Senior QA Manager – Apparel Construction

What You Will Do

• Manage the regional adoption and execution of technical quality standards and construction methodologies tailored for core, premium, and technical product tiers.
• Own final production construction quality approval and escalation authority for high-risk issues that may impact bulk release, brand integrity, or customer satisfaction.
• Lead the governance framework for CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action), ensuring systematic closure of high-risk construction issues such as seam slippage, pattern defects, grading inconsistencies, and trim failures.
• Drive measurable reduction in Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) through defect prevention, rework minimization, improved first-pass yield, and systemic risk mitigation strategies.
• Support and lead integration of advanced technologies, including AI-driven defect detection, digital pattern analysis, and data-driven quality dashboards into the quality workflow.
• Partner with Technical Design and Product Development to embed construction quality checkpoints into PLM systems, digital tech packs, and 3D sampling workflows to ensure traceability from development through bulk production.

Team Leadership, Change Management & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Own performance management and daily leadership of regional QA teams (including dotted-line oversight where applicable), driving competency modeling, succession planning, and technical upskilling.
• Elevate team capabilities in garment engineering, statistical analysis, and construction troubleshooting through structured training programs.
• Lead change initiatives to improve factory construction capabilities and elevate vendor technical standards across strategic partners.
• Translate quality performance data into actionable insights for senior leadership, clearly linking construction quality to customer retention, return rates, durability performance, and margin protection.

Vendor Management & Process Excellence

• Lead the quality component of the Strategic Vendor Management program, utilizing scorecards and measurable KPIs to drive construction performance improvements across the supply base.
• Partner with strategic factories to elevate technical construction capabilities, training, and process discipline.
• Direct application of Six Sigma and statistical methodologies at manufacturing sites to reduce variation, increase first-pass yield, and improve long-term process stability.
• Ensure QA processes meet global safety, labeling, durability, and import regulations related to garment finishing and component integrity.
• Champion durable construction as a core pillar of brand reputation and long-term sustainability.