Quality Assurance Manager

About the role

Element has an opportunity for an experienced Quality Manager to lead quality performance at our St. Paul & Des Moines materials testing laboratories. Reporting to the General Manager, this role is a key member of the site leadership team and accountable for the effectiveness of the Quality Management System (QMS), Prime customer approvals, and overall testing compliance and performance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and expand scope of all accreditations, certifications, and approvals (e.g., ISO 17025, AS9100, AC7004, Nadcap AC7114), including Prime customer and regulatory requirements
• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable standards, regulations, and customer requirements
• Lead and manage all internal, regulatory, customer, accreditation, and certification audits, ensuring continuous audit readiness
• Maintain and manage Electronic Quality Management Systems (eQMS) and Nadcap eAuditNet usage across the site
• Oversee execution of method audits, system audits, and proficiency testing per defined schedules
• Develop, implement, and maintain site QMS policies, procedures, work instructions, and forms
• Ensure implementation of process controls across laboratory and site operations
• Drive implementation and continuous improvement of the QMS across all site functions
• Lead initiatives to reduce cost of poor quality and improve first-time-right performance
• Develop, analyze, and report quality performance metrics and corrective actions aligned with business objectives
• Manage onboarding, refresher, cross-training, and competency assessment programs for site personnel
• Ensure delivery of training and system utilization for eQMS and Nadcap platforms
• Ensure fulfillment of customer requirements through QMS execution, contract review, and quality reporting
• Maintain communication with customers, Primes, and accreditation bodies regarding quality and compliance matters
• Ensure alignment with customer and regulatory requirements across functions
• Lead quality investigations and cross-functional issue resolution activities
• Manage prioritization and execution of quality-related activities across competing operational demands
• Support coordination and communication between quality, operations, and external stakeholders related to compliance and audit activities

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in a scientific or engineering discipline, with 5+ years of progressive experience in materials testing, aerospace manufacturing, or a regulated technical environment
• Demonstrated experience leading and operating ISO/IEC 17025 and/or AS9100-certified quality systems; Nadcap-accredited materials testing experience strongly preferred
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, including leadership of structured root cause investigations and implementation of effective, sustainable corrective actions
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, regulated environment while maintaining focus on risk, compliance, and delivery commitments
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex regulatory and technical requirements to cross-functional teams, leadership, customers, and accreditation bodies
• Proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams to achieve regulatory compliance, operational performance, and business objectives
• Maintain current knowledge of internal policies, regulatory standards, and industry requirements, demonstrating ongoing professional development in aerospace quality and testing disciplines

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
• Leadership of structured root cause investigations and implementation of effective, sustainable corrective actions
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Ability to communicate complex regulatory and technical requirements to cross-functional teams, leadership, customers, and accreditation bodies
• Proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams to achieve regulatory compliance, operational performance, and business objectives
• Maintain current knowledge of internal policies, regulatory standards, and industry requirements

Pay

$80,000 - $110,000/yr DOE

Schedule

N/A

Benefits

N/A

Company Overview

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’. When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access. While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Diversity Statement

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”. All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.