Vice President of Quality

Piston Automotive•Pontiac, MI

About The Position

The Vice President of Quality is a key member of the executive leadership team, reporting directly to the President. This role provides enterprise-level leadership for the Quality function across U.S. and Mexico operations and has direct responsibility for plant quality execution, ensuring quality standards, controls, containment, corrective actions, and daily operating discipline are effectively deployed across all manufacturing sites. The VP of Quality leads the Quality Management System (QMS), drives disciplined problem-solving and continuous improvement, strengthens customer and supplier quality performance, and builds a culture where quality is owned at every level.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required (Engineering, Quality, or related discipline)
15+ years of progressive experience in Quality leadership within automotive manufacturing (Tier 1 preferred)
Multi-site and plant quality execution responsibility strongly preferred
Deep working knowledge of IATF 16949, ISO standards, customer-specific requirements, APQP/PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and core problem-solving methodologies.
Demonstrated experience leading customer relationships on quality matters, including audit management and performance recovery.
Proven ability to lead, coach and develop leaders, build strong cross-functional partnerships, and drive culture change.
Strong business acumen with the ability to balance risk, cost, throughput, and customer requirements.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills across all levels.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or MBA preferred
Lean Six Sigma Black belt certification preferred
Bilingual (Spanish) is preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior-most Quality executive for Piston Interiors, setting enterprise direction for Quality across U.S. and Mexico operations and maintaining direct accountability for plant quality execution at all manufacturing sites.
Provide executive direction to the Quality function, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy, OEM requirements, and industry best practices.
Serve as the executive voice for quality matters with customers, suppliers, and internal leaders, reinforcing trust and credibility.
Directly lead plant quality execution across all manufacturing locations, including shop-floor quality standards, inspection controls, containment, corrective actions, layered process audits, and adherence to control plans.
Hold plant quality leaders accountable for daily quality performance, rapid response to defects or escapes, disciplined problem solving, and sustainment of corrective actions.
Partner with Plant Operations to ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet quality requirements while balancing safety, delivery, cost, launch readiness, and customer commitments.
Establish, deploy, and continuously improve the Quality Management System (QMS) across all facilities to ensure compliance with IATF 16949, ISO standards, and OEM-specific requirements.
Lead internal and external audit strategy and execution, including customer audits and third-party/registrar audits; ensure readiness, effective responses, and sustained compliance.
Provide executive oversight of Business Management Systems (BMS) governance (process architecture, document control, internal audit programs, and cross-functional standardization aligned to IATF/ISO and customer-specific requirements).
Lead proactive quality planning and prevention activities (including APQP alignment, quality planning cadence, layered process audits, and launch readiness) to minimize escapes and stabilize new program launches.
Partner with Operations, Engineering, Program Management, and Supply Chain to integrate quality requirements into manufacturing processes, control plans, and production systems.
Own customer quality performance: oversee customer scorecards, warranty data, returns, and audit outcomes; set targets; and lead recovery plans when performance is at risk.
Direct structured problem solving and corrective action discipline (e.g., root cause analysis, containment, verification, and sustainment) to eliminate recurring issues and strengthen systemic controls.
Strengthen supplier quality performance in partnership with Supply Chain: supplier selection input, PPAP readiness, performance monitoring, escalation, and development plans.
Establish enterprise quality metrics and governance (e.g., SQDC, FPY, PPM, customer complaints, audit findings) with transparent reporting and effective escalation.
Build, organize, and manage a high-performing Quality team, including plant quality leaders, ensuring clear roles, capability development, succession planning, and accountability.
Create and manage the Quality budget, including headcount planning, capability investments, and continuous improvement resourcing.