Quality Manager

Applica; Brighton (CO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Applica is seeking a Factory Quality Manager to lead the quality function at the Colorado site, partnering with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain and regional quality teams to drive defect prevention and right-first-time execution.

You will own the Quality Management System, support audits, and build capability through coaching and continuous improvement initiatives to achieve ISO 9001 readiness and strong customer outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in manufacturing with progressive quality leadership.
• Experience maintaining QMS and ISO 9001 certification requirements.
• Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor certification for ISO 9001.
• Experience leading customer, certification, and regulatory audits.
• Proficiency with Core Quality Tools (APQP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA).

Responsibilities

• Lead factory quality activities and team.
• Maintain end-to-end quality across the factory.
• Drive preventive quality engineering using APQP, PFMEA, control plans.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Lead internal and external quality audits.
• Report on quality performance and improvement initiatives.
• Coach and develop quality capabilities across the factory.

Skills

Leadership

Quality assurance

Stakeholder management

Auditing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

ISO 9001 Lead Auditor

ASQ CQE (preferred)

Tools

APQP

PFMEA

Control Plans

SPC

MSA

ISO 9001

Job description

Are you ready to join and contribute to the success of a global leader in wind energy, shaping the future of renewable power through advanced technology, and engineering excellence? In this role you will be responsible for leading the quality function within the Factory, ensuring world-class standards for product quality, process quality, customer satisfaction, and regulatory compliance. This role serves as the site leader for quality governance, preventive quality engineering, continuous improvement, and Quality Management System (QMS) effectiveness.

You will partner closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Regional Quality teams to drive a proactive quality culture focused on defect prevention, right-first-time execution, and operational excellence. As the primary quality leader for the factory, you will oversee quality performance, lead audit readiness activities, support customer engagements, and build organizational capability through coaching and continuous improvement initiatives.

Success in this role requires a strong technical quality background, exceptional leadership skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization while driving measurable improvements in quality performance and customer outcomes.

Responsibilities

The Factory Quality Manager directs and coordinates quality activities throughout the factory by personally performing responsibilities and through leadership of the Quality team.

• Maintain end-to-end responsibility for product and process quality control across the factory
• Drive preventive quality engineering activities utilizing APQP, PFMEA, Control Plans, process confirmations, and risk-based quality methodologies
• Ensure robust compliance with company quality standards, customer requirements, regulatory requirements, and quality governance processes
• Lead structured problem-solving efforts utilizing methodologies such as 8D, 5-Why Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, and corrective action verification
• Monitor and manage factory quality performance metrics, including defects, scrap, rework, customer complaints, audit findings, and Cost of Poor Quality (CoPQ)
• Facilitate Quality Management Reviews and provide regular reporting on factory quality performance and improvement activities
• Build and strengthen quality capabilities across the factory through coaching, mentoring, training, and employee development initiatives
• Maintain the local Quality Management System (QMS) and ensure ongoing ISO 9001 certification readiness
• Lead internal quality audits and support external audits, including certification, customer, and regulatory audits
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer quality interactions, including customer audits, scorecards, complaint management, and corrective action activities
• Support APQP4Wind initiatives and quality planning activities throughout product and process implementation projects
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality requirements are integrated into manufacturing, engineering, logistics, and supply chain processes
• Participate in critical quality projects and represent the factory within global and regional quality networks
• Act as the factory focal point for quality-related external discussions and stakeholder engagements
• Manage the Quality department budget, including laboratory equipment, calibration services, quality tools, inspections, repairs, and continuous improvement investments
• Utilize data-driven decision making to identify trends, reduce variation, and improve overall quality performance
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and quality ownership throughout the organization

Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing operations with progressive quality leadership responsibilities
• Strong knowledge of quality systems, manufacturing processes, and quality assurance methodologies
• Experience maintaining Quality Management Systems and supporting ISO 9001 certification requirements
• Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor certification for ISO 9001 required
• Experience leading customer, certification, and regulatory audits
• Demonstrated expertise utilizing Core Quality Tools, including APQP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, and MSA
• Experience leading structured problem-solving efforts utilizing 8D, 5-Why, and Root Cause Analysis methodologies

What will stand you out

• Quality certification such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) preferred
• Quality Specialist and NC Approver experience preferred
• Experience working within complex manufacturing environments
• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive cultural change
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and quality-related manufacturing systems