Director of Global Quality

Position Summary:

The Director of Global Quality leads the quality programs at Warn Industries. S/he provides leadership to establish and maintain quality levels that meet and exceed customer expectations; implements and maintains a statistically based quality system, develops and maintains quality systems in compliance with ISO and TS/ITAF standards, and maintains supplier quality relationships. The Director also works with the Production Engineering team to implement Warn’s Continuous Improvement initiatives and uses them to drive overall improvements to the business. The Director of Global Quality is accountable to the VP of Engineering & Manufacturing for all engineering and customer-related matters related to the Quality team’s assigned business.

Warn Industries is a fully committed team-based organization. The Director of Global Quality must be a leader and a coach. S/he is responsible for partnership and support of Directors/Leaders across all functions of the organization to support Warn Industries’ culture and strategic goals. Accountability for cost center performance resides with the Director, and he/she must accomplish cost center objectives through team leadership and development.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions of this position require leading the quality program and associated resources at Warn Industries, prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks for completion as/when time permits.

1. Responsible for establishing the overall Quality strategy to align with Warn Industries’ overall Strategic Plan.
2. Responsible for continuously strengthening the quality systems for determining the appropriate infrastructure and resources required to achieve business objectives.
3. Ensures alignment of internal processes and metrics to create highest product quality and competitive advantage.
4. Provides leadership throughout the phase gate process.
5. Provides leadership and direction to ensure proper interface of the quality function to manufacturing, engineering, and marketing.
6. Responsible for building strong relationships with Warn Industries’ customers and suppliers and effectively relates the quality function to the business as a whole.
7. Management representative for ISO/IATF requirements. Coordinate and maintain a quality system in compliance with ISO/IATF.
8. Implements the necessary programs to support the Corporate Quality Policy and the Quality System.
9. Coordinates the investigations of internal and external customer quality issues to insure timely closed-loop corrective actions and reports as required.
10. Organizes the Quality Engineering department, approving plans and expenditures necessary to achieve objectives.
11. Supports supplier quality programs and conducts supplier qualification and audits as needed to meet objectives.
12. Drives efforts to reduce CONC (cost of non-conformance) and other key metrics such as warranty and final yield PPM.
13. Partners with the Directors of Manufacturing and Directors of Engineering to create and direct programs to ensure the quality of the product.
14. Leads the creation and implementation of tactical plans to achieve Warn Industries’ Strategic Vision. Extends Warn Industries’ Strategic Vision to production team leaders and team members.
15. Consistently exceeds customer expectations for product delivery and quality.
16. Provides training and leadership and represents a positive, enthusiastic role model to create a positive place to work.
17. Reviews and approves recommendations of team leaders in matters of personnel.
18. Participates in identifying transaction opportunities and related due diligence, negotiation and post-acquisition integration.
19. Responsible for learning about new and emerging technologies, industry trends and collaborating with other professionals inside and outside of Warn Industries to improve quality and test operations.
20. Represents WARN in the community and promotes the organization’s goodwill and interests in community activities.
21. Coaches Team Leaders on leadership development and assists in creating development and training plans.
22. Performs other related duties as assigned by Executive Team.
23. Responsible for prompt and regular attendance as scheduled.
24. Accountable for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance in assigned area. Responsible for design and operating effectiveness of internal controls, including a self-assessment and report to management.
25. Accountable for developing and monitoring processes and practices necessary for legal and ethical compliance in assigned area.
26. Work safely and promote safe operating conditions for team members including rest of operation and without injury.

Required Education and/or Experience:

1. Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in business administration or in a pertinent technical field. A Master’s degree in a related field is a plus.
2. Demonstrated leadership abilities in a manufacturing environment. Project management skills are highly desirable.
3. At least ten years of Quality Management experience, which includes experience in Quality Systems Management, QA Administration, QA Engineering, QA Audit, Inspection and Test experience within manufacturing. Experience to include work with production, accounting, information systems, materials, planning, human resources, engineering and purchasing.
4. Experience in development and maintenance of ISO accreditation is required. Experience with IATF accreditation is highly desirable.
5. Automotive OEM manufacturing and/or quality leadership experience is a plus.

Required Qualifications:

1. Demonstrated leadership skills and extraordinary people management skills, with a solid understanding of the quality process and manufacturing operations for new product development to keep the company a step ahead of their competitors.
2. Knowledge of the automotive market sufficient to provide guidance and vision as part of the Warn Industries leadership team.
3. Demonstrated successful performance in business planning, resource management and CI processes.
4. Experience with and commitment to team-oriented management styles and methodologies.
5. Strong oral and written communication skills commensurate with the job tasks and position are necessary to communicate clearly and effectively with internal and external customers while providing exceptional quality of work and outstanding customer service. Ability to present complex information in a manner designed to educate, inform and influence other team members and customers in one-on-one or group interactions to achieve results in a cooperative manner.
6. High-level knowledge and experience utilizing Microsoft Office software, particularly Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook as well as other software and hardware necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
7. Ability to create, review, comprehend, interpret, process and evaluate effectively documents written at the highest levels in English in conjunction with the performance of the essential functions and other assigned job duties. Must have mathematical skills equivalent to those required under education and/or experience. The ability to review and properly understand and interpret technical drawings is essential.
8. Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills including the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced work environment while maintaining a calm, rational and respectful demeanor and communication style in times of stress occasioned by work demands, tight timelines, high expectations, unexpected developmental, manufacturing or customer issues, and other work-related issues or concerns that may cause a heightened level of anxiety, frustration, anger, disappointment, confusion, etc.
9. Must have career history characterized by strong employers operating in growth environments including stability in employment and success in assignments.
10. Highly ethical, self-motivated individual with ability to work independently and/or with limited direction while consistently demonstrating collaborative, respectful and productive work habits. Individual’s history must demonstrate impeccable integrity, ethics and fair play.
11. Enthusiastic adoption and consistent demonstration of Warn Industries’ Core Values: Never Compromise Trust; Honesty; Partner with Customers; Commitment; Teamwork; Personal Development; and Lead by Example.
12. Strong technical, trouble-shooting, problem solving, research, organizational and analytical skills combined with the ability to prioritize tasks, and establish and meet deadlines. Ability to address multiple tasks while remaining flexible with changing priorities and deadlines with multiple complex assignments, projects and issues. Ability to work with minimal supervision.
13. Demonstrated use of well-reasoned decision making with a high attention to detail regarding organization, planning, workflow, and project prioritization to complete tasks efficiently and accurately. Uses a proactive approach to problems and challenges and react quickly and decisively in critical situations.
14. Ability to lead and facilitate activities necessary to a project’s completion. Demonstrated follow-through.