The Senior Quality & Mission Assurance (QMA) Manager is responsible for overall leadership of the Northrop Grumman Armament Systems Business Unit’s Quality & Mission Assurance organization, including Mission Assurance, Program / Product Quality, Supplier Quality, Quality Management System, Audits, Training, Inspection, and Metrology/Calibration, consisting of more than 165 quality professionals across five locations (Plymouth and Elk River, MN, Mesa, AZ, Radford, VA, and Independence, MO). This role is a Manager of Managers and also manages 9 individual contributors supporting the Quality Management System/s, Audits (Internal and External), and Training.

The ideal candidate is an experienced leader, possessing demonstrated expertise in the core areas of strategy, process development, process analysis and performance management, operational excellence, risk management, and overall continuous improvement. They will have a proven track record of solving complex problems through systematic and objective evaluation of information resulting in effective communication, championing, and implementation of change with a diverse set of internal and external customers and suppliers.  Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills essential to working in a collaborative team. The position reports directly to the Weapons Systems Division Director of Mission Assurance with additional reporting responsibilities to the Armament Systems Business Unit VP.

This role is required to be onsite at Mesa AZ or Plymouth, MN with the ability to travel a minimum of 25%.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Manage the Business Units Quality & Mission Assurance (QMA) organization consisting of Quality and Mission Assurance Managers who oversee Mission Assurance, Program / Product Quality, Supplier Quality, Quality Management System, Audits, Training, Inspection, and Metrology/Calibration.
• Responsible for the QMA Strategic Objectives and deployment, aligning Corporate, Sector, Division and Business Unit objectives.
• Responsible for the execution and implementation of the Quality Management System (QMS) and AS9100 Certification.
• Responsible for overall Continuous Improvement system and ensuring consistent continuous improvement culture.
• Defines and monitors program specifications, quality metrics, internal audit metrics and processes to ensure mission success.
• Promotes the professional development of the Mission Assurance workforce and fosters a collaborative culture that sustains the momentum around employee engagement and inclusion, affordability, innovation, value growth and continuous improvement.
• Maintains the highest level of commitment to quality, compliance and internal controls in adherence to company values and ethics.
• Leverages comprehensive metrics, customer and employee feedback to assess program performance and risks and determines resources to ensure mission success.
• Develops and administers budgets, schedules, and performance standards.
• Establish and manage key project and process indicators / measures to assess project success and process performance. 
• Ensures policies, procedures, and processes are in place to assure the performance and quality of products with conformance to established standards, specifications, and customer requirements.
• Proactively work with functions and segments to continuously improve our Quality Management System and correct any identified deficiencies in support of our mission and strategies.
• Evaluate business systems and processes for risk, problem identification, and correction. Ensuring that corrective measures address all stakeholders’ voices and meet acceptable reliability standards and that documentation is compliant with requirements.
• Support Return to Green, Failure Analysis, and Corrective Action activities with focus on full resolution and future risk mitigation.
• Drive culture changes toward more proactive risk mitigation, data driven decision making, and continuous improvement mindset.

Basic Required Qualifications:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance and ATF Employee Possessor
• BA, BS or master’s degree in a STEM, Operations/Manufacturing, or Business field
  • Bachelor’s Degree with 10 years management or leadership experience
  • Master’s degree with 8 years management or leadership experience
• Experience with DoD contracts and requirements
• Lean-Six Sigma experience
• Direct experience working and collaborating across multiple Functions, IPTs and Projects
• Demonstrated experience developing, growing teams and shaping a performing culture
• Strong strategic and analytical skills
• Risk Management and Analysis execution experience
• AS9100 or Equivalent Quality Management System (QMS) experience
• Process Performance Measurement, Analysis, Continuous Improvement experience
• Ability to support Return to Green, Failure Analysis, and Corrective Action activities as independent resource with focus on full resolution and future risk mitigation.
• Drive culture changes toward more proactive risk mitigation, data driven decision making, and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to travel; approximately 25%

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in STEM, Business Management, or related fields highly desired
• Strong executive communications skills with the ability to lead, influence, and collaborate with a diverse set of leadership stakeholders
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, change management, and analytical skills
• Cross Functional/ Cross Site Corrective Action Board Lead Experience
• Experience with Corporate wide projects
• Proven experience communicating at all levels of the organization
• ASQ Certified Quality Manager / Organizational Excellence (CQM/OE)
• Program / Project Management Experience
• Lean-Six Sigma Black Belt