Supplier Quality Manager

Job Overview

We are seeking a Supplier Quality Manager to oversee supplier quality management, ensuring compliance with quality standards and driving continuous improvement across the supply chain. This role will lead a team of Senior Supplier Quality Engineers and oversee Receiving Inspection processes to maintain high-quality incoming materials and supplier performance. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership, problem-solving, and process improvement skills.

Key Job Responsibilities

Supplier Quality Management and Development

• Lead and mentor a team of Supplier Quality Engineers to drive supplier excellence.
• Develop and implement supplier quality strategies to reduce defects, improve reliability, and ensure compliance with company standards.
• Establish and maintain supplier quality performance metrics, driving accountability and improvement initiatives.
• Partner with Procurement, Engineering, and Operations to qualify new suppliers, manage audits, and support supplier development.
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective actions for supplier-related non-conformances, implementing sustainable long-term solutions.

Receiving Inspection & Material Quality Oversight

• Oversee Receiving Inspection processes to ensure incoming materials meet quality requirements before integration into production.
• Define and optimize inspection plans, sampling strategies, and testing requirements.
• Implement risk-based inspection strategies, leveraging supplier history and data analytics to optimize efficiency.
• Ensure proper measurement systems are in place to verify incoming material conformance.

Additional Information

Process Improvement & Compliance

• Lead supplier quality improvement initiatives, including Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen projects.
• Collaborate with suppliers to enhance process control and standardization to reduce variation and defects.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, or other applicable quality standards for supplier management.
• Perform supplier audits and drive quality system improvements based on audit findings.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison between Suppliers, Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to resolve supplier-related issues.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering on supplier-related design changes, material qualifications, and process validation.
• Lead supplier business reviews, driving continuous improvement goals and corrective action plans.
• Provide training and mentorship to the supplier quality team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Qualifications/Requirements

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

• Education & Experience:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related field (preferred) with 5+ years of experience in Supplier Quality, Quality Engineering, or Manufacturing Quality.
  • OR an Associate degree in a technical field with 8+ years of relevant experience in supplier quality management, auditing, or inspection.
  • ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP) is a plus.
• Supplier Management & Leadership: Proven experience in supplier development, audit management, and leading supplier quality teams.
• Receiving Inspection & Material Quality: Experience in inspection planning, statistical sampling, and material verification processes.
• Quality Standards & Compliance: Strong knowledge of ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949, or similar quality management systems.
• Process Improvement & Data Analysis: Proficiency in Lean, Six Sigma, FMEA, PPAP, APQP, and problem-solving methodologies.