Strategic Customer Quality Leader - OEM Manufacturing (Sturtevant)

This Isn't Your Typical Quality Leadership Position.

We're looking for an experienced Strategic Customer Quality Leader who understands that quality isn't just about products, processes, and corrective actions. It's about protecting customer relationships, managing business risk, and ensuring an organization delivers on its commitments.

We are recruiting a Strategic Customer Quality Leader for an established global manufacturer of advanced hydraulic systems serving major OEM customers.

In this position, you'll serve as the primary customer-facing quality representative for North America, working directly with executive-level customers while collaborating with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance, and Legal.

If you've built your career navigating complex manufacturing challenges, managing critical customer relationships, and leading organizations through high-pressure situations, this could be your next opportunity.

Why You'll Want This Opportunity

• Base pay of $130k-$140k + 10% bonus
• High-impact strategic leadership role with direct influence over major OEM customer relationships
• Opportunity to shape customer quality strategy across North America
• Work with an established global manufacturing organization and collaborate with senior leaders across multiple business functions
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits in a position where your experience and leadership will directly impact business performance

Must Haves

• 15+ years of leadership experience in Quality, Operations, Engineering, or customer-facing manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated experience supporting and managing relationships with major OEM customers
• Strong background in customer escalations, complex negotiations, conflict resolution, and critical issue management
• Executive-level communication skills with the ability to influence senior leadership, customers, and cross-functional teams
• Proven ability to balance customer satisfaction, quality expectations, operational capabilities, and financial risk

What You'll Be Doing

• Serve as the primary customer-facing quality leader for North America, building and maintaining relationships with key OEM customers and executive stakeholders
• Lead resolution of major customer escalations, field quality concerns, warranty issues, and complex claims
• Negotiate warranty, liability, and financial exposure matters, protecting customer relationships while safeguarding company interests
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance, and Legal to develop solutions, resolve critical issues, and ensure customer commitments are met
• Develop proactive strategies to identify risks, strengthen customer confidence, improve operational alignment, and build long-term OEM partnerships

Experience That Will Set You Apart

• Previous leadership experience supporting large OEM accounts in industrial manufacturing, automotive, heavy equipment, or related industries
• Experience negotiating complex warranty claims, quality disputes, liability matters, or customer recovery agreements
• A track record of leading cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority
• Demonstrated success turning challenging customer situations into stronger long-term business relationships

Quality Leadership Is About More Than Finding Problems. It's About Solving Business Challenges.

We're not looking for someone whose experience is limited to managing inspections, reviewing quality reports, or maintaining quality documentation.

We're looking for someone who can sit across the table from a major OEM customer, navigate a difficult conversation, understand the technical and financial implications, and lead an organization toward a solution.

Someone who knows when to challenge, when to collaborate, and how to protect both the customer relationship and the business.

If you're an experienced manufacturing leader who combines technical credibility, executive presence, strong negotiation skills, and a strategic approach to customer relationships, we'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Apply today for confidential consideration.