Senior Quality Manager - EAST

thyssenkrupp Materials•Wallingford, CT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Quality Manager is the senior operational and strategic quality leader for multiple distribution and value-added fabrication sites, with accountability for product conformity, supplier performance, regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, and quality risk governance. The role drives consistent quality outcomes, escalation management, systemic improvement, and measurable performance across assigned locations, representing the organization at the executive level on quality, risk, and customer trust. The role defines and executes regional quality strategy; owns and improves a scalable Quality Management System; oversees standards, certifications, audits, supplier quality, corrective and preventive action, and regional quality metrics; and integrates quality into Lean and operational excellence initiatives. It leads and develops the regional quality organization and coordinates cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Sales, and Finance. The position has authority to stop shipments, quarantine products, mandate corrective actions, approve deviations and customer concessions within defined limits, and escalate systemic quality or regulatory risks. The position can be based in Acworth, Georgia, or Wallingford, Connecticut, and is responsible for both locations. Frequent travel between assigned sites and regular manufacturing-floor presence are required. The role involves access to information subject to ITAR; applicants must be ITAR eligible.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 8–10 years of progressive quality leadership experience in a manufacturing or fabricated metal environment.
Multi-site or regional leadership experience.
Experience with ISO 9001 and/or AS9100 systems.
Experience leading customer and registrar audits.
Experience managing corrective and preventive action systems.
Demonstrated success driving measurable quality improvement.
Experience managing managers and cross-functional teams.
Strong executive communication and escalation management skills.
Must be ITAR eligible.

Nice To Haves

ASQ certification such as CQE, CQM/OE, or equivalent.
ISO Lead Auditor certification.
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Experience in aerospace, defense, medical, or other regulated industries.
Experience with PFMEA, Control Plans, and APQP methodologies.
Experience influencing capital investment and strategic planning decisions.
Experience with CMMC2 or regulated compliance environments.

Responsibilities

Define and execute regional quality strategy aligned with business objectives and growth initiatives.
Drive accountability for quality outcomes and consistent QMS execution across multiple sites.
Build a culture of ownership, prevention, and continuous improvement; influence operational and capital decisions affecting quality and risk.
Own and strategically improve the QMS, ensuring applicable compliance with ISO 9001, AS9100, customer flow-down requirements, first article inspections, traceability, CMMC2, and outsourced processing controls.
Maintain accountability for ISO 9001 and AS9100 certifications and surveillance audits, and prepare for applicable site-specific certifications such as AS13485.
Lead registrar, customer, and regulatory audits; oversee internal audits, audit readiness, systemic gap closure, and effective corrective actions.
Serve as executive-level quality contact for key customers; lead escalations and communications, participate in audits and performance reviews, and support concession approvals.
Oversee supplier qualification and performance, including mills and outsourced services; manage supplier audits, PPAP, SCAR processes, risk escalation, and improvement initiatives.
Own 8D, CAR, and SCAR systems across assigned sites; ensure timely closure and verified effectiveness, drive root cause analysis and recurrence prevention, and use PFMEA, Control Plans, and APQP where applicable.
Own and improve regional quality KPIs, including customer PPM, scrap and rework, COPQ, on-time delivery impact, and supplier performance; conduct trend analysis and present results to executive leadership.
Integrate quality into Lean and operational excellence initiatives; drive defect prevention, cost reduction, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving.
Lead and develop regional quality managers, engineers, and QA personnel; set expectations, conduct evaluations, build succession plans, and develop team capability.
Exercise authority to stop shipments, quarantine products, mandate corrective actions, approve deviations and concessions within defined limits, and escalate systemic risks.
Maintain regular on-site presence, engage in significant quality issues and investigations, and provide visible leadership on manufacturing floors.
Align quality efforts across Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Sales, and Finance; integrate quality strategy into operational planning and influence capital decisions.
Manage regulatory, customer, and financial quality risks and establish preventive risk governance frameworks.
Represent the organization to customers, suppliers, registrars, and regulatory bodies, including as executive quality spokesperson during audits and escalations.
Travel frequently between assigned sites and work in manufacturing-floor environments.