Quality Manager - Automotive Manufacturing

GACC Midwest is supporting an established international manufacturer with the recruitment of a Quality Manager for its U.S. operation.

About the Role

Our client is looking for a hands-on automotive quality professional who is excited by the opportunity to take on broader ownership and help build the quality systems supporting a growing automotive business.

The company has recently secured new automotive programs and is strengthening its U.S. quality organization as it expands into the automotive market.

In this role, you will take ownership of the site's Quality Management System, help lead the organization toward IATF 16949 certification, support the launch of newly awarded automotive business, and prepare the operation for upcoming customer audits.

Reporting directly to the President and working closely with colleagues in both the United States and Germany, this position offers significant visibility and the opportunity to shape how automotive quality processes are implemented and embedded throughout the U.S. operation.

This opportunity may be particularly attractive to an experienced Senior Quality Engineer, Quality Systems Engineer, Assistant Quality Manager, or current Quality Manager who is ready to take the next step into broader quality leadership and ownership.

Your First-Year Priorities

Your initial focus will include:

• Support the successful launch of newly awarded automotive business
• Help lead the U.S. operation toward IATF 16949 certification, building upon its established ISO 9001 Quality Management System
• Prepare the organization for upcoming automotive customer audits
• Strengthen automotive quality processes, documentation, and Core Tools throughout the operation
• Partner with U.S. and German leadership to adapt existing quality standards and processes to the needs of the U.S. operation and its automotive customers

These initiatives will play an important role in the company's continued expansion into the automotive market and provide an opportunity to make a visible impact on the organization's future quality structure.

About the Company

Our client is a privately held manufacturer specializing in precision metal stamping and deep drawing solutions. The company has an established U.S. manufacturing operation and is part of an international organization headquartered in Germany.

As part of its long-term growth strategy, the company has recently secured its first major automotive programs with global manufacturers. To support this expansion, it is investing in new production equipment, strengthening its manufacturing capabilities, and developing an automotive-ready quality organization.

This is an opportunity to join the business during an important stage of growth and take meaningful ownership of how automotive quality is developed at the U.S. operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve the site's Quality Management System (QMS)
• Play a leading role in preparing the U.S. operation for IATF 16949 certification while maintaining ISO 9001 compliance
• Develop and maintain quality documentation, including procedures, work instructions, Control Plans, inspection plans, and training materials
• Coordinate customer audit preparation and support automotive customer visits and quality requirements
• Apply and strengthen Automotive Core Tools, including APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, and Control Plans
• Support new product launches and ensure customer-specific requirements are effectively implemented
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Tooling, Purchasing, Production, and other operational teams to establish robust quality processes
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions using structured problem-solving methodologies
• Support the standardization of quality processes while adapting global standards to U.S. customer and operational requirements
• Train and coach employees on quality systems, processes, and documentation
• Monitor quality performance through KPIs and identify opportunities for continuous improvement
• Work closely with the German headquarters while serving as the primary local quality leader for the U.S. operation

What We're Looking For

We are looking for an automotive quality professional with a strong technical foundation who enjoys solving problems, improving systems, and is ready to take on broader responsibility.

Candidates may already be working as a Quality Manager or may currently be a Senior Quality Engineer, Quality Systems Engineer, Assistant Quality Manager, or similar professional ready to take the next step in their career.

Required Qualifications

• Several years of progressive quality experience within an automotive manufacturing environment
• Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949 and experience working within an IATF-certified manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience with Automotive Core Tools, including APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, and Control Plans
• Experience preparing for or participating in internal, customer, or third-party quality audits
• Experience supporting automotive product launches, customer requirements, or production quality
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and quality documentation
• Strong root cause analysis and structured problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Engineering, Production, Purchasing, and other operational teams
• Interest in taking ownership of a growing automotive quality function

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct participation in an IATF 16949 implementation, certification, recertification, gap assessment, or audit-readiness initiative
• Previous quality leadership, supervisory, or project-lead experience
• Experience in precision metal stamping, deep drawing, transfer press, metal forming, tool & die, or similar manufacturing processes
• Experience supporting automotive customer audits and customer-specific requirements
• Spanish language skills are beneficial due to employee training responsibilities
• Experience working within an international manufacturing organization

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary of $100,000–$120,000, depending on experience
• Medical insurance with multiple plan options
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid Time Off increasing with tenure, up to 20 days per year
• 8 paid company holidays
• Opportunity to take on significant quality ownership and play a key role in the company's expansion into automotive manufacturing
• Direct exposure to U.S. and international leadership and the opportunity to help shape the organization's automotive quality systems as the business grows