Director, Quality Assurance & Strategy
About The Position
Away is hiring a Director of Quality Management & Strategy to lead its Quality team and own the strategic roadmap for optimizing the global supply chain. Reporting to the Head of Operations, this cross-functional leader will advocate for Quality across the organization while advancing cost optimization and the post-purchase customer experience. The role will develop digital infrastructure and customer DIY solutions, and build a proactive, technology-enabled approach to quality across the supply chain. The director will lead manufacturing innovation and tooling strategy, establish technical standards for global factory partners, oversee routine testing, and partner with product development and supplier leadership from early development through mass production. The role will also drive value engineering, reduce warranty claims and returns, improve product repairability, and use AI-driven analytics to create feedback loops that inform product design and sourcing.
Requirements
- At least 10 years of experience in Quality leadership.
- Deep technical engineering background and a track record of scaling global quality management systems and modernizing them through technology and data-led innovation.
- Deep expertise in raw materials and finished goods engineering, including knowledge of equipment, tooling, and retooling.
- Leadership presence and a collaborative, no-ego approach to advocating for quality standards across the organization.
- Passion for cost optimization and value engineering, including reducing warranty claims and improving customer experience.
- Ability to work autonomously and pivot global strategies or halt production in response to quality risks.
- Expertise in identifying root-cause trends and prioritizing high-impact issues.
- Strong communication skills and ability to drive accountability and partnership across diverse global teams.
- Creativity, innovation, agility, and motivation to work in a fast-paced, changing environment.
Responsibilities
- Own the evolution of Quality at Away by building a proactive, technology-enabled model that optimizes the global supply chain.
- Identify and champion solutions that bridge US-based design priorities and Asia-based manufacturing realities.
- Enable supply chain systems that provide real-time visibility into factory performance and support proactive, data-driven manufacturing decisions.
- Lead global manufacturing innovation and set strategy for equipment, tooling, and retooling.
- Design and govern technical excellence standards for global factory partners.
- Manage the routine testing program, serve as the primary escalation point for quality issues, and partner with US- and Asia-based leadership on supplier strategy.
- Identify manual processes that create quality bottlenecks and advocate for targeted automation or tooling upgrades.
- Partner with global Product Development leadership to direct supplier engagements and ensure quality benchmarks are met from early-stage development through mass production.
- Architect and execute a Cost of Quality roadmap using value engineering and predictive testing to optimize total cost of ownership and improve margins.
- Develop DIY kits and modular product designs to lower return rates, improve customer experience, and reduce environmental impact.
- Identify product quality improvements that reduce warranty claims, improve repairability, and enhance the customer experience.
- Integrate AI-driven analytics into the product lifecycle, turning post-purchase data into feedback loops for future product design and sourcing.
Benefits
- Health insurance offerings for employees and their families.
- 401(k) with a company match.
- Paid time off programs, including vacation, wellbeing, holidays, summer Fridays, and compassion leave.
- Discount codes, product stipends, and product giveaways.
- Company-sponsored volunteer and charitable opportunities.
- Annual Company Performance Incentive Bonus Plan eligibility.
- Equity grant, with level determined at the company's discretion.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
