Sr Manager, Supplier Quality

Watlow Recruitment Team • St. Louis, MO

2d

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Quality – Supplier is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of supplier quality systems and processes supporting Watlow’s North America manufacturing operations. This role provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure supplier performance meets customer and Watlow quality standards while driving a proactive culture of quality excellence.
The Manager, Quality – Supplier serves as the subject matter expert in advanced quality methodologies and supplier quality systems. This position is accountable for the performance and results of quality engineering professionals and aligns supplier quality strategies with overall business objectives and customer expectations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required.
• Minimum of 12 years of quality experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of 10 years in a leadership or management role overseeing teams and supplier quality programs.
• Or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Semiconductor industry experience preferred.
• Aerospace industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute supplier quality strategies aligned with business and operational priorities.
• Lead, coach, and develop Quality Engineering team members in alignment with the Watlow Way and Coaching Forward principles.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across supplier networks to enhance product quality, reliability, and performance.
• Implement and train teams on business and quality systems that support the Semiconductor business unit.
• Serve as subject matter expert in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), PQP, CRAMs, Plan of Record (POR), and Copy Exact methodologies.
• Develop, apply, and maintain supplier quality standards for processes, materials, and end products.
• Design and implement inspection, testing, and evaluation methods for products and production equipment.
• Lead root cause analysis efforts and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) implementation.
• Coach teams on structured problem-solving methodologies including Cause Chains, 5-Why, Ishikawa diagrams, 8D, RCCA, A3 systems thinking, creative problem solving, and trade-off curve development.
• Obtain, implement, and track supplier(s) performance improvement plan(s), in order to ensure cost, quality, and on time delivery performance is in line with internal and external customer expectations.
• Perform and support internal process audits, host and support customer process audits.
• Lead analysis and disposition of failed or returned materials and approve corrective actions.
• Research and implement best-in-class quality systems and tools to improve performance across one or multiple manufacturing locations.
• Ensure supplier compliance with Watlow quality standards and customer-specific requirements.

Benefits

• Annual Incentive Program
• 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance
• Wellness incentives
• Employee Personal Assistance Program
• Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees