Senior Director of Quality

Daikin Applied Americas Inc; Faribault (MN); Hybrid; USD 163,000 - 286,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance options

Dental & vision insurance

401K with company matching

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off & holidays

Parental leave & tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Daikin Applied Americas seeks a Senior Director of Quality to lead all quality operations within the business unit, including product and process quality, driving poka-yoke manufacturing improvements and upstream QMS enhancements. You will head a cross-functional quality organization and collaborate with Corporate Quality on NPI and QA programs.

The role requires 15+ years in manufacturing and quality leadership, strong Six Sigma and Lean skills, and a proven track record in change management

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business or related field.
• 15+ years manufacturing & quality leadership experience.
• 10+ years people leadership in manufacturing & quality.
• Willingness to travel 15–20%.

Responsibilities

• Lead BU quality leadership team and drive growth through change management.
• Establish and maintain a world-class QMS with internal audits and corrective actions.
• Lead NPI quality with D/PFMEA development and sound test plans.
• Collaborate with Corporate Quality on ISO and regulatory certifications.
• Identify field quality trends and drive RCCA through Quality Clinic.

Skills

Leadership

Six Sigma

Lean Manufacturing

APQP

Quality Management

SPC

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering/Business

Tools

QMS

PFMEA/FMEA

Job description

Location

Faribault or Plymouth, MN– Hybrid

What you will do:

• Serve as a key member of the manufacturing BU leadership team and aid in execution of aggressive growth strategy which includes significant change management.
• Responsible for establishing functional excellence and creating quality 1st culture within the business unit Collaborate with Supplier Quality through Quality Clinic on any activities related to supplier quality in support of BU product
• Builds strong quality management system (QMS) that’s focused on internal quality audit process, reviews and execution of corrective actions to findings and OFIs to continually improve (poke-yoke) manufacturing and business processes
• Supports/Validates (NPI) New product introduction utilizing D/PFMEA to build sound quality control/test plan and monitors infant care program to conclusion
• Collaborate with Central QMS on ISO and other regulatory agency certification requirements
• Proactively mines fielded escape and internal turnback data to identify opportunities for Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) through Quality Clinic process resent to leadership
• Quality KPIs and continuous improvement activities Communicate with customers as needed and supports QA program launch process
• Ensures that corrective actions are read across business unit and shared across DAA.
• Serves as a subject matter expert for current and future Quality Assurance trends

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience in Engineering, Business or a related field 15+ years; incl 10+ years people leadership experience Manufacturing & Quality leadership role. Experience in any of the following: Six Sigma, Total Quality Management (TQM), APQP, Lean Manufacturing, ISO or SPC techniques.
• Able to travel 15-20%

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bi-lingual in Spanish a plus
• Experience working in a unionized organization

Benefits:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer contributions matching 100% of the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% of employee contributions
• Company provided life insurance + optional employee paid voluntary life insurance, dependent life coverage and voluntary accident coverage
• Short term and long-term disability
• 3 weeks of paid time off for new employees + 11 company paid holidays
• Vacation accrues on a monthly basis, unless applicable federal, state and local law requires a faster accrual
• Paid sick time in accordance of the federal, state and local law
• Paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from 162,500.00 - 285,800.00 (+30% bonus) in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025! Daikin Applied Americas is seeking a Senior Director of Quality. This role is accountable for leading all quality-related operations within the applicable Daikin Applied business unit, including product quality, process quality, and overall business process robustness. This role provides operational leadership to transform and strengthen upstream quality systems that support new product introductions, with a strong focus on D/PFMEA development/execution, risk mitigation, and manufacturing readiness. Key responsibilities include enhancing inspection and testing programs to ensure delivered quality, driving the highest levels of poka-yoke implementation within manufacturing processes, and supporting aftermarket quality management initiatives. The role also leads the Quality Clinic process, overseeing the identification of field quality trends, root cause analysis, and implementation of effective corrective and preventive actions. In addition, the Senior Director of Quality is responsible for maintaining all required certifications and leading a robust internal audit program to ensure ongoing compliance, product integrity, and process effectiveness. This position provides leadership and direction to all quality resources across the business unit, with direct responsibility for the quality organization. In addition, this candidate will sit on DAA Quality leadership team and work/collaborate with Corporate Quality functions responsible for NPI Quality Assurance, QA programs, Supplier Quality and QMS. The role reports directly to the General Manager of the Business Unit, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Corporate Vice President of Quality.

Daikin Applied is not just an HVAC company. We're part of a global technology powerhouse that uses Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) to transform the world. We're innovators and leaders. Not only as a business, but as individuals. And we are honored to say we were named to Forbes' America's Best-In-State Employers list for 2025, ranking #1 in Minnesota for Manufacturing and Engineering. You see, we're not just innovating on the outside. We're innovating on the inside to unlock people's unlimited potential and bring out the diverse and groundbreaking ideas that will help us solve today's most pressing challenges. That's why Daikin offers more than a job. Here's where you'll be heard, be valued, belong -- and be able to make your mark. Over the past several years, we’ve proudly welcomed several organizations into our family, each bringing unique strengths, deep expertise, and talented teams. As we continue to grow, these partners play a vital role in expanding our capabilities and shaping the future of our organization. Whichever Daikin Applied company you join, you’ll be part of a unified, supportive environment where you can make an impact and grow your career.