Global Supplier Quality Manager

Itron • Oconee, SC

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Supplier Quality Manager oversees end-to-end Supplier Quality Assurance for Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers globally, based at Itron’s West Union, South Carolina manufacturing facility. The role ensures supplier capability, quality performance, and readiness for new and existing products across assigned commodities, technologies, and market segments. It covers supplier qualification, audits, PPAP, NPI support, issue resolution, continuous improvement, and supplier risk stratification. The manager partners with Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and Customer teams, and leads and develops a Supplier Quality Engineering team.

The position also supports manufacturing operations through quality issue troubleshooting, material review board (MRB) disposition, containment, and nonconformance resolution. It works with cross-functional partners on design reviews, design for manufacturability and assembly, production readiness, supplier performance, and escalations. Travel is up to 25%. The role is described as a typical office job with no special physical requirements or unusual work environment, and includes a hybrid work schedule.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, or a related technical field.
• At least 8 years of Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Quality, or related technical quality experience.
• Experience working with suppliers in a manufacturing or product-driven environment.
• Demonstrated experience with NPI, new source qualification, and PPAP/APQP activities.
• Strong knowledge of quality systems, including ISO 9001.
• Proficiency in APQP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, and 8D quality tools.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements.
• Knowledge of a broad range of manufacturing processes.
• Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent certification.
• Strong communication and supplier-management skills.
• Ability to lead global teams, drive accountability, and influence cross-functionally.

Nice To Haves

• ASQ CQE, CQM, CSQP, or similar professional certification.
• Spanish and/or French communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Qualify suppliers through audits, capability assessments, and contract or purchase-order quality requirements.
• Manage supplier readiness for new product introduction (NPI) and new source qualification.
• Lead part and product qualification (PPAP) and design reviews.
• Drive structured 8D problem-solving for customer, warranty, supply, and plant issues.
• Monitor supplier KPIs, including DPPM, 8D cycle time, and PPAP cycle time.
• Support plant operations with MRB disposition, containment, issue tracking, troubleshooting, and nonconformance disposition.
• Ensure adherence to compliance and quality system requirements.
• Evaluate supplier process capability and conduct process and quality system audits.
• Review PFMEAs, control plans, critical-to-quality characteristics, and measurement systems.
• Support design-for-manufacturability, tolerance analysis, and technical specification reviews.
• Approve PPAPs and drive corrective actions for supplier-related product and process failures.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Supplier Quality Engineering team.
• Set team goals, manage performance, allocate resources, build capability, drive accountability, and support hiring and onboarding.
• Work with Engineering on design reviews, DFM/A, and PPAP deliverables.
• Partner with Supply Chain on supplier selection, performance, and escalations.
• Support Manufacturing and Plant teams with quality issues and production readiness.
• Coordinate with Program Management, R&D, Plant Operations, Quality, Finance, and Compliance teams as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive benefit package including financial, social, health, and wellbeing programs.
• Paid vacation.
• 401(k) matching.
• Employee stock purchase program.
• Hybrid work schedule.
• Eligible for annual bonus program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager