrequiredfor HVAC systems. Through strong leadership and supplier development, you will directly enable product quality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities 

1. Team Leadership & Quality Operations 

• Lead, develop, and supervise a team of Supplier Quality Engineers and/or incoming quality personnel, setting clear objectives and performance expectations. 

• Establish priorities, allocate resources, and ensure execution of supplier quality processes and deliverables. 

• Coordinate on-site Quality Lab operations, ensuring capability, capacity, and alignment with inspection and testing requirements. 

• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision making. 

2. Supplier Quality Strategy & Performance Management 

• Define and deploy the supplier quality strategy, including qualification, certification, and ongoing performance monitoring (KPIs, scorecards). 

• Lead supplier segmentation and development plans based on risk, performance, and business impact. 

• Ensure effective execution of the Supplier Non-Conforming Material (NCM) process, including escalation and systemic resolution. 

• Oversee incoming inspection strategy and optimization (sampling plans, skip-lot, containment controls) for HVAC components. 

3. NPI & Supplier Industrialization 

• Lead supplier quality activities for NPI programs, ensuring readiness for HVAC product launches. 

• Oversee and coordinate on-site supplier readiness activities, including audits, run-at-rate, and process validation. 

• Define and standardize PPAP / UPPAP requirements, ensuring alignment withcustomer, regulatory, and internal expectations.

• Ensure successful execution of certification runs, validation builds, and capability studies (Cp/Cpk).

4. Process Validation & Change Management

• Govern supplier process validation and approval, including PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and process capability.

• Approve PPAP submissions and PSW, ensuring compliance with engineering and HVAC product requirements.

• Lead supplier readiness for engineering changes, resourcing decisions, and work transfers, mitigating quality risks.

5. Supplier Development & Continuous Improvement

• Drive structured supplier development initiatives to improve process capability, quality performance, and maturity.

• Lead and coach suppliers in problem-solving methodologies (8D, A3, 5-Why, etc.) to ensure robust root cause and corrective actions.

• Establish and monitorimprovementroadmaps focused on defect reduction, variation control, and process robustness.

• Promote best practices aligned with HVAC manufacturing requirements (e.g., leak integrity, thermal performance, durability).

6. Problem Resolution & Escalation Management

• Lead escalation of critical supplier quality issues, ensuring rapid containment and cross-functional alignment.

• Participate in and lead Corrective Action Boards (CABs) and executive reviews whenrequired.

• Drive systemic resolution of issuesimpactingcustomer satisfaction, production continuity, or field performance.

7. Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Alignment

• Partner with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to align on: 

• HVAC system requirements and specifications

• Supplier risk identification and mitigation

• Cost, quality, and delivery performance

• Influence business decisions related to supplier selection, sourcing strategy, and quality risk management.

Requirements 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field. 

• ≥5–7 years of experience in Supplier Quality, Quality Engineering, or Manufacturing Quality. 

• Demonstrated experience leading teams or supervising technical personnel. 

• Experience in a manufacturing environment (HVAC or similar industry preferred). 

• Strong knowledge of quality systems, supplier quality processes, and Core Tools. 

• Advanced English proficiency (written and verbal). 

Although not necessary, it would be nice if you have: 

• Experience in HVAC manufacturing, appliances, or thermal/mechanical systems. 

• Strong expertise in:  

• PPAP/UPPAP, PSW approval, and supplier part qualification 

• Manufacturing processes such as sheet metal, brazing, welding, and refrigeration systems 

• Incoming inspection systems and advanced sampling strategies 

• Proven ability to lead supplier development and transformation initiatives. 

• Certification or experience in Six Sigma / Lean methodologies. 

• Strong data analytics and decision-making skills.