Job Title: Quality Manager
Location: Denver, CO 80216
Employment Type: Direct Hire
About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced Quality Manager to lead all quality-related activities within a manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for overseeing the site's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with IATF 16949:2016, ISO 9001:2015, and customer-specific requirements. The Quality Manager will lead quality engineering initiatives, drive continuous improvement, manage customer and supplier quality, and partner with cross-functional teams to support new product development and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead, maintain, and continuously improve the site's Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with IATF 16949:2016, ISO 9001:2015, and customer-specific requirements.
- Serve as the primary Quality Management Representative (QMR) and lead internal quality audits while coordinating external registrar and customer audits.
- Lead, coach, and develop the Quality Engineering and Quality Assurance team, including engineers, technicians, and inspectors.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for customer quality concerns and complaints.
- Lead 8D problem-solving activities to identify root causes, implement corrective and preventive actions, and ensure timely customer responses.
- Oversee Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) activities for new product launches and major process changes.
- Ensure Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) documentation, including PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and SPC, is completed and approved prior to production.
- Drive root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives using methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, and Ishikawa.
- Manage supplier quality performance through supplier audits, incoming inspection monitoring, and supplier corrective action processes.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to improve quality, reduce waste, and optimize manufacturing performance.
- Monitor and analyze key quality metrics, including Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), First Pass Yield (FPY), customer complaints, corrective action aging, and audit performance.
- Develop and implement action plans to improve quality performance and achieve departmental objectives.
- Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to support product quality, process improvements, and operational excellence.
- Maintain compliance with customer requirements and applicable quality standards.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field required.
- Minimum of 5–7 years of quality engineering experience within a manufacturing environment required.
- Minimum of 3 years of leadership or management experience in a quality function required.
- Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 quality management systems.
- Experience with Automotive Core Tools, including APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, MSA, SPC, and Control Plans.
- Proven experience leading root cause analysis and corrective action processes using 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa, or similar methodologies.
- Experience managing supplier quality and customer quality processes.
- Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement principles.
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), or IATF 16949 Lead Auditor Certification preferred.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems; JD Edwards (JDE) experience preferred.
- Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.