Director Quality

GENERAL TOOL COMPANY; Reading (OH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ownership For All

Job summary

GENERAL TOOL COMPANY seeks a Quality Director to lead the entire quality organization across QC, QA, and NDT, owning AS9100/ISO 9001 compliance and audits while reporting to the COO. This executive role shapes the quality culture, tooling systems, and customer trust in defense and aerospace manufacturing.

You'll drive QMS strategy, metrics, and supplier audits, empower teams, and ensure every part ships with exacting quality standards, aligning with regulatory requirements and company ownership

Qualifications

• 10+ years in QA systems development, implementation and management; at least 5 years as a quality manager in manufacturing.
• Aerospace/defense/contract manufacturing experience preferred; CQE/CQM certification preferred.
• Six Sigma Black Belt is a meaningful plus.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical/industrial/manufacturing engineering or related field; business acumen expected.
• Proven ability to lead teams and navigate audits with professionalism and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong relationships with COOs, customers, and auditors.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full Quality organization (QC, QA, NDT) through supervision and direct oversight, setting direction and resources.
• Administer and continuously improve the QMS; manage AS9100 and ISO 9001 certification and surveillance audits; act as Management Representative.
• Develop and communicate quality performance metrics, internal audit programs, and policy updates across the organization.
• Build and sustain a culture where quality is owned by every employee, not just the QC team.
• Develop departmental strategy, drive continuous improvement with data, and establish measurable performance controls.
• Represent GTC professionally with customers, suppliers, regulators, and auditors to support future business.

Skills

Leadership

Quality Management

Audits

Cross-functional Leadership

Regulatory Compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical/industrial/manufacturing engineering or business administration

CQE or CQM certification

Six Sigma Black Belt

Job description

Quality Director — Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing
Executive Leadership | Reports to COO | Full-Time

Quality Isn't a Department at GTC. It's a Culture. You'll Lead It.

At GTC, quality runs through everything — every part, every process, every customer relationship, every audit. The Quality Director is the executive who owns that standard across the entire organization: leading Quality Control, Quality Assurance, and Non-Destructive Testing, serving as the Management Representative for AS9100 and ISO 9001, and making sure that when our products ship, they ship exactly right.

This is a role for a quality leader who thinks strategically, leads with authority, and builds the kind of culture where quality isn't something the QC department worries about — it's something everyone owns.

And through our Ownership For All program, the culture you build here is one you have a personal stake in. Every eligible full-time employee receives an ownership stake in GTC. From day one, you're not just joining a team. You're becoming an owner. Your wins aren't just good for the company. They're good for you.

What You'll Do

• You'll manage the full Quality organization — QC, QA, and NDT — through subordinate supervisors and direct oversight, setting direction, deploying resources effectively, and making sure every part of the quality function is operating at the level defense and aerospace customers demand.
• On the Quality Management System side, you'll administer and continuously improve GTC's QMS to ensure compliance with all applicable standards, lead and organize all AS9100 and ISO 9001 certification and surveillance audits, drive every finding to closure, and serve as GTC's Management Representative for all related activities.
• You'll support AS13100 activities including self-assessments and customer audits, develop quality performance measurements and internal auditing programs, and communicate policy changes, program updates, and quality metrics across the organization clearly and consistently.
• On the leadership side, you'll build and sustain a pervasive, visible culture of quality where every person at GTC — not just the quality team — understands that quality is their responsibility.
• You'll develop departmental strategy and vision, drive continuous improvement initiatives grounded in data, create and manage quality education and awareness programs at every level, and establish performance controls for your direct reports that are clear, measurable, and meaningful.
• You'll represent GTC with professionalism and integrity in every interaction with customers, suppliers, regulators, and independent auditors — because how we show up in those rooms directly shapes our reputation and our ability to win future business.

What You Bring

• Ten or more years of experience in QA systems development, implementation, and management — with at least five of those years as a quality manager in a manufacturing environment— is the foundation.
• Aerospace, defense, or contract manufacturing experience is strongly preferred, and CQE or CQM certification puts you at the front of the line.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification is a meaningful plus.
• You hold a bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering, business administration, or a related field. Certified Quality Manager or related industrial recognition, and you bring well-developed business acumen alongside your technical expertise.
• You've built and led teams, facilitated cross-functional improvement initiatives, and navigated customer and regulatory audits with the kind of composure and professionalism that leaves GTC better positioned every time.
• You build positive relationships in every direction — with your team, with the COO, with customers, and with the auditors sitting across the table.

Why GTC

An executive quality leadership role with genuine organizational scope — you'll own the QMS, the culture, the certifications, and the team. A direct reporting line to the COO and a seat at the table where strategic decisions get made. A company that has already built quality into its identity and needs a leader who will take it to the next level. Work that supports defense and aerospace programs where quality isn't just expected — it's required by law. And through Ownership For All, a real stake in the organization you're leading. From day one, you're not just the Quality Director here. You're an owner.

GTC is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V. All applicants are considered based on experience and knowledge, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, marital status, disability, or veteran status. We are committed to a