Manager, Product Quality

Fender•San Bernardino, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is a world-famous brand with offices across the globe. Fender was born in Southern California and has built a worldwide influence beyond the studio and the stage. A Fender is more than an instrument; it’s a cultural symbol that resonates globally. We are searching for a Manager, Product Quality to join our team in San Bernardino, CA. This role is responsible for managing daily product quality operations related to import inspection, repair, returns, and Dot Com inspection. The Manager, Product Quality will lead quality team members, monitor inspection and repair results, analyze trends, support supplier quality communication, and ensure processes are operating effectively to meet business, customer, and quality expectations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Quality, Business, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in a supervisory or managerial role; experience within a Quality discipline strongly preferred.
Experience with quality systems, product inspection, receiving inspection, repair, returns, supplier quality, or product verification processes.
Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage, train, develop, and hold team members accountable.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify trends, determine root cause, and drive corrective action.
Experience developing reports, tracking KPIs, analyzing data, and communicating results to leadership and cross-functional partners.
Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Excel; SAP QM or related quality system experience preferred.
Strong communication, organization, project management, and cross-functional partnership skills.

Responsibilities

Manage daily operations for product quality functions, including import inspection, repair, returns, and Dot Com inspection.
Ensure receiving inspection processes are effective, efficient, and aligned with quality standards and business requirements.
Lead, coach, train, and develop direct reports; manage performance, timecards, evaluations, corrective actions, and staffing needs in accordance with company policies.
Establish, maintain, and report KPI metrics related to inspection, repair, returns, supplier performance, process efficiency, and service level expectations.
Analyze inspection results, shipment activity, product forecasts, and quality trends to identify labor needs, operational risks, and opportunities for process improvement.
Respond to quality-related supplier inquiries and support the Quality team in identifying supplier performance concerns based on inspection results and trend data.
Partner with Product Managers, OEMs, FMIC factories, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to align inspection criteria, evaluation methods, quality expectations, and communication of inspection results.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes to ensure quality issues are addressed effectively and corrective actions are completed.
Maintain and improve Quality Management System processes related to inspection and repair activities, including procedures, SOPs, work instructions, audits, and document control.
Work with IT and internal stakeholders to support effective use, controls, and discipline within quality system tools and modules.
Coordinate and manage inventory audits and quality-related projects to ensure key deliverables are met.
Additional duties as assigned.