Associate Director of Quality

nVent; Anoka (MN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

nVent in Minnesota seeks a seasoned quality leader to own quality across Anoka and Dayton with coordination to Blaine. You’ll lead a 70+-person quality organization, act as the primary liaison to customers, and build a robust supplier quality function across MN.

The role requires 10+ years in manufacturing quality, 5+ years leadership across multi-site QA, and expertise in Lean, SPC, Intelex,.TrackWise. A Bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s or MBA preferred; ASQ certifications valued.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in manufacturing quality systems.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership across multi-site QA.
• Deep expertise in Lean (5S, Kaizen, VSM) and SPC for supplier monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier quality strategy and audit supplier processes.
• Collaborate with engineering during NPI to meet build specs.
• Direct IQC and receiving inspection with risk-based verification.
• Executive QA liaison to customers and leadership.
• Develop and align a comprehensive QMS (ISO 9001).
• Lead APQP and PPAP in global sourcing.
• Drive Lean Six Sigma-based continuous improvement.
• Mentor and scale a high-performing quality team.

Skills

Leadership

Lean

Kaizen

VSM

SPC

Strategic thinking

Executive liaison

Education

Bachelor of Science in quality/manufacturing

Master’s degree or MBA preferred

ASQ CQE/CQA/CQM/OE certifications

Tools

Intelex

TrackWise

Job description

We’re looking for people who put their innovation to work to advance our success - and their own. Join an organization that ensures a more secure world through connecting and protecting our customers with inventive electrical solutions. This is a critical quality leadership role supporting nVent’s Minnesota operations, with ownership of quality for the Anoka and Dayton sites and coordination with our Blaine facility through a key customer partnership. You’ll lead and influence a 70+-person quality organization, serving as the primary quality liaison to manage complex compliance requirements, maintain senior-level customer engagement, and ensure quality systems scale alongside the business. This role serves as a gatekeeper for growth, leading the build-out of a robust quality and supplier quality organization across MN locations to support our expanding Data Solutions and Hoffman Enclosures footprint.

What you will experience in this position:

• Serve as the primary leader for supplier quality strategy.
• Audit supplier processes and resolve quality issues (NCRs/CAPAs).
• Collaborate with engineering teams during New Product Introduction (NPI) to ensure suppliers meet build specifications.
• Direct the receiving inspection and incoming quality control (IQC) operations for all critically important components, implementing a risk-based verification strategy to reduce non-conforming material escapes while optimizing dock-to-stock cycle times.
• Executive Liaison: Represent the QA function as the principal customer and executive liaison, bridging the gap between high-level customer expectations and supplier execution.
• Quality Management System (QMS) Evolution: Lead the development and alignment of a comprehensive QMS (e.g., ISO 9001).
• High-Impact Problem Solving: Act as the Quality Project Leader and a structured problem-solving SME, using advanced methods to resolve critical supplier bottlenecks and technical issues.
• Manage Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Processes (PPAP) in global sourcing efforts.
• Operational Excellence: Drive large-scale continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., Lean Six Sigma) to optimize both internal plant efficiency and external supplier yield.
• Groundbreaking Leadership: Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of quality professionals, encouraging a culture of accountability, technical mastery, and career growth.

YOU HAVE:

• Education: Bachelor of Science degree required; Master’s degree or MBA or equivalent experience preferred to support strategic business alignment.
• Certifications: Professional certifications such as ASQ-CQM/OE (Quality Manager/Organizational Excellence), CQE, or CQA are highly valued.
• Experience: 10+ years in manufacturing quality systems, with a proven track record of managing complex global supply bases.
• Leadership: 5+ years of progressive leadership experience, specifically managing multi-site quality functions or large-scale supplier quality organizations.
• Methodology: Deep expertise in Lean principles (5S, Kaizen, VSM) and a proficiency in Statistical Process Control (SPC) applied to supplier monitoring.
• Systems Mastery: Advanced knowledge of ISO Management systems and enterprise quality software (e.g., Intelex, Trackwise).
• Strategic Approach: The ability to translate complex quality data into actionable business intelligence for executive partners.

WE HAVE:

A dynamic global reach with diverse operations around the world that will stretch your abilities, provide plentiful career opportunities, and allow you to make an impact every day nVent is a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions. We believe our inventive electrical solutions enable safer systems and ensure a more secure world. We design, manufacture, market, install and service high performance products and solutions that connect and protect some of the world's most sensitive equipment, buildings and critical processes. We offer a comprehensive range of systems protection and electrical connections solutions across industry-leading brands that are recognized globally for quality, reliability and innovation. Our principal office is in London and our management office in the United States is in Minneapolis. Our robust portfolio of leading electrical product brands dates back more than 100 years and includes nVent CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, ILSCO, SCHROFF and TRACHTE. Learn more at www.nvent.com.

Commitment to strengthen communities where our employees live and work

We encourage and support the philanthropic activities of our employees worldwide Through our nVent in Action matching program, we provide funds to nonprofit and educational organizations where our employees volunteer or donate money.

Core values that shape our culture and drive us to deliver the best for our employees and our customers.

We’re known for being:

• Innovative & adaptable
• Dedicated to absolute integrity
• Focused on the customer first
• Respectful and team oriented
• Optimistic and energizing
• Accountable for performance

Benefits to support the lives of our employees Pay Transparency

nVent’s pay scale is based on the expected range of base pay for this job and the employee’s work location. Employee pay within this range will be based on a combination of factors including knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, education, and performance. Where federal, state, or local minimum wage requirements exist, employee pay will comply.

Compensation Range: $146,300.00 - $271,700.00 Depending on the position offered, employee may be eligible for other forms of compensation, such as annual incentives.

Benefit Overview

• Medical, dental, and vision plans along with flexible spending accounts, short-term and long-term disability benefits, critical illness, accident insurance and life insurance.
• A 401(k) retirement plan and an employee stock purchase plan - both include a company match.
• Other supplemental benefits may include tuition reimbursement, caregiver, personal and parental leave, back-up care services, paid time off including volunteer time, a well-being program, and/or legal & identity theft protection.

At nVent, we are committed to equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national, federal, state or local law.