Supplier Quality Manager

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Develop, implement, and maintain supplier quality management systems to ensure compliance with industry regulations and company standards.
• Lead and develop supplier quality teams, providing mentorship, training, and performance management to ensure a high-functioning and effective team.
• Collaborate with suppliers to improve product quality, reduce defects, and enhance overall supplier performance.
• Conduct supplier audits, assessments, and risk evaluations to ensure compliance with quality requirements.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for supplier quality and drive corrective action initiatives as needed.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective action processes for supplier-related quality issues.
• Work closely with procurement, engineering, and manufacturing teams to identify and resolve supplier-related challenges.
• Provide technical guidance and training to suppliers to align with company quality expectations.
• Foster strong relationships with suppliers through regular communication and collaboration.
• Manage supplier approval processes, documentation, and qualification activities.
• Drive supplier development, escalation management, and recovery plans for underperforming suppliers, ensuring timely containment, corrective action, and sustained performance improvement.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, a related field, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of experience in supplier quality management, preferably in the RV, automotive, or manufacturing industry.
• Strong knowledge of supplier quality management systems, auditing, and risk assessment.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, and root cause analysis methodologies.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and other relevant quality standards.
• Proficiency in quality tools and software.
• Strong ability to analyze supplier performance data, trends, and nonconformance metrics to support decision-making, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience managing engineering changes, supplier part approvals, and new product launch readiness to ensure quality requirements are achieved from initial development through production.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills, with specific hands-on experience using structured problem-solving tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, Ishikawa (fishbone) diagrams, Pareto analysis, and corrective action methodologies.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and external suppliers.
• Demonstrated ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders, manage conflict professionally, and drive accountability for quality expectations and corrective actions.
• Willingness to travel to supplier locations as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Six Sigma Certification.
• Experience in RV or automotive supplier quality management.
• Knowledge of wood products, welding, plastics, chemicals (adhesives), and electrical systems used in RV manufacturing.