Sr. Quality Director, Robotics & Automation

novanta; North Carolina; On-site; USD 188,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Novanta, a leader in powering innovations for healthcare and manufacturing, seeks a Senior Director of Quality to champion global quality across multiple sites. You will drive strategic initiatives, build high-performing teams, and ensure excellence in product quality for our Robotics & Automation business, reporting to the VP of Operations.

The role emphasizes continuous improvement, regulatory compliance, and a culture of quality across global manufacturing sites, with opportunities to

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive quality management experience in manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional global teams.
• Strong business acumen and data-driven decision making.
• Experience implementing quality assurance programs and ISO audits.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategic quality initiatives across multiple sites.
• Drive a culture of quality excellence through training and engagement.
• Lead and develop global, cross-functional teams.
• Coordinate ISO 9001/14001, ISO 45001, and 13485 audits.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
• Support New Product Introduction with quality controls.

Skills

Leadership

Global teams

Quality management

Strategic thinking

Data-driven

Communication

Education

University degree

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing.

Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia’Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta.

This position is part of Novanta’s Robotics & Automation group and is one of the company’s core capability pillars. This group focuses on delivering ultra‐precise, high‐reliability motion, sensing, and robotic end‐of‐arm technologies designed for mission‐critical applications across advanced manufacturing, surgical robotics, logistics automation, and emerging humanoid systems.

Summary

The Senior Director, Quality will lead the global quality organization across several manufacturing sites, providing strategic leadership and oversight of key initiatives. This role is pivotal in driving high quality standards, operational excellence, and a culture of continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who thrives in complex, multi‐site environments and is passionate about developing high‐performing teams and fostering a culture of quality excellence. The Senior Director will ensure product quality for the Robotics and Automation business and will report directly to the VP of Operations.

Primary Responsibilities

• End-to-End Quality Leadership: Oversee strategic quality initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and operational excellence across multiple sites.

• Quality Culture Champion: Drive a culture of quality excellence through training, communication, and engagement across the organization.

• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop global, cross‐functional teams, fostering a high‐performing learning culture.

• ISO Audit & Certification Management: Coordinate ISO 9001/14001, ISO 45001 and 13485 audits and maintain certifications for all relevant sites.

• Customer Complaint & RMA Coordination: Coordinate the resolution of customer complaints and drive improvements in response time for Return Material Authorizations (RMAs).

• Continuous Improvement: Develop and implement best‐in‐class quality assurance methodologies, tools, policies, and procedures to optimize processes and improve operational efficiency.

• New Product Introduction: Provide quality support for new product introductions by leading planning, validation, and supplier qualifications to ensure successful product launches.

• Global Regulatory Compliance: Oversee compliance with international and regional regulations, including product safety and quality standards. Maintain and improve compliance programs and ensure audit readiness.

• Performance Management: Set clear expectations, manage performance, and ensure team engagement and retention.

• Innovation & Problem Solving: Drive innovation and resolve highly complex business problems using advanced critical thinking and strategic agility.

Required Experience, Education, Skills, Training and Competencies

• University degree in a relevant field; advanced/graduate degree preferred.

• 15+ years of progressive experience in Quality Management, with specific emphasis on the manufacturing industry.

• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing quality assurance programs and driving operational efficiency.

• Proven ability to lead and motivate large, cross‐functional, global teams

• Strong business acumen, strategic thinking, and ability to synthesize data into actionable insights.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills with a track record of building inclusive, high‐performing teams.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience in regulated industries (e.g., medical device, aerospace).

• Familiarity with global operations and multi‐site quality management.

• Data-driven decision‐making mindset and comfort with analytics tools.

• Innovation & Problem Solving: Drive innovation and resolve highly complex business problems using advanced critical thinking and strategic agility.

Travel Requirements

• As needed for global team leadership, multi‐site oversight, and customer/vendor engagement.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch.

• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10-25 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

The salary for this role will range from 187,625 to 280,400 annually based on full‐time employment. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to location, relevant skills, training, experience, education, etc. Certain roles may be eligible for performance‐based incentive compensation and /or long‐term incentives. Incentives could be discretionary or non‐discretionary depending on the plan. Novanta Supports all aspects of your life's needs. This position provides a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits to make your quality of life better.

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy.

Please call [phone] if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.