Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager

Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Salary: US$140-170K plus bonus and excellent benefits package Industry: Automotive Paints & Coatings Working Pattern: Full-time, site-based at the Cleveland manufacturing facility

About the Opportunity

Our client is a leading provider of specialist paints and coating products designed to meet the rigorous quality and technical requirements of the global automotive industry. They are seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to lead site quality standards, strengthen Quality Management System (QMS) compliance, improve customer quality outcomes and develop a proactive quality culture across a large and complex manufacturing environment. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring someone who combines current IATF 16949 expertise, strong people leadership, customer-facing confidence and practical automotive quality tools. You will work closely with Operations, Process Engineering, Technical, R&D and customer-facing teams to resolve quality issues, strengthen systems and maintain consistently high standards.

Role & Responsibilities

As Quality Assurance Manager, you will take ownership of site quality standards, QMS effectiveness, audit readiness, customer quality outcomes, quality systems and continuous improvement activity. Your responsibilities will include:

• Championing a proactive quality culture and embedding QMS principles across everyday plant operations
• Maintaining, evolving and continuously improving the site QMS, certifications, processes and documentation
• Ensuring QMS requirements are fully integrated within product realisation processes
• Acting as the site quality gatekeeper for Management of Change activity and New Product Launches
• Integrating Customer Specific Requirements and Supplier Quality Manual requirements into the QMS
• Leading and supporting customer and supplier visits, representing the site confidently on quality matters
• Managing investigations into customer complaints, off-spec situations, SCARs and non-conforming products
• Ensuring corrective and preventive actions address root causes and deliver sustainable improvements
• Leading the measurement, analysis and reporting of site quality metrics and trends
• Driving data-led improvement initiatives to improve yield, productivity, first-time-right capability and customer quality outcomes
• Collaborating with Technical, Optima and R&D teams to support product and process improvements without compromising quality
• Supporting and troubleshooting quality systems including SAP, LIMS and ETQ Reliance
• Owning the site internal audit programme, from strategic planning through to hands-on execution and follow-up
• Maintaining the document control system to ensure the site remains compliant and audit-ready
• Leading, mentoring and developing the quality team, building accountability, ownership and continuous learning
• Delivering quality training and coaching across the manufacturing site
• Working collaboratively across Operations, Process Engineering, Technical, R&D, Optima and customer-facing teams

The position will also hold authority for key quality decisions, including product release, product fit/form/function change approvals, off-spec and non-conforming product disposition, quality escalations and corrective action effectiveness

Qualifications:

Key Requirements You will be an experienced automotive quality leader with a strong background in manufacturing quality systems, IATF 16949, audit programmes, corrective actions, customer quality and continuous improvement. Essential skills and experience will include:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Quality, Engineering or a related discipline
• 5+ years' quality management experience, ideally within automotive or advanced manufacturing
• 3+ years' people management or supervisory experience, ideally leading engineers, quality professionals or cross-functional manufacturing teams
• Certified Lead Auditor experience, ideally covering IATF and/or VDA
• Minimum Six Sigma Green Belt certification, with Black Belt advantageous
• Strong practical knowledge of automotive core tools, including FMEA, SPC, Control Plans and APQP
• Current, hands-on knowledge of IATF 16949, including recent rule changes and customer-specific requirements
• Experience maintaining, revamping and improving QMS frameworks, certifications, internal audit programmes and document control systems
• Experience leading customer complaints, off-spec investigations, SCARs, non-conforming product issues and corrective actions through root cause analysis and sustainable resolution
• Confidence working directly with automotive customers and suppliers, including site visits, escalations and challenging quality discussions
• Working knowledge of quality and operational systems such as SAP, LIMS and ETQ Reliance
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence Operations, Technical, R&D, customer-facing teams and senior site stakeholders

Why is This a Great Opportunity:

This is an excellent opportunity to take on a highly visible leadership role within a specialist organisation supporting the global automotive paints and coatings industry. You will have the opportunity to revamp and strengthen the site QMS, influence quality culture and lead meaningful improvement initiatives, while working closely with technical, operational, customer and senior leadership teams. The role offers a US$140-170K salary plus bonus and excellent benefits package, including Medical, Dental and Vision cover, matching 401(k), retirement savings, paid vacation and holiday pay.