Quality Assurance Manager

First Search Inc.; Spring Grove (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

First Search Inc. seeks a Corporate Systems Quality Assurance Manager to lead company-wide quality management initiatives across manufacturing operations. You will oversee customer quality requirements, auditing programs, supplier quality, and corrective actions to ensure system effectiveness.

Ideal candidates have a BS in Engineering, 7+ years in quality leadership in manufacturing, and CQE or Six Sigma Black Belt. Experience with ISO, AS9100, and nuclear/military standards is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field.
• 7+ years of quality assurance leadership in a manufacturing environment.
• CQE and/or Six Sigma Black Belt preferred.
• Lead Auditor experience in ISO, AS9100, nuclear, military, or highly regulated quality systems preferred.
• Strong knowledge of quality systems, auditing, corrective actions, and Lean/ TPM tools.
• Experience in metals manufacturing, forging, machining, aerospace, defense, nuclear, or similar environments preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and team development abilities.
• Proficient with MS Office and quality analytics tools such as Minitab.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage company-wide quality management system initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
• Coordinate activities with registrars, customers, and regulatory bodies as management representative.
• Drive core quality tools and structured problem-solving throughout the organization.
• Oversee inspection, supplier quality, audits, and corrective action programs.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, quality policies, and regulatory standards.
• Establish and manage supplier quality programs, auditing, and corrective actions.
• Lead internal audits for ISO, AS, nuclear, and other high-specification systems.
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering, Sales, and Operations to meet quality goals.
• Develop quality metrics aligned with operational and customer performance objectives.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action efforts across issues.
• Support customer communications regarding specifications, process capabilities, audits, and compliance requirements.
• Support development of quality procedures, systems, standards, and training.
• Support second- and third-party audits and customer witness activities.
• Participate in Lean, 6S, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Quality Management

Auditing

Root Cause Analysis

Lean Methodologies

Statistics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Minitab

Job description

Corporate Systems Quality Assurance Manager

Position Summary

The Corporate Systems Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for leading and supporting the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of company-wide quality management systems, quality assurance policies, compliance programs, and regulatory initiatives across manufacturing operations. This role provides leadership and oversight for customer quality requirements, auditing systems, inspection functions, supplier quality, corrective action programs, and overall quality system effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support company-wide quality management system initiatives and continuous improvement efforts
• Serve as management representative for quality systems and coordinate activities with registrars, governing bodies, customers, and regulatory agencies
• Drive the use of core quality tools and structured problem-solving methodologies throughout the organization
• Direct quality-related functions including inspection, regulatory compliance, supplier quality, auditing programs, customer contract compliance, and shop floor quality systems
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, internal quality policies, regulatory standards, and industry certifications
• Establish and oversee supplier quality programs, internal auditing systems, inspection procedures, and corrective action processes
• Facilitate and oversee internal audits related to ISO, AS, nuclear, and other high-specification quality systems
• Lead audit planning, auditor training, audit follow-up activities, and corrective action verification processes
• Partner cross-functionally with Production, Engineering, Sales, and Operations teams to ensure quality expectations are achieved
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality metrics aligned with operational and customer performance objectives
• Lead root cause analysis, corrective actions, and structured problem-solving initiatives tied to quality and operational issues
• Support customer communication regarding specifications, process capabilities, audits, quality concerns, and compliance requirements
• Assist in the development and communication of quality procedures, systems, technical standards, and training programs
• Support second- and third-party audits and customer witness activities
• Participate in Lean, 6S, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations
• Support safety initiatives and maintain active involvement in company safety programs

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Metallurgy, or related technical discipline preferred
• Minimum of 7 years of quality assurance leadership experience within a manufacturing environment
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and/or Six Sigma Black Belt preferred
• Lead Auditor experience within ISO, AS9100, nuclear, military, aerospace, or other highly regulated quality systems preferred
• Strong knowledge of quality systems, auditing, corrective actions, supplier quality, root cause analysis, FMEA, Control Plans, APQP, Lean methodologies, TPM, statistics, and GD&T
• Experience within metals manufacturing, forging, machining, aerospace, defense, nuclear, or highly regulated industrial environments strongly preferred
• Strong leadership, communication, training, and team development capabilities
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and quality analytics/reporting tools such as Minitab

Additional Information

• Position supports office, laboratory, and manufacturing shop floor environments
• Some overnight travel may be required
• Shift or plant location responsibilities may vary based on business needs