Interim Director Quality

LHH Knightsbridge; Windsor; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Lee Hecht Harrison Knightsbridge Corp. is seeking a Director of Quality to lead quality assurance, systems, and continuous improvement in a high‑volume OEM automotive setting. You will shape the quality culture, drive customer scorecard improvements, and guide supplier quality while ensuring regulatory compliance.

The role requires hands‑on leadership, strategic and shop‑floor presence, and a track record of cross‑functional influence in metals manufacturing environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, Materials Science, Quality, or related field; Master’s preferred.
• 15+ years of progressively senior Quality Assurance leadership experience.
• 5+ years with TS/ISO quality systems, including formal ISO training.
• Proven quality leadership in the OEM automotive sector.
• Experience in 24/7 or continuous manufacturing operations.
• Metals manufacturing exposure (aluminum, steel) and metalworking processes.

Responsibilities

• Act as main point of contact for customers on quality, delivery, service concerns, and issue resolution.
• Build and enhance quality management systems to align with customer requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to minimize complaints and quality concerns.
• Support APQP activities and new program launches when required.
• Monitor supplier performance through delivery, quality metrics, and scorecards.
• Ensure compliance with IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 standards.
• Oversee corrective action initiatives with root-cause analysis and sustainable measures.
• Drive 5S implementation to support quality and operations.
• Lead audits and process checks to validate system effectiveness.
• Develop and sustain performance management to improve productivity and quality.
• Lead and coach teams to meet departmental and company objectives.

Skills

Quality leadership

Lean

Six Sigma

Problem solving

Customer facing

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering/related

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

ISO/TS quality systems

IATF 16949

Job description

Duration: 12 months (Strong Possibility to Become Permanent)

Location: Onsite- Windsor

The Director of Quality will provide strategic and hands-on leadership for all quality assurance, quality systems, customer quality, supplier quality, and continuous improvement activities within a high-volume manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for ensuring that quality systems, processes, and performance standards meet or exceed customer requirements while supporting operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and business objectives.

The successful candidate will bring deep quality leadership experience in the OEM automotive sector, preferably within metals or related manufacturing operations, and will play a key role in strengthening quality culture, improving customer scorecard performance, reducing internal scrap, and driving sustainable corrective action and continuous improvement initiatives.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a proactive, hands‑on quality leader with a strong technical foundation, excellent customer‑facing communication skills, and the ability to influence cross‑functional teams in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment. They will be comfortable operating at both the strategic and shop‑floor level, with a proven ability to assess systems, identify gaps, lead problem‑solving efforts, and implement sustainable improvements.

This individual should demonstrate strong leadership, accountability, and change‑management capability, with experience building high‑performing teams and driving measurable improvements in quality, productivity, customer satisfaction, and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the main point of contact for customers on matters related to quality, delivery, service concerns, and issue resolution.
• Build, sustain, and enhance quality management systems to ensure alignment with customer expectations and requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts focused on minimizing customer complaints, quality concerns, and repeat issues.
• Provide support for APQP activities and new program launches, assuming leadership responsibility when required.
• Track and evaluate supplier performance through delivery results, quality indicators, and monthly scorecard reviews.
• Promote and maintain compliance with IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 quality standards.
• Oversee corrective action initiatives, ensuring thorough root‑cause analysis and long‑term corrective measures.
• Drive the implementation and sustainability of 5S practices in support of quality and operational objectives.
• Contribute to internal scrap reduction initiatives and validate system effectiveness through audits and process checks.
• Ensure customer‑specific requirements are consistently achieved and reflected in strong customer scorecard outcomes.
• Oversee sample, prototype, and PPAP production runs to confirm compliance with customer specifications and approval requirements.
• Lead, coach, and monitor direct reports to ensure departmental and company objectives are met.
• Plan, coordinate, monitor, and follow up on internal audits to maintain compliance and support continuous improvement.
• Lead structured problem‑solving efforts to resolve customer, supplier, and production‑related issues.
• Carry out additional responsibilities as required to support business needs.

Qualifications

• University degree in Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, Materials Science, Quality, or a related field; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively senior Quality Assurance leadership experience.
• At least 5 years of experience with TS/ISO quality systems, including formal ISO training.
• Proven quality leadership experience within the OEM automotive sector.
• Direct experience working in 24/7 or continuous manufacturing operations.
• Hands‑on background in traditional manufacturing environments where raw materials are converted into finished components, rather than assembly‑only settings.
• Experience in metals manufacturing, such as aluminum, steel, or related materials, with exposure to rolling, forming, bending, or similar metalworking processes.
• Strong knowledge of material characteristics, process capability, and equipment performance.
• Demonstrated experience applying lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence methodologies, including Lean, JIT, Six Sigma, and Kaizen.
• Proven ability to develop, implement, and sustain performance management systems that enhance productivity, quality, and resource utilization.
• Successful track record of leading operational improvements and organizational change initiatives.

Lee Hecht Harrison Knightsbridge Corp. is committed to providing equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure a barrier‑free recruitment process. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and our AODA policy, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the hiring process. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please provide your accommodation needs in advance to the Recruitment Lead for this opportunity.

We thank all interested candidates in advance; however, only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.