Quality Assurance Team Lead

Confidential; Illinois; On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing industrial manufacturer is seeking a Quality Assurance Team Lead to oversee quality execution in a regulated environment. The successful candidate will ensure compliance with quality standards, lead audits, manage KPIs, and develop team members. This role offers the chance to drive operational excellence while fostering a culture of accountability. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership experience in manufacturing quality and a data-driven mindset with analytical capabilities.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing quality leadership.
• Background in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience with audits, compliance, and quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant-level quality execution in a highly regulated production environment.
• Ensure compliance and drive performance in quality management.
• Act as the primary contact for customer quality concerns.

Skills

Manufacturing quality leadership

Audits

Compliance

Root cause analysis

Leadership

Job description

A growing, privately held industrial manufacturer is seeking a Quality Assurance Team Lead to lead plant-level quality execution in a highly regulated production environment. This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring compliance, driving performance, and embedding a culture of accountability and continuous improvement across operations. This position offers the opportunity to make a measurable impact in a business that prioritizes operational excellence, safety, and product integrity.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Execute corporate quality standards and regulatory requirements across the plant
• Maintain strict document control and revision discipline
• Ensure full compliance with industry and customer specifications
• Conduct internal audits and validate adherence to standards

Audit & Certification Readiness

• Maintain continuous readiness for regulatory and customer audits
• Lead audit preparation and support activities
• Ensure timely closure of audit findings
• Maintain all required certifications and records without lapse

Quality Performance Ownership

• Own and drive plant-level KPIs including:
• Scrap and rework
• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
• First Pass Yield
• Customer complaints and returns
• Present performance metrics to plant and executive leadership
• Identify and escalate systemic risks proactively
• Lead structured root cause investigations
• Ensure rapid containment and long-term corrective actions
• Drive accountability for eliminating repeat issues
• Enforce disciplined problem-solving methodologies

Customer Quality Interface

• Act as the primary contact for customer quality concerns
• Lead investigations and ensure timely resolution
• Monitor trends in defects, warranty, and quality escapes

Operational Partnership

• Collaborate closely with plant leadership and production teams
• Ensure quality is embedded within manufacturing processes
• Support new product introduction and process changes
• Drive initiatives to reduce scrap and improve process capability
• Support error-proofing, automation, and standardization efforts
• Identify and eliminate recurring defects and inefficiencies
• Lead and develop quality personnel (technicians, engineers, etc.)
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and training plans
• Build a culture focused on discipline, ownership, and execution

Skills/Experience Requirements:

• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing quality leadership
• Background in a regulated manufacturing environment
• Strong experience with audits, compliance, and quality systems
• Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Data-driven mindset with strong analytical capabilities
• Proven leadership and team development experience
• Experience with rail, automotive, or heavy industrial environments is a plus