Sr. Quality Director, Robotics & Automation

At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for mission-critical applications, from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing. Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

This position is part of Novanta’s Robotics & Automation group, a core capability pillar focused on delivering ultra-precise, high-reliability motion, sensing, and robotic end-of-arm technologies for mission-critical applications across advanced manufacturing, surgical robotics, logistics automation, and emerging humanoid systems.

About the role

The Senior Director, Quality will lead the global quality organization across several manufacturing sites, providing strategic leadership and oversight of key initiatives. This role is pivotal in driving high quality standards, operational excellence, and a culture of continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who thrives in complex, multi-site environments and is passionate about developing high-performing teams and fostering a culture of quality excellence. The Senior Director will ensure product quality for the Robotics and Automation business and will report directly to the VP of Operations.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Quality Leadership: Oversee strategic quality initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and operational excellence across multiple sites.
• Quality Culture Champion: Drive a culture of quality excellence through training, communication, and engagement across the organization.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop global, cross-functional teams, fostering a high-performing learning culture.
• ISO Audit & Certification Management: Coordinate ISO 9001/14001, ISO 45001, and 13485 audits and maintain certifications for all relevant sites.
• Customer Complaint & RMA Coordination: Coordinate the resolution of customer complaints and drive improvements in response time for Return Material Authorizations (RMAs).
• Continuous Improvement: Develop and implement best-in-class quality assurance methodologies, tools, policies, and procedures to optimize processes and improve operational efficiency.
• New Product Introduction: Provide quality support for new product introductions by leading planning, validation, and supplier qualifications to ensure successful product launches.
• Global Regulatory Compliance: Oversee compliance with international and regional regulations, including product safety and quality standards. Maintain and improve compliance programs and ensure audit readiness.
• Performance Management: Set clear expectations, manage performance, and ensure team engagement and retention.
• Innovation & Problem Solving: Drive innovation and resolve highly complex business problems using advanced critical thinking and strategic agility.

Requirements

• University degree in a relevant field; advanced/graduate degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in Quality Management, with specific emphasis on the manufacturing industry.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing quality assurance programs and driving operational efficiency.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate large, cross-functional, global teams.
• Strong business acumen, strategic thinking, and ability to synthesize data into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with a track record of building inclusive, high-performing teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regulated industries (e.g., medical device, aerospace).
• Familiarity with global operations and multi-site quality management.
• Data-driven decision-making mindset and comfort with analytics tools.

Travel Requirements

As needed for global team leadership, multi-site oversight, and customer/vendor engagement.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10-25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Pay

The salary for this role will range from $187,625 to $280,400 annually based on full-time employment. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including location, relevant skills, training, experience, and education. Certain roles may be eligible for performance-based incentive compensation and/or long-term incentives. Incentives could be discretionary or non-discretionary depending on the plan.

Benefits

This position provides a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits to support all aspects of your life's needs.