Quality Manager (Automotive)

Staff Solutions Recruitment; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Staff Solutions Recruitment is seeking a Quality Department Manager for a major automotive manufacturer. You will oversee QA teams, ensure ISO & OEM compliance, and drive continuous improvement across quality systems and processes.

You will manage budgets, respond to customer requirements, and lead audits while coaching subordinates to achieve high performance and reliability in a dynamic production environment.

Qualifications

• B-Tech degree in Quality Management or equivalent.
• Total Quality Management.
• ISO standards (internal auditor).
• Customer standards (BMW) and IATF.
• Lean Manufacturing principles, automotive sector preferred.
• Six Sigma tools.
• Root cause analysis and problem solving with core tools.
• Minimum 5 years as Quality Department Manager in automotive manufacturing, 10+ years in sector.

Responsibilities

• Manage the performance of subordinates and QA team.
• Maintain quality systems per ISO & OEM requirements.
• Ensure all customer requirements are met.
• Improve product quality and systems through data analysis and corrective actions.
• Budget establishment and management for Quality Department.
• Handle customer requests and complaints.
• Track quality performance indicators.
• Train and mentor staff.
• Improve QMS in line with customer expectations.

Skills

Excellence orientation

Customer orientation

Cooperation

Collaboration

Accountability

Cost reduction

Leadership

Intercultural sensitivity

Communication

Adaptability

Auditing skills

Corrective actions

Computer literacy

Education

B-Tech degree in Quality Management or equivalent

Total Quality Management

ISO standards (internal auditor)

Customer standards (BMW) and IATF

Lean Manufacturing principles

Six Sigma tools

Root cause analysis and problem-solving

10+ years experience in automotive quality

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Office

SAP R/3

Job description

Key Performance Areas

• Manage the performance of subordinates.
• Maintain quality systems according to ISO & OEM system requirements.
• Ensure that all customer requirements are met.
• Continuously improve product quality and systems by analysing performance and implementing corrective action when required.
• Establish and maintain the Quality Department budget.
• Manage customer requests and complaints.
• Manage quality performance indicators.
• Train and mentor subordinates.
• Continuously improve the QMS in line with customer expectations.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Excellence orientation - a high-quality approach, self-starter mentality, and the ability to work timeously, deliver quality work, and perform under pressure.
• Customer orientation - focus on internal and external customer needs to deliver the highest quality.
• Cooperation - show initiative, be a team player, and proactively create a personal network.
• Collaboration - work collaboratively with other stakeholders within the MA team.
• Accountability - take responsibility for activities and decisions and be cognisant of all factors that impact decisions.
• Actively drive costs down.
• Leadership - be self-motivated, communicate effectively, display autonomy, and coach and guide others.
• Intercultural sensitivity - ability to use team diversity within the organisation to achieve goals.
• Communication - ability to express oneself effectively and share information to obtain buy-in.
• Adaptability - ability to adapt to technological changes, identify training gaps, and implement solutions.
• Auditing skills - continuously develop and manage process and product audits, as well as general audit reports, with defined corrective actions and timing.
• Corrective actions - support the process department in closing 8Ds and evaluating effectiveness.
• Computer literacy: Microsoft Office, Power BI, and end-user knowledge of SAP R/3.

Minimum Requirements

• B-Tech degree in Quality Management or equivalent.
• Total Quality Management.
• ISO standards (standard internal auditor).
• Customer standards (BMW) and IATF.
• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing principles, preferably in the automotive sector.
• Six Sigma tools.
• Root cause analysis and problem-solving / understanding and implementation of core tools.
• Minimum of 5 years experience as a Quality Department Manager in a similar complex automotive manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of 5 years experience with press tools or assembly processes.
• Minimum of 10 years experience in the automotive industry of similar complexity.
• Preference will be given to candidates with extensive experience in car-building, especially German-based factories.
• Working knowledge of the core quality aspects controlled by the organisation, including geometry, surface quality, and structural integrity.