Director of Quality

About the Role

Our client is a manufacturer of engineered electrical equipment serving utilities and industrial customers throughout North America. They are expanding operations and need a dedicated Director of Quality to lead U.S. manufacturing quality initiatives. This leadership position demands active involvement on the manufacturing floor rather than remote management.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full responsibility for quality across all U.S. manufacturing sites.
• Focus initially on stabilizing current quality systems rather than implementing numerous new programs.
• Standardize quality management systems across factories and create process discipline that prevents defects rather than relying solely on inspection.
• Engage directly with operations leaders and spend significant time onsite to foster collaboration.
• Lead root cause analysis investigations and Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
• Manage critical quality metrics including customer complaints, nonconformance trends, warranty performance, and cost of quality.
• Drive continuous improvement through hands-on involvement in daily operational work.
• Build and develop the quality team by implementing training, cross-training, mentoring, and preparing future quality leaders.
• Play a significant role in integrating quality systems into upcoming ERP implementation.
• Occasional travel to other North American manufacturing facilities as required.

Candidate Profile and Requirements

• Strongly preferred: Engineering degree.
• Seven to ten years of progressive manufacturing quality leadership with substantial operational exposure.
• Prior management experience is essential; this is not an entry-level leadership role.
• Background in engineered-to-order manufacturing.
• Experience working in dynamic, growing organizations where system-building is critical.
• Solid project management expertise.
• Proven success in leading change and fostering collaboration between quality and operations teams.
• Technical proficiencies including ISO 9001 implementation and maintenance, root cause analysis, Statistical Process Control (SPC), corrective action systems, and audit leadership.
• Industry backgrounds targeted: power transformers (preferred), distribution transformers, switchgear, motors, drives, or related engineered electrical manufacturing.
• Familiarity with electrical testing, insulation systems, copper and steel materials, and winding operations.
• Certifications that are advantageous: ASQ CMQ/OE or CQE, Six Sigma Green Belt or higher, Internal or Lead Auditor certification, and project management certification.

Ideal Candidate Attributes

Practical leaders who maintain visible presence on the production floor and confidently operate amid ambiguity. Individuals who focus on building teams and processes instead of inheriting established ones.

Success Metrics for Year One

• Stabilized quality systems with clean internal and external audits.
• Measurable decreases in scrap, rework, and warranty-related costs.
• Reduced customer quality complaints.
• A quality team that is stronger and better developed than at the start of tenure.

Long-Term Career Outlook

This role offers advancement opportunities as the company matures and North American quality procedures become standardized. The position is designed to grow with proven performance.