Senior Quality Manager

Summary of Position Mission

The Senior Quality Manager is responsible for leading CANIK USA's quality department and overseeing incoming, in-process, and final quality control activities for the U.S. manufacturing facility. This position serves as the senior quality leader for the facility and is responsible for ensuring that materials, components, processes, and finished products comply with company specifications, engineering drawings, quality standards, customer expectations, and applicable regulatory requirements. The Senior Quality Manager will manage quality personnel, drive corrective actions, strengthen inspection systems, support supplier quality initiatives, and partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Purchasing, Product Management, and Manufacturing to improve product quality and reduce defects, scrap, rework, and customer complaints.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the quality department, including incoming inspection, in-process quality control, final line inspection, and related quality personnel
• Provide daily leadership, coaching, scheduling support, performance feedback, and accountability for quality employees, inspectors, and leads
• Establish, maintain, and improve inspection requirements, quality standards, sampling plans, work instructions, and documentation for raw materials, machined components, purchased parts, packaging materials, and finished goods
• Ensure incoming materials, components, and finished products are inspected against engineering drawings, specifications, purchase orders, product requirements, and quality standards
• Oversee dimensional, visual, functional, and final inspections using precision measuring equipment, inspection tools, gauges, and established quality methods
• Review and approve inspection records, supplier certifications, Certificates of Conformance (CoC), first article documentation, and related quality documentation as required
• Own the nonconformance process, including identification, segregation, documentation, disposition, and closure of nonconforming materials and products
• Generate, review, and drive timely closure of nonconformance reports (NCRs), corrective actions, preventive actions, and root cause analysis activities
• Track, analyze, and report quality performance metrics including defects, scrap, rework, first-pass yield, inspection findings, supplier issues, and customer complaints
• Partner with Operations and Manufacturing to resolve quality concerns while maintaining independent authority over product conformance and inspection standards
• Collaborate with Purchasing, Engineering, Product Management, Manufacturing, and Supplier Quality resources to resolve supplier quality issues
• Support supplier quality evaluations, audits, scorecards, corrective actions, and incoming quality improvement initiatives
• Maintain calibration requirements for inspection tools and measuring equipment and ensure quality personnel are properly trained on their use
• Develop and maintain quality procedures, quality records, inspection documentation, and departmental processes in accordance with company requirements
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing defects, improving process control, strengthening inspection accuracy, and improving overall product quality
• Escalate significant quality risks, recurring defects, supplier issues, or product conformance concerns to senior leadership as appropriate
• Maintain compliance with all company safety policies and procedures
• Adheres to all employment policies/safety policies/practices required by law/established by Company
• Demonstrates sound working knowledge of firearms safety
• Maintains and keeps workstation and department area clean
• Immediately reports any maintenance and/or safety issues to Management
• Demonstrates a positive attitude toward co-workers, other departments and the Company
• Maintains respect, courtesy and professionalism toward all co-workers and the Company
• Communicates clearly and effectively with co-workers and management
• Other duties will be assigned as required

Qualifications & Knowledge Required

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made as required by law.

• High school diploma or GED required; associate or bachelor degree in Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering Technology, Operations, or related field preferred
• Minimum 8 years of quality, inspection, manufacturing, or related experience in a precision manufacturing environment
• Minimum 5 years of leadership, supervisory, lead, or management experience within a quality or manufacturing department preferred
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, GD&T symbols, technical specifications, and inspection requirements
• Experience using precision measurement instruments and inspection tools including calipers, micrometers, height gauges, bore gauges, and related equipment
• Strong knowledge of nonconformance control, corrective action, root cause analysis, defect tracking, and quality documentation
• Ability to manage, train, and hold quality personnel accountable while maintaining a professional and team-oriented approach
• Strong attention to detail, documentation accuracy, problem-solving skills, and follow-through
• Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Office applications; ERP, MRP, or Quality Management System (QMS) experience preferred
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with production employees, managers, suppliers, and senior leadership
• Experience within firearms, aerospace, automotive, defense, or precision manufacturing industries preferred
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 principles, quality management practices, inspection systems, and continuous improvement methods preferred
• ASQ certification such as Certified Quality Inspector (CQI), Certified Quality Technician (CQT), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) preferred

Working Conditions

Work is normally performed in a climate-controlled office and manufacturing environment. The position may require regular time on the production floor, inspection areas, receiving areas, and final inspection lines. Noise level is moderate and may include sounds of normal office equipment, manufacturing equipment, and production activity. Appropriate personal protective equipment may be required in designated areas.

Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Be able to lift objects commonly found in offices and manufacturing environments, up to 20 lbs.
• Able to walk, stand, and move throughout the manufacturing facility and inspection areas as needed
• Able to work at a computer for long periods of time
• Able to work full-time, including early mornings, evenings and weekends as needed (Project timelines and work volume/deadlines may require more than 40 hours per week to complete essential duties of this job.)
• Capable of occasional plane travel
• Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing and speaking English language) to perform the duties proficiently

Disclaimers

• This job description should not be interpreted to be a complete list of all the duties and responsibilities performed by the jobholder. To maintain organizational flexibility, management has the discretion to add, drop or change at any time the duties, responsibilities and expectations of this job.