Quality Manager III - BU Quality System

Elkay Plumbing Products Co.; Downers Grove (IL); Hybrid; USD 106,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Matching 401(k) Contribution

Annual Bonus Eligibility

Educational Reimbursement

Job summary

Elkay Plumbing Products Co. is seeking a Quality Manager III to lead quality performance across the Drinking Water Business Unit. This role involves developing quality systems, driving continuous improvements, and collaborating with various teams to ensure high-quality products.

The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience in quality systems, a degree in engineering, and expertise in APQP, Lean, and Six Sigma methodologies. A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package are offered.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in quality systems or manufacturing quality roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, and PPAP readiness.
• Experience supporting new product launches and process transitions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage DW Business Unit quality systems.
• Lead and influence plant quality across DW manufacturing sites.
• Drive reductions in warranty, returns, and customer complaints.

Skills

Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)

Lean

Six Sigma

Root-cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or related Engineering discipline

Job description

Quality Manager III – BU Quality System

The Quality Manager – Drinking Water (DW) Business Unit is responsible for leading all aspects of quality performance across the DW Business Unit, including plant quality, customer quality, warranty and returns, and product launch readiness. This role drives continuous improvement and prevention of repeat quality issues through disciplined execution of quality systems, APQP, and structured problem‑solving, aligned with Zurn Elkay Business System (ZEBS), Lean Six Sigma, and Quality Management principles. As a key member of the DW leadership team, the Quality Manager defines, implements, and maintains the DW Quality Operating Model and ensures consistent execution of quality processes across manufacturing sites. The role partners closely with Product Engineering, Operations, Product Compliance, Customer‑facing teams, and Supplier Quality to deliver reliable, compliant, and high‑quality products while reducing Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) and improving customer experience.

This position is based in one of the following two areas and requires up to 50% travel between Downers Grove, IL, Lanark, IL, and Freeport, IL; preferred site: Downers Grove, IL.

Key Focus Areas

• Responsible for the development, implementation, management, and maintenance of the DW Business Unit quality systems in alignment with internal standards, regulatory requirements, and ZEBS principles.
• Lead and influence plant quality leadership across DW manufacturing sites to ensure consistent execution of inspections, containment, corrective actions, and quality metrics.
• Serve as the advocate and voice of quality across the DW Business Unit, promoting a culture of prevention, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Drive reductions in warranty, returns, customer complaints, and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) through data‑driven analysis and systemic corrective actions.
• Ensure robust systems for inbound, in‑process, and outbound quality controls to prevent escapes and drive issues to effective root‑cause resolution.
• Lead and support APQP execution for new products and process changes, including DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, and PPAP readiness.
• Partner with Product Engineering and Operations to ensure quality readiness and risk mitigation prior to product and process release.
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality (Sourcing organization) on supplier‑related quality issues and improvement initiatives (supplier qualification, audits, PPAP ownership).
• Serve as the business point of contact for quality system execution and support audit readiness and regulatory compliance across DW sites.
• Establish and maintain quality review forums, performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting cadence.
• Leverage quality data, warranty trends, and customer feedback to drive analytics, root‑cause identification, and preventive actions.
• Promote and sustain structured problem‑solving, continuous improvement, and lessons learned across Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality teams.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or related Engineering discipline required.
• 10 or more years of experience in quality systems, plant quality, customer quality, or manufacturing quality roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), including DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, and PPAP readiness.
• Experience supporting new product launches and manufacturing or process transitions.
• Strong root‑cause analysis, corrective action, and continuous improvement capability.
• Lean and/or Six Sigma experience required (Green Belt required; Black Belt preferred).
• Experience in high‑mix manufacturing, assembly operations, or regulated products preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $106,000 - $150,000. Actual salaries may vary based on skillset, experience, education and training, and other relevant factors.

• Competitive Salary
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Short‑Term Disability, Long‑Term Disability, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Matching 401(k) Contribution
• Health Savings Account
• Up to 3 weeks starting vacation (may increase with tenure)
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Annual Bonus Eligibility
• Educational Reimbursement
• Matching Gift Program
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran