Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager

Swagelok North Carolina | East Tennessee provides critical fluid system products, assemblies, training, and services to customers in power, chemical, biopharmaceutical, R&D, transportation, and semiconductor industries. We are an independently owned and authorized sales and service center for Swagelok® solutions, combining the strength of a $2B global organization with the agility of a locally owned business supported by over 70 years of Swagelok manufacturing and distribution expertise. Our unique position allows us to operate with both the resources of a global enterprise and the responsiveness of a growing regional company. We are seeking a leader who can help us scale effectively while maintaining our customer-first culture. Position Summary The Quality & Continuous Improvement (QCI) Lead is a strategic partner to the leadership team, responsible for advancing enterprise-wide quality, operational excellence, and continuous improvement in support of the company’s long-term growth objectives. This role goes beyond quality system management—this leader will shape how the organization thinks about quality, performance, and process improvement. The QCI Lead will align initiatives to strategic priorities, enable data-driven decision-making, and act as a catalyst for cross-functional change. As a key leader in a dynamic, 50-person organization, this individual must be highly versatile—equally comfortable defining direction at the leadership level and working alongside teams to implement practical, scalable solutions. The ideal candidate is an energetic change agent who can influence at all levels, build organizational capability, and make quality a competitive advantage for the business. This role is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and evolving a robust Quality Management System through hands‑on leadership and direct ownership of core quality processes, while driving a culture of quality and continuous improvement that differentiates the business in the marketplace. Key Responsibilities Quality Leadership & Quality System Ownership Partner with the leadership team to define and execute a Quality & Continuous Improvement roadmap aligned with business strategy. Own and continuously improve the Quality Management System (SQS-D), ensuring it supports business scalability and effectiveness. Directly oversee and, as needed, execute core quality system activities including customer quality inquiries, procedure reviews and approvals, corrective actions, and quality-related training. Position quality as a driver of customer satisfaction, growth, and operational performance. Serve as a trusted advisor on risk, process capability, and improvement priorities. Lead internal and external audits, positioning them as opportunities for learning and improvement. Drive simplification and optimization of processes while ensuring compliance requirements are met. Act as primary liaison with customers and corporate Swagelok on quality‑related matters. Drive resolution of customer quality issues with a focus on responsiveness and long‑term prevention. Partner with suppliers and internal stakeholders to improve quality performance. Promote awareness and understanding of customer requirements across the organization. Lead and facilitate cross‑functional improvement initiatives tied to strategic goals. Act as a visible change agent—building momentum, influencing stakeholders, and sustaining results. Identify opportunities to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and improve customer outcomes. Establish, scale and educate lean and structured problem‑solving capabilities across the organization. Translate KPIs and operational metrics into actionable insights for leadership decision‑making. Identify systemic issues and lead root cause analysis efforts to drive sustainable solutions. Develop visibility to performance trends, risks, and improvement opportunities. Drive a culture of accountability and continuous improvement by leveraging data‑driven performance management and embedding quality into daily operations– not soley for compliance. Build organizational capability in problem‑solving, process improvement, and quality ownership. Coach leaders and associates on continuous improvement principles and methods. Emb… Position Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business or related field. 5+ years of experience in Quality, Continuous Improvement, or Operational Excellence. Experience working within and evolving an ISO9001 quality system or equivalent. Lean, Six‑Sigma or formal and analytical problem‑solving experience. Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional improvement initiatives that deliver measurable business results. Proven ability to influence across all levels of an organization, including senior leadership, without formal authority. Demonstrated experience driving change and building a culture of continuous improvement. Experience translating business strategy into actionable initiatives. Strong facilitation skills with the ability to engage and lead diverse teams through ambiguity and change. Effective communicator with the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences. Experience with auditing, root cause analysis, and process improvement tools. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; ERP experience (SAPB1 preferred). Technical writing and documentation skills. #J-18808-Ljbffr