Quality Manager

About the role

Columbia Vehicle Group is seeking an experienced, results-driven Quality Manager to lead our manufacturing quality operations and drive continuous improvement across our organization. The Quality Manager plays a key role in establishing and maintaining quality standards, leading quality assurance initiatives, and ensuring our vehicles meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction. This position requires a hands-on leader who can collaborate effectively with manufacturing teams, identify opportunities for process improvement, reduce defects and rework, and build a culture of accountability and quality throughout the production process.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the company's quality management system, including inspection standards, procedures, work instructions, and document control.
• Develop and implement quality checkpoints throughout the manufacturing and assembly process to identify defects early.
• Lead, train, and develop quality inspection personnel while promoting accountability and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Operations leadership to improve production quality, reduce rework, and increase first-pass inspection success.
• Analyze quality performance data, identify recurring defects, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead root cause investigations and problem-solving initiatives to prevent recurring quality issues.
• Conduct internal quality audits to ensure compliance with established standards and procedures.
• Oversee final quality inspections and pre-delivery inspection standards to ensure vehicles meet requirements before shipment.
• Manage customer quality concerns, lead corrective action responses, and maintain strong customer relationships.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to monitor supplier quality, address defective materials, and improve supplier performance.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), including defect rates, rework hours, first-pass yield, and cost of poor quality.
• Provide regular quality performance updates and improvement recommendations to executive leadership.

Requirements

• Minimum of 4 years of manufacturing quality experience, including at least 2 years in a quality leadership role.
• Experience in vehicle, equipment, or similar manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated success implementing quality improvements and reducing manufacturing defects and rework.
• Strong understanding of root cause analysis and problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, 5 Why, Pareto analysis, and fishbone diagrams.
• Working knowledge of quality management systems, control plans, corrective actions, and internal auditing.
• Strong leadership, communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to collaborate across departments while maintaining accountability for quality standards.
• Hands-on leadership approach with a strong presence on the manufacturing floor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical field.
• Experience with ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• ASQ certification (CQE, CQM/OE, or CQA).
• Experience in automotive, electric vehicle, low-speed vehicle, or powersports manufacturing.
• Supplier quality management experience.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Ability to stand and walk frequently throughout the manufacturing facility.
• Ability to occasionally bend, kneel, crouch, and lift up to 25 pounds.
• Comfortable working in an active manufacturing environment around production equipment.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Occasional travel to customer and supplier locations, including overnight travel.

Why Join Columbia Vehicle Group

At Columbia Vehicle Group, we believe quality starts with strong leadership and a commitment to doing things right the first time. As our Quality Manager, you will have the opportunity to directly influence manufacturing performance, develop a strong quality-focused team, and drive meaningful improvements across our operations. If you are a hands-on quality leader who thrives on solving problems, developing people, and driving measurable results, we encourage you to apply and help us continue building vehicles we are proud to stand behind!