Quality Assurance Manager
About The Position
Element has an opportunity for an experienced Quality Manager to lead quality performance at our St. Paul & Des Moines materials testing laboratories. Reporting to the General Manager, this role is a key member of the site leadership team and accountable for the effectiveness of the Quality Management System (QMS), Prime customer approvals, and overall testing compliance and performance. The Quality Manager drives First Time Right (FTR) performance, ensures sustained compliance to aerospace and accreditation requirements, and builds strong working relationships with Aerospace Primes and customers. This role also leads continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen process robustness, reduce risk, and support business growth. In this role, you will influence operational leadership and technical teams to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, compliance, and data integrity, ensuring inspection and testing services meet regulatory requirements and customer expectations. You will champion a culture where quality is not a function, it is a discipline embedded in every process, decision, and result.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in a scientific or engineering discipline, with 5+ years of progressive experience in materials testing, aerospace manufacturing, or a regulated technical environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading and operating ISO/IEC 17025 and/or AS9100-certified quality systems; Nadcap-accredited materials testing experience strongly preferred.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, including leadership of structured root cause investigations and implementation of effective, sustainable corrective actions.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, regulated environment while maintaining focus on risk, compliance, and delivery commitments.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex regulatory and technical requirements to cross-functional teams, leadership, customers, and accreditation bodies.
- Proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams to achieve regulatory compliance, operational performance, and business objectives.
- Maintain current knowledge of internal policies, regulatory standards, and industry requirements, demonstrating ongoing professional development in aerospace quality and testing disciplines.
Nice To Haves
- Nadcap-accredited materials testing experience strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Maintain and expand scope of all accreditations, certifications, and approvals (e.g., ISO 17025, AS9100, AC7004, Nadcap AC7114), including Prime customer and regulatory requirements
- Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable standards, regulations, and customer requirements
- Lead and manage all internal, regulatory, customer, accreditation, and certification audits, ensuring continuous audit readiness
- Manage audit NCRs, including root cause analysis (e.g., 8D methodology), corrective and preventive actions, and response management
- Support NCR review and response activities with Corporate Technical Specialists
- Maintain and manage Electronic Quality Management Systems (eQMS) and Nadcap eAuditNet usage across the site
- Oversee execution of method audits, system audits, and proficiency testing per defined schedules
- Develop, implement, and maintain site QMS policies, procedures, work instructions, and forms
- Ensure implementation of process controls across laboratory and site operations
- Drive implementation and continuous improvement of the QMS across all site functions
- Lead initiatives to reduce cost of poor quality and improve first-time-right performance
- Develop, analyze, and report quality performance metrics and corrective actions aligned with business objectives
- Manage onboarding, refresher, cross-training, and competency assessment programs for site personnel
- Ensure delivery of training and system utilization for eQMS and Nadcap platforms
- Ensure fulfillment of customer requirements through QMS execution, contract review, and quality reporting
- Maintain communication with customers, Primes, and accreditation bodies regarding quality and compliance matters
- Ensure alignment with customer and regulatory requirements across functions
- Lead quality investigations and cross-functional issue resolution activities
- Manage prioritization and execution of quality-related activities across competing operational demands
- Support coordination and communication between quality, operations, and external stakeholders related to compliance and audit activities
Benefits
- We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
