Customer and Product Quality Director

Kaiser Aluminum; Evansville (IN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Kaiser Aluminum Warrick Plant in Newburg, IN is seeking a Customer and Product Quality Assurance Director to lead the CPQA team and represent customer needs across the business. The role focuses on ensuring top-quality products for the packaging segment and delivering exceptional technical service to customers.

The director will mentor metallurgists and Customer Service Representatives, lead cross-functional problem-solving, and drive continuous improvement aligned with the Global Standard

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Engineering or Materials Science.
• 7–10 years’ experience in metallurgy or materials science, preferably in aluminum manufacturing.
• Deep knowledge of QMS, customer audits and quality certifications.
• Expertise in statistical process control, process capability analysis and root-cause methods; Six Sigma preferred.
• Proven ability to manage customer technical claims and supplier quality.
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Results-oriented and able to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Lead the CPQA team to deliver best-in-class technical service to customers.
• Be the customer champion to ensure requirements are represented to the business.
• Collaborate with customers and the business to identify product and process innovation.
• Lead the CPQA team to deliver the Global Standard for Coated Products.
• Mentor, train and assist plant-based metallurgists, Customer Service Technical Representatives, and other quality, manufacturing, and commercial representatives to ensure a broad understanding of customer requirements.
• Drive and lead product performance problem-solving teams across multiple disciplines.
• Resolve customer quality issues professionally and efficiently.
• Provide timely Voice of the Customer feedback across the organization.

Skills

Leadership

Quality Assurance

Stakeholder management

Statistical analysis

Six Sigma

Customer service

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy / Engineering / Materials Science

Job description

The Customer and Product Quality Assurance Director is a leader of the Product Metallurgists and Customer Service Technical Representatives for the Kaiser Aluminum Packaging business. This tenured quality professional has a deep understanding of the customer’s product requirements and the packaging industry. This role is responsible for representing the needs of the customer internally and representing the business to the customer for product quality and technical service-related matters.

This position will be based out of our Warrick Plant located in Newburg, IN and reports to the VP Sales and Marketing – Packaging with a dotted line to the Warrick Plant Manager.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Customer and Product Quality Assurance (CPQA) team to deliver Best in Class Technical Service to our customers
• Be the customer champion to ensure all current requirements and needs are represented to the business
• Collaborate with customers and the business to identify product and process innovation
• Lead the CPQA team to ensure that we deliver the Global Standard for Coated Products
• Mentor, train and assist plant-based metallurgists, Customer Service Technical Representatives, and other quality, manufacturing, and commercial representatives to ensure a broad understanding of customer requirements
• Drive and lead product performance problem-solving teams across multiple disciplines
• Resolve customer quality issues professionally and efficiently
• Provide timely Voice of the Customer feedback across the organization

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in technical discipline (Metallurgy, Engineering, Material Science, etc.)
• 7-10 years’ experience in metallurgy or material science role, preferably within aluminum manufacturing or metal-forming processes
• Deep knowledge of QMS, customer audits and quality certification process
• Excellent analysis and critical thinking skills which include proven expertise in statistical process control, process capability analysis, root-cause methodologies. Highest level of Six Sigma or equivalent preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage customer technical claims and supplier quality
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Results oriented and capable of working independently

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this role, the employee may be required to sit or stand for long periods and spend time on the manufacturing floor interacting with various levels of employees. The employee may occasionally lift or move items up to fifteen pounds.

This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered based on job-related qualifications and abilities.

About Kaiser Aluminum: Talented people join our team because we are a company passionate about environmental sustainability, employee growth, contributing back to our communities and championing an inclusive culture.