Director of Quality Assurance

The Director of Quality Assurance leads all manufacturing quality operations across Truck-Lite's Wellsboro, McElhattan, and Coudersport facilities. This role is a peer to the Director of Quality – Compliance and carries full operational authority over all plant quality personnel. The Director of Quality Assurance ensures that products manufactured at all three facilities meet or exceed established quality standards through active floor leadership, structured training, rigorous corrective action management, and data-driven continuous improvement. This role operates with independent decision-making authority over all plant quality execution functions; manufacturing operations should not require compliance approval to act on quality matters within this Director's domain. This position works in close coordination with the Director of Manufacturing and reports to the VP of Manufacturing Technology. It is expected to maintain a visible, consistent presence on the plant floor and to model a culture of accountability, urgency, and quality ownership across all three sites. Essential Job Functions Plant Floor Leadership & Team Development Maintain regular, visible presence on the floor at all three plant locations; conduct structured Gemba walks and direct team touchpoints Lead, develop, evaluate, and retain all plant quality personnel; set clear performance expectations and hold team members accountable Build a collaborative, inclusive quality culture that motivates employees to their highest performance and fosters continuous improvement at every level Partner with HR and plant managers on quality staffing decisions, performance management, and succession planning Training & Qualification Own and execute print-level and process-level quality training for all new hires and existing quality staff across all three plants Maintain complete, current training records; ensure training is completed on schedule and linked to actual print requirements and quality standards Develop depth within the quality team through coaching, cross-training, and structured professional development Coordinate with Manufacturing Engineering on training updates driven by engineering changes or new product launches Corrective Action & Problem Solving Own all Corrective Action Report (CAR) processes from initiation through verified closure; ensure root cause rigor and sustainable corrective actions Drive structured problem-solving using 8D, DMAIC, 5-Why, or equivalent methodologies; build team capability in these tools Ensure CAPA effectiveness verification is completed and documented; track open actions and elevate at-risk items Lead internal root cause investigation for customer returns and field complaints; prepare internal corrective action plans in support of customer communications managed by the Director of Quality – Compliance Own and report on internal and external DPM (Defects Per Million) trends across all three facilities Lead defect reduction initiatives using Lean and Six Sigma tools; prioritize by impact and business risk Maintain and improve first-pass yield, scrap, and rework metrics; establish site-level improvement goals and track progress Lead or support 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing technique assessment and training at the plant level Support Manufacturing Engineering and Productivity Improvement initiatives across Wellsboro, McElhattan, and Coudersport Internal Auditing & Standards Execution Execute the internal process and product audit schedule as established by the Director of Quality – Compliance Ensure all audit findings generate timely corrective actions; own closure and effectiveness verification Ensure plant quality teams understand and apply current IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 process expectations in daily operations Manage the Internal Auditor position (Wellsboro, open) as a direct functional resource for audit execution Measurement Systems & Incoming Quality Oversee the Company's gage calibration systems and measurement system assurance across all facilities Own incoming inspection programs; manage nonconforming material disposition and supplier feedback in coordination with Purchasing Support Supplier Quality Engineering activities for plant-level incoming quality issues Reporting & Metrics Maintain and present weekly, monthly, and quarterly quality performance dashboards including DPM, first-pass yield, CAPA closure rate, scrap, and audit findings Maintain and manage customer quality scorecards and supplier/customer portals; ensure timely, accurate data entry and corrective action submission Provide regular reporting to the VP of Engineering and peer leadership team on quality status, risks, and improvement progress Budget & Operations Develop, manage, and report on the Quality department operational budget across all three facilities Support New Product Introduction (NPI) quality execution in partnership with Product Engineering Direct and support special projects as assigned by manufacturing leadership Position requires compliance with the Technology Control Plan and the Federal Export Control Policy of the Corporation Supports US travel across all plant locations; frequency expected as needed to fulfill floor presence requirements Specific Skills and/or Experience with Software, Equipment, etc. 10+ years of progressive manufacturing quality leadership, including direct management of plant-level quality teams Proven track record of sustained floor presence, corrective action ownership, and measurable quality improvement in production environments Multi-site or multi-plant quality leadership experience strongly preferred Experience building and leading teams through organizational change Background in IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 operating environments required; audit execution experience preferred Technical Skills JDE, MS Office Suite, Minitab, and Gagetrack or equivalent Customer scorecard and portal management (e.g., Stellantis, Ford, GM, Daimler portal systems) Proficiency in structured problem-solving methodologies: 8D, DMAIC, 5-Why, FMEA SPC, measurement system analysis (MSA/Gage R&R), and statistical quality tools High floor visibility orientation — presence-first leadership style Strong team builder; track record of developing plant-level quality talent Decisive and operationally autonomous; comfortable making quality calls without extensive approval chains Collaborative peer — able to work effectively alongside compliance, operations, and engineering leaders Clear communicator; able to present quality data to shop floor teams and executive leadership alike This position carries ITAR/EAR responsibilities; compliance with applicable export control regulations is required #J-18808-Ljbffr