Director, Quality Management Systems

Apogee Enterprises, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

401(k) with company match

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Apogee Enterprises, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN seeks a Director, Quality to lead quality transformation across its manufacturing sites. This senior leader will set the quality agenda, build a scalable QMS, and drive accountability from plant floors to executive suites.

You will partner with site leaders to align quality with customer commitments, manage supplier quality, and deliver measurable improvements in process capability and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in quality/operations/manufacturing leadership.
• Experience leading quality managers across multiple sites.
• Proven ability to transform quality systems and drive change.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and drive enterprise-wide adoption.

Responsibilities

• Set the quality strategy, operating model, governance, and performance expectations.
• Lead Quality Managers and site teams to strengthen capability and accountability.
• Build a scalable quality operating system integrating QMS, metrics, and tools.
• Use data, audits, and feedback to identify systemic issues and drive action.
• Align quality priorities with operational performance and business goals.
• Lead major quality issues with root-cause analysis and corrective action.
• Drive quality transformation initiatives to improve process capability.
• Influence leaders to remove barriers and adopt new standards.
• Report progress and impact to VP Operations and senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain enterprise-wide QMS compliant with standards.
• Lead supplier quality strategies including qualification and audits.

Skills

Quality leadership

Multi-site leadership

QMS implementation

Change management

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Quality Management/Engineering/Operations

Tools

QMS software

Statistical analysis

Job description

Apogee Architectural Metals

Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOG), founded in 1949 and headquartered in Minneapolis, MN designs and delivers architectural products and services that enclose and enhance commercial buildings. www.apog.com

Apogee Architectural Metals is a segment of Apogee specializing in aluminum framing, windows, storefront, curtainwall, and entrance systems. We provide integrated capabilities, including design, engineering, extrusion, finishing, fabrication and assembly, across North America. Through our brands including Alumicor, EFCO, Linetec, Tubelite, and Wausau, we deliver quality, consistency, and value-added services throughout our portfolio.

Position Summary

The Director, Quality is a senior quality leader accountable for transforming quality performance, capability, and culture across the business. Reporting to the VP, Operations, this leader will set the quality agenda, lead the Quality organization, and establish the operating discipline, systems, and leadership routines required to deliver consistent customer and operational outcomes. This role requires a proven quality leader who can move beyond compliance to build a scalable quality operating model, elevate accountability across sites, and influence leaders at all levels to adopt new standards, behaviors, and ways of working.

Key Responsibilities

• Set and execute the quality strategy, operating model, governance routines, and performance expectations needed to improve quality outcomes across sites
• Lead, coach, and develop Quality Managers and site quality teams to strengthen capability, accountability, decision-making, and execution discipline
• Build a scalable quality operating system that integrates QMS standards, metrics, technology, problem solving, and leadership routines into daily operations
• Use customer feedback, quality data, audit findings, and operational trends to identify systemic issues, prioritize action, and eliminate recurring failure modes
• Partner with the VP, Operations, site leaders, and functional leaders to align quality priorities with operational performance, customer commitments, and business objectives
• Lead significant customer, product, process, or operational quality issues with clear escalation, root-cause discipline, corrective action, and organizational learning
• Lead quality transformation initiatives that reduce variation, improve process capability, strengthen operating discipline, and deliver measurable customer and business impact
• Influence leaders across operations, engineering, supply chain, commercial, and functional teams to remove barriers and adopt new standards, behaviors, and ways of working
• Report quality performance, transformation progress, risks, recommendations, and business impact to the VP, Operations and senior leadership
• Develop and maintain enterprise-wide Quality Management Systems (QMS), ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory, industry, customer, and company standards. (This is a key functionality of the role )
• Lead supplier quality strategies, including qualification, performance management, audits, and corrective action processes to ensure consistent raw material and supplier performance. (Supplier , I like to re-emphasize and verbalize this way for role responsibility)
• Ensure data integrity and leverage digital quality tools, analytics, and technology solutions to improve visibility, decision-making, and process control.
• Own customer quality performance, including complaint management, warranty reduction initiatives, customer audits, and key customer quality relationships. (Ownership around customer centric approach)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong quality leadership with the ability to connect quality strategy, operational execution, customer outcomes, and business performance
• Ability to lead managers and teams while influencing cross-functional leaders in a matrixed, multi-site organization
• Strong communication and change leadership skills, including creating clarity, building commitment, managing resistance, and sustaining adoption
• Enterprise mindset with the ability to challenge current-state practices, address systemic issues, and raise the standard for quality performance
• Talent builder and operating leader who can align resources, develop people, and deliver measurable results through others
  

Education and Experience

• Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in Quality Management, Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred
• Experience
  • 10+ years of progressive quality, operations, or manufacturing leadership experience, including accountability for quality strategy, performance, systems, governance, and standards
  • Experience leading quality managers and teams in a complex, multi-site manufacturing environment
  • Proven success transforming quality systems, operating discipline, metrics, governance, and leadership routines
  • Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders, lead enterprise-level change, and drive adoption across functions, teams, and sites
  • Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) Development and Implementation Experience

Work Environment/Travel Requirements

• Frequent exposure to manufacturing environment
• Overnight travel requirements will be variable based on projects and business activities, expected up to 50% depending on home location
• Physical Requirements
  • Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.
  • Lift up to 10 lbs.

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Our Benefits

We care about and invest in our employees. We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their well-being and foster professional development. Here is a glimpse of what you can look forward to if you join our team.

• Competitive Benefits Package for employees and their dependents (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability)

• Incentive Plans

• 401(k) with employer contribution and match

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with employer match

• Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick Time)

• Paid Holidays

• Tuition Reimbursement Program

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Wellness Program

• Training and Career Progression

Apogee and our brands are an Equal Opportunity Employer.