Head of QC

Our Place•Los Angeles, CA

3d•$120,000 - $140,000

About The Position

Our Place is hiring a hands-on, execution-focused Head of QC to plan and run quality control across its supply chain in China, covering every inspection, factory, and shipment. The role leads the China-based QA/QC team and coordinates trained third-party inspectors to expand capacity during volume spikes. It owns 100% QC and retailer inspection work for Costco and business-development (BD) programs, and serves as a bridge between the US team and the China QC team. The role is based in Los Angeles or requires relocation there, involves work on factory floors, and requires travel of 25% or more, including extended periods in China. The Head of QC plans inspections from incoming and in-line checks through pre-shipment, final inspection, 100% QC, and container loading. The role sets sampling plans using the Supplier Quality Manual and ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 requirements, forecasts inspector capacity, leads and calibrates inspectors, coordinates retailer testing and inspection programs, resolves non-conformances, and maintains inspection data and reporting in Qarma. The position works closely with Supply Chain, QA, and Engineering to keep production and shipment schedules aligned with quality requirements and to feed field and customer issues into inspection processes. Success in the first 6–12 months means every PO has an inspection planned before production begins, shipments do not slip due to unscheduled or understaffed QC, Costco and BD shipments pass retailer inspections on the first attempt, third-party inspectors are trained and audited for peak volume, reports are complete and on time in Qarma, and inspectors grade defects consistently.

Requirements

8 or more years of QC or QA experience for consumer products made in China, including 3 or more years leading inspection teams.
Small kitchen appliance experience.
Fluent spoken and written English and Mandarin.
Hands-on skill with AQL sampling, inspection checklists, golden samples, first article inspection, non-conformance reports, 8D, and factory audits.
Experience running retailer QC programs and managing third-party inspection firms.
Comfort with appliance safety and function tests and cookware material tests, and ability to read specifications and drawings.
Strong organization and planning skills, with experience using data and tools such as Qarma or similar systems and spreadsheets.
Based in Los Angeles or willing to relocate there.
Able to travel 25% or more, including extended periods in China.

Nice To Haves

Cookware experience.
Experience with Costco retailer QC programs.

Responsibilities

Build and manage a rolling QC calendar for every PO and factory, covering incoming (IQC), in-line, pre-shipment, final, 100% QC, and container-loading inspections, aligned with production schedules and cargo-ready dates.
Forecast inspector capacity weeks ahead and use temporary staff and third-party inspectors as needed to prevent QC staffing from delaying shipments.
Set and apply sampling plans under the Supplier Quality Manual, including ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, General Inspection Level II, AQL 0 / 1.5 / 4.0 for critical, major, and minor defects, special levels S-2 and S-4, and tightened, reduced, and skip-lot rules.
Manage, coach, and schedule the China QA/QC team of three QC inspectors and one QA engineer; set daily priorities and review every report.
Train inspectors on product-specific checklists, golden samples, defect classification, and functional and safety tests.
Run regular calibration sessions so in-house and third-party inspectors grade defects consistently.
Plan and run Costco and BD QC programs end to end, including 100% QC, factory training, sample-selection support, and coordination with retailer-appointed inspection and testing firms.
Coordinate with Supply Chain to include retailer QC and testing time in production timelines.
Recruit, qualify, train, and audit third-party QC providers; manage their scheduling, costs, and report quality.
Issue non-conformance reports, lead containment within 24 hours, decide on rework, sorting, or rejection with QA and Supply Chain, and track supplier corrective actions through closure.
Flag quality risks to ship dates early and provide options.
Keep factories’ in-line QC and production control plans aligned with company standards.
Own inspection data in Qarma, ensuring complete and timely reports and tracking defect paretos and supplier pass rates.
Publish weekly QC reports in English for the US and China teams covering schedules, results, open issues, and risks.
Work with QA and Engineering to incorporate field and customer issues into inspection checklists.

Benefits

Competitive pay and equity.
Eligible for a discretionary annual bonus plan for full-time team members.
Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
Generous PTO and synchronized time off.
$500 per year for learning and development.
Optional 401(k) plan.
Team member discount, an annual Our Place gift card, and Our Place products for the home.
Office with a creative studio and multiple kitchens.
Catered Tuesday lunches.
Team events, activities, and an annual company retreat.