Site Quality Leader

What You’ll Do

• Lead all site-level quality activities, ensuring consistent execution of quality systems aligned with industry standards (IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, OEM-specific requirements).
• Drive a strong quality culture focused on front line ownership, accountability, and right-first-time execution.
• Provide direct leadership and development for the site quality team (QA/QC, laboratory, and quality engineering resources).
• Serve as the primary site-level quality interface for customers, managing day-to-day communications, escalations, and performance discussions.
• Translate customer expectations and requirements into clear, actionable direction for site teams.
• Lead and host customer audits, certification audits, and site visits, demonstrating site capability, compliance, and readiness.
• Own and continuously improve the site Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance and effectiveness.
• Lead Management of Change (MOC) activities impacting product quality, including changes to materials, processes, equipment, analytical methods, and specifications.
• Ensure robust risk identification and mitigation across manufacturing processes, raw materials, and suppliers impacting site performance.
• Monitor and analyze site quality performance using key metrics (customer complaints, internal defects, audit findings, cost of poor quality, process capability).
• Drive prioritization and execution of improvement initiatives to deliver measurable and sustainable performance gains.
• Lead site quality reviews and ensure alignment with business and customer performance expectations.
• Champion structured problem solving methodologies (8D, A3, root cause analysis) to ensure timely and effective resolution of quality issues.
• Ensure containment, corrective, and preventive actions are implemented and verified for effectiveness.
• Lead internal audits and oversee external audits of site operations, laboratories, warehouses, and critical suppliers where applicable.

What You Bring

• Experience & Education:
• Several years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance / Quality Control within manufacturing environments; automotive, chemical, adhesives, coatings, or regulated industries strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s preferred) in Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial), or related technical discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Practical experience with IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 including implementation at the site level.
• Strong working knowledge of automotive core tools, including: APQP & PPAP, AIAG VDA FMEA (preferred), Control Plans, Process Flow, SPC, MSA (Gage R&R), Special characteristics and process capability (Cp/Cpk).
• Experience supporting or leading audits (e.g., IATF, VDA 6.3) preferred.
• Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement:
• Six Sigma training or certification (Green Belt or Black Belt preferred).
• Strong capability with structured problem solving tools (8D, A3, 5 Why, Fishbone) and verification of corrective actions.
• Customer-Facing Leadership:
• Proven ability to manage customer relationships at the site level, including handling complaints, leading escalations, and communicating risk, containment, and corrective action plans.
• Data & Systems Thinking:
• Demonstrated ability to analyze site-level quality data and drive prioritization and improvement actions.