Quality Systems & Laboratory Manager

MacLean Power Systems•Locust Grove, GA

21h

About The Position

The Quality Systems & Laboratory Manager leads Quality Management Systems, laboratory operations, testing programs, and incoming product quality functions for the Locust Grove and Wood Dale facilities. As the site quality leader, the position is primarily responsible for the effectiveness, compliance, and continual improvement of the QMS and maintaining ISO 9001 certification while translating customer, regulatory, statutory, and organizational requirements into operational controls. The position provides leadership and technical oversight for incoming inspection, laboratory and product testing, calibration and measurement systems, test method validation, inspection planning, quality documentation, and certification activities. The manager works cross-functionally with Corporate Quality, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Procurement, and directly with suppliers when needed, to establish controls throughout product receipt, inspection, testing, acceptance, and distribution. The manager establishes and strengthens procedures, work instructions, testing protocols, inspection plans, training, and quality controls to support product conformity and operational performance. The role identifies and mitigates quality risks, analyzes performance and quality trends, resolves systemic issues, strengthens technical capabilities, and leads continuous improvement initiatives. It also develops a culture of quality, compliance, accountability, ethical decision-making, and continuous improvement. Travel is approximately 20–30%, primarily to the Wood Dale, Illinois facility, with additional travel to company locations and external events as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality, or a related technical discipline.
Minimum 7–10 years of experience in quality systems, laboratory management, testing, inspection, or manufacturing quality.
Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing quality systems and technical operations.
Demonstrated experience managing ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and certification activities; knowledge of ISO 14001.
Experience managing test laboratories, calibration programs, inspection systems, and product testing processes.
Experience supporting incoming quality control, supplier quality, and product verification activities.
Experience with electronic management systems, calibration management systems, and laboratory data management systems.
Approximately 20–30% travel, primarily to support Quality operations at the Wood Dale, Illinois facility, with additional travel to company locations and external events.
Strong leadership skills, including setting a vision, driving accountability, developing teams, and fostering quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and partner effectively with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Procurement, and Corporate Quality leadership.
Demonstrated success leading quality transformation, compliance initiatives, and organizational change.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements; determine inspection and measurement methods; and select and properly use measurement devices, instruments, and gages.
Expert knowledge of ISO 9001 requirements, auditing, certification maintenance, and management review processes.
Experience developing, implementing, and sustaining quality and environmental management systems.
Strong understanding of risk-based thinking, process management, and continuous improvement principles.
Experience managing laboratory operations, testing programs, test method development, and product validation activities.
Experience interpreting testing standards such as ASTM, ANSI, IEC, and IEE.
Understanding of laboratory quality controls, measurement uncertainty, test validation, and data integrity principles.
Strong knowledge of calibration systems, measurement standards, gauge control, equipment qualification, and metrology principles.
Ability to ensure traceability, accuracy, and compliance of measurement systems used for inspection and testing.
Advanced root cause analysis and corrective action skills using 5 Why, Ishikawa, A3, 8D, and risk-based methodologies.
Proven ability to develop and maintain procedures, work instructions, test methods, inspection plans, specifications, and technical reports.
Strong document control and records management experience within regulated or certified environments.

Nice To Haves

ETQ electronic management system experience preferred.
Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor preferred.
Working knowledge of corrosion testing, environmental testing, salt fog testing, coatings evaluation, or related laboratory validation methods preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, maintain, and continually improve the Locust Grove ISO 9001 QMS and provide quality leadership and support for the Wood Dale ISO 9001 QMS.
Serve as the primary site quality representative and liaison with certification bodies, customers, regulatory agencies, Corporate Quality, and other external parties on QMS, product quality, testing, and compliance matters.
Develop, implement, maintain, and improve quality procedures, work instructions, inspection plans, testing protocols, acceptance criteria, forms, records, and other QMS documentation.
Lead and provide technical oversight of laboratory operations, including testing methodologies, equipment, workflow, staffing, capacity, resource planning, safety, and laboratory capability development.
Establish and improve incoming inspection and testing programs for products and materials from domestic and international suppliers.
Develop and maintain risk-based inspection plans, sampling strategies, acceptance criteria, and verification methods based on product requirements, supplier performance, quality history, risk, and applicable requirements.
Lead salt fog, mechanical, dimensional, and other applicable product validation and verification testing programs.
Maintain laboratory and testing activities in a state of accreditation readiness, including control of methods, equipment, personnel competency, documentation, reports, records, and objective evidence.
Lead the calibration and metrology program, including measurement standards, equipment qualification, calibration status, traceability, environmental considerations, and controls for reliable results.
Establish, validate, and maintain test methods, validation protocols, measurement system controls, and verification techniques to support accurate, repeatable, reproducible, and technically defensible results.
Ensure control, traceability, retention, and accessibility of test reports, certificates of analysis or conformance, product certifications, compliance documentation, calibration records, inspection results, and other quality records.
Coordinate with Corporate Quality to plan and execute the ISO 9001 internal audit program, including audit planning, identification of systemic issues, corrective-action follow-up, effectiveness verification, and closure of findings.
Plan, coordinate, and facilitate external certification, surveillance, customer, regulatory, and other third-party audits, including preparation, response, corrective action, and follow-up.
Lead investigation and resolution of product and process nonconformances, inspection or test failures, customer complaints, supplier quality issues, and other quality or compliance concerns; ensure root cause analysis, corrective action, and effectiveness verification.
Partner with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Corporate Quality, and other facilities to improve product and supplier quality, strengthen process controls, resolve systemic issues, and reduce risk.
Work with suppliers, Supply Chain, and Procurement to address supplier performance and product conformity concerns, including corrective actions and improvements to inspection and testing requirements.
Develop, monitor, analyze, and communicate QMS, incoming quality, supplier quality, laboratory, testing, calibration, and audit metrics; identify adverse trends and drive corrective and improvement actions.
Develop and maintain management review inputs covering QMS performance, audits, customer and supplier performance, nonconformance trends, laboratory performance, risks and opportunities, resource needs, and improvement priorities.
Lead document and record control processes to ensure procedures, specifications, drawings, standards, engineering documentation, and quality records are reviewed, approved, controlled, distributed, revised, retained, and protected from unintended use.
Establish training, qualification, and competency requirements for quality and laboratory personnel and ensure personnel performing quality-related activities are appropriately trained and competent.
Provide leadership, coaching, technical guidance, and development for Quality personnel and support Operations and other functions in fulfilling their quality responsibilities.
Promote a quality culture centered on compliance, accountability, ethical behavior, technical discipline, risk-based thinking, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
Identify and communicate laboratory, metrology, testing, staffing, equipment, and infrastructure needs, and support business justification and capital planning.
Support standardization of quality systems, processes, testing methods, documentation, and best practices between Locust Grove, Wood Dale, Trenton, Corporate Quality, and other facilities where appropriate.
Travel to Wood Dale and other company or corporate locations for quality leadership, QMS support, integration, audits, training, meetings, and other business needs.
Partner with third-party logistics providers to investigate and resolve quality nonconformances, customer complaints, product handling concerns, and other quality issues, and ensure corrective actions are implemented and verified.
Ensure third-party logistics operations are incorporated into the ISO 9001 QMS scope and controls, including defined quality requirements, responsibilities, performance monitoring, and adherence to applicable QMS, customer, and product requirements.