Manager, Product Quality Assurance

REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.)•Seattle, WA

26d

About The Position

As the Manager, Product Quality Assurance, you’ll lead an HQ-based team that builds quality into REI’s own products from concept through production, while also guiding in market issue resolution for our brands as well as all external brands we sell. Your work continues the Co-op’s progression from reactive issue resolution toward proactive, prevention-focused quality systems. You’ll guide the team responsible for defining and maintaining quality expectations, implementing quality programs, facilitating product-specific technical reviews and leading investigation and remediation when product issues arise. For REI brands, you will be focused on building quality into the product creation process itself, minimizing the need for issue management later. You and your team will partner closely with teammates worldwide who manage in-factory quality execution and factory-facing control processes. You’ll also foster our service to the Co-op through cross-divisional partnership management of quality concerns for all other brands we sell. This role is ideal for a quality leader who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment where relationships, judgment, and long-term system improvement matter just as much as technical expertise. You’ll manage an experienced QA team, and your work will continue the Co-op’s progression toward proactive, prevention-focused quality systems.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in product quality assurance, audit and inspection, or closely related standards across outdoor hardgoods, softgoods, or related categories.
Strong understanding of manufacturing, materials, construction techniques and workmanship.
Experience partnering with international supply chain and vendor networks.
Strong analytical, communication, and judgment skills and able to make efficient, clear recommendations based on data.
Proven people leadership: coaching, performance management, and building strong team culture.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally to support cross-functional work.

Responsibilities

Lead the creation and evolution of quality standards, tools, and processes for global product creation.
Guide the team in riskbased product reviews and share clear, actionable recommendations with product teams.
Collaborate closely with internal Quality and Technical Services teams who manage factory-level inspections and quality control.
Translate customer and product quality insights into guidance that improves upstream decisions.
Monitor product trends and report key quality metrics to support continuous improvement.
Lead the team through cross-functional issue investigations and CAPA plans when defects emerge in market.
Manage, coach, and develop a team of HQ-based Quality Assurance professionals.