Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager

Malibu TN - LOUDON, TN 37774

Job Description

The Quality Assurance Manager leads the day-to-day quality assurance operations for the Malibu brand's manufacturing facility, managing the plant's Quality Engineers, Supplier Quality resources, Quality Supervisors, and Inspectors. This role owns in-plant quality systems, process audits, defect containment, and quality gate discipline, ensuring a proactive, prevention-focused quality organization that protects the Malibu brand and customer experience.

Key Responsibilities

Team & Operations Leadership

• Manage and develop the plant Quality Assurance team, including Quality Engineers, Quality Supervisors, and Quality Inspectors.
• Own staffing, training, performance management, and succession planning for the plant quality organization.

In-Plant Quality Assurance

• Own in-plant quality systems, including process audits, layered process audits, and product inspection programs.
• Lead nonconforming material disposition, containment, and corrective action for in-process and finished goods issues.
• Monitor and drive plant quality KPIs (FPY, DPU, scrap, rework, warranty cost per unit).

Quality Gate & Process Discipline

• Ensure quality checkpoints and quality gates are embedded and enforced throughout the production process.
• Partner with Production leadership on line-side quality issues and root cause resolution.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with the CI Site Lead, Advanced Quality Engineer, and Supplier Quality Engineer to align quality priorities and resources at the plant.
• Represent plant quality assurance performance to brand and enterprise Quality leadership.
• Support new product introduction and engineering change quality readiness.

Reporting & Governance

• Ensure plant quality records, documentation, and reporting meet enterprise QMS and applicable regulatory requirements (ISO 9001, USCG/NMMA).
• Facilitate the plant's monthly quality review with brand and enterprise leadership.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 7-10+ years of progressive quality experience in manufacturing, including 3+ years in a supervisory/management capacity
• Proven experience leading quality teams and driving defect prevention in a manufacturing setting

Preferred

• Experience in marine, automotive, RV, or other high-mix/custom manufacturing
• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification
• Experience with ISO 9001 quality management systems

Key Competencies

• People leadership and development
• Accountability
• Prevention-oriented mindset
• Data-driven decision making
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Ethics, integrity, honesty
• Change management

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Motivation: Measures self against standard of excellence.

Quality: Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

Attendance/Punctuality: Is consistently at work and on time.

Dependability: Takes responsibility for own actions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Continuous/C = 67-100%, Frequent/F = 33-66%, Occasional/O = 33%, None/N

Sits ___ hours

Stands ___ hours

Walks ___ hours

Drives ___ hours

Employee Lifts and/or Carries: type amount of weight in each area.

Maximum: 50 (lbs.) Frequently: 20 (lbs.) Occasionally: 35 (lbs.)

Employee uses Hands for repetitive activities:

Simple Grasping: Right, Left,

Pushing/Pulling: Right, Left,

Fine Manipulation: Right, Left,

Employee uses Feet for repetitive activities:

Right: Left:

Employee is required to perform these activities:

Bending At Waist:

Squatting:

Climbing Ladders, Stairs:

Kneeling On Ground:

Reaching Above Shoulder:

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job (i.e., heat/cold, dust/dampness, height; chemical; noise) PPE requirements are included. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Hands-on role with significant presence on the manufacturing floor.
• Exposure to various settings - fiberglass, finishing, and assembly operations.
• Fast-paced, focused production environment.
• Typical 10-hour workdays based upon facility.
• Typical 4- or 5-day work week schedule based upon facility and schedule loading.
• Overtime is occasional to frequent based on a number of factors.
• Required to work indoors and outdoors, year-round and in all weather conditions.
• May be required to work during production shutdowns or other "off schedule" periods to conduct special activities.
• Safety glasses required while in production areas
• Other PPE may be required based on specific projects.

Success Metrics

• FPY/DPU improvement
• Reduction in scrap/rework/warranty cost
• Plant audit results
• Team development/retention