Director of Quality Engineering & Product Performance
Job Summary
Clark Associates is seeking a Director of Quality Engineering & Product Performance to lead the technical authority behind Clark's private-label product portfolio. This role reports directly to the Vice President and is responsible for ensuring suppliers meet rigorous engineering standards and products meet the highest quality, performance, and durability.
About the Role
This is a build-and-scale role, not a caretaker position. The successful candidate will continue the work of centralizing and maturing these capabilities while preserving the speed and agility that define Clark's culture. Periodic travel to supplier locations domestically and internationally is required.
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain product specifications, engineering standards, and performance requirements that suppliers must meet across Clark’s private-label portfolio.
Review supplier designs, prototypes, and engineering documentation with the technical depth to identify risks and catch problems before they reach production.
Build and lead a rigorous product testing program (in-house and at suppliers) — including incoming inspection, performance validation, life-cycle and durability testing, and failure analysis.
Serve as the technical authority in sourcing conversations, evaluating supplier capabilities, factory processes, and manufacturing quality systems to ensure they can deliver to Clark’s standards.
Design and implement an enterprise-wide supplier quality program, including supplier assessment, qualification, audit, corrective action, and continuous improvement — with a focus on global sourcing partners, particularly in Asia.
Translate customer feedback, field performance data, and product return insights into actionable engineering requirements and specification updates that drive supplier improvement.
Embed product quality considerations across all stages of the product lifecycle — from sourcing and supplier selection through production, distribution, and post-market performance.
Build and maintain dedicated quality engineering presence at key supplier locations to ensure command and control of product quality at the factory level.
Collaborate cross-functionally with merchants, sourcing, compliance, and distribution teams to ensure that quality and engineering insight informs product and sourcing decisions.
Provide strategic counsel to senior leadership on product quality, supplier performance, and engineering risk — translating technical findings into clear business impact.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing quality engineering team, setting clear direction and priorities aligned with the company’s values and growth objectives.
Physical Requirements
Work is performed while sitting/standing and interfacing with a personal computer.
Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision, and hearing.
Requires the regular use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations.
Requires occasional bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, and reaching.
Requires the ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull medium weights, up to 50lbs.
Remote Work Qualifications
Access to a reliable and secure high-speed internet connection.
Cable or fiber internet connections (at least 75mbps download/10mbps upload) are preferred, as satellite connections often cannot support the technologies used to perform day-to-day tasks.
A dedicated home office space that is noise- and distraction-free.
The space should have strong wireless connection or a wired Ethernet connection (wired connection is preferred, if possible).
A valid, physical address (apartment, suite, etc.).
The desire and ability to work and communicate with other team members via chat, webcam, etc.
Legal residents of one of the following states: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, or WY).
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Not Available, W2 only.
Experience
10+ years of progressive experience in quality engineering, supplier quality, product testing, or related technical functions within consumer products, commercial equipment, tools, appliances, or durable goods.
At least 5 years in a leadership capacity, including building teams, designing quality programs, and driving organizational change.
Proven track record building or transforming a supplier quality and product performance organization — not just stepping in and maintaining one.
Deep experience managing supplier quality across global supply chains, particularly with overseas manufacturing partners in China and Southeast Asia.
Strong background in product testing methodologies, specification development, and engineering review of supplier designs and manufacturing processes.
Familiarity with the commercial foodservice equipment landscape and relevant product categories is a strong plus.
Education
This role does not require a degree. We value relevant skills and experience and alignment with our core values above all else. Desired Traits & Skills:
A change agent who builds foundational systems and recruits top talent — without imposing unnecessary bureaucracy on a highly entrepreneurial organization.
Strong and humble leadership style — deeply invested in the success of others, able to build trust across functions, and comfortable navigating complexity without a large corporate support structure.
Technical credibility to go toe-to-toe with suppliers on engineering details, and the business discernment to know which battles matter most.
Thrives in fast-moving, entrepreneurial environments and knows how to introduce structure and rigor without slowing the organization down.
Comfortable operating across cultures and time zones, with the interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with international suppliers and factory teams.
Data-driven mindset — able to leverage quality metrics, testing data, customer feedback, and field performance trends to prioritize and drive decisions.
Intellectually curious, hands-on, and energized by the challenge of building something from the ground up within a high-growth organization.
Company Overview
A rapidly growing, multi-divisional company headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with services supporting all of Clark’s distribution methods in the food service industry. Benefits include MedicalVision, Dental, Paid Maternity Leave, Paid Parental Leave, Life Insurance, Disability, Dependent Care FSA, 401(k) matching, Employee Assistance Program, Wellness Incentives, Company Discounts, AT&T & Verizon Discount, Bonus Opportunities, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Adoption Assistance Available at HQ Locations Only, On-Site Fitness Centers, Dog-friendly Offices.