Head of Supplier Quality Management

Our Tier 1 Automotive supplier is seeking a Head of Supplier Quality Management to join their team on a permanent basis.

Position: Head of Supplier Quality Management

Location: Berea, KY

Duration: Permanent, direct hire

Salary: $100-150k base salary DOE!

Position Summary:

The Head of Supplier Quality Management is responsible for leading all supplier quality activities to ensure purchased materials and components meet company and customer quality expectations. This role drives supplier performance, problem resolution, risk reduction, and continuous improvement across the supply base to support plant operations, customer satisfaction, and operational stability.

The Head of Supplier Quality Management works closely with Purchasing, Operations, Quality, Engineering, and suppliers to improve incoming quality, reduce supplier related disruptions, and strengthen supplier accountability and development.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related technical field preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in Supplier Quality, Quality Engineering, or Manufacturing Quality - within a Tier 1 automotive supplier environment preferred
• 3+ years of leadership or management experience.
• Strong knowledge of automotive quality systems, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, and IATF requirements.
• Experience supporting welding, paint, and assembly manufacturing processes preferred.
• Strong experience with supplier audits, supplier development, and corrective action management.
• Proven ability to lead cross functional problem solving and supplier escalation activities.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to travel to supplier locations as needed.

• Lead and develop the Supplier Quality team to support plant and customer quality objectives.
• Establish clear goals, priorities, and accountability for supplier quality performance.
• Build strong collaboration between Supplier Quality, Purchasing, Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, and Customer Quality teams.
• Coach and mentor team members in problem solving, supplier management, and quality systems.
• Promote a culture of ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement.

• Manage supplier quality performance related to incoming materials, components, and services.
• Develop and maintain supplier scorecards and performance metrics focused on quality, delivery, responsiveness, and corrective action effectiveness.
• Lead supplier audits, assessments, and qualification activities.
• Drive containment, corrective actions, and permanent countermeasures for supplier related quality issues.
• Ensure suppliers meet company, customer, and regulatory quality requirements.
• Support supplier launch readiness and APQP activities for new products and process changes.
• Lead supplier issue escalation process to minimize production disruptions and customer impact.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action activities using 8D, 5 Why, and other structured problem solving methods.
• Partner with suppliers to improve process controls, error proofing, and manufacturing capability.
• Monitor supplier risks and develop recovery plans when performance concerns exist.
• Coordinate containment activities to protect internal operations and customers.
• Lead initiatives to reduce supplier defects, PPM, warranty concerns, and cost of poor quality.
• Drive supplier development activities focused on quality system improvements and operational excellence.
• Support cost reduction initiatives through improved supplier performance and reduced quality losses.
• Utilize data analysis and trending to identify recurring issues and improvement opportunities.

• Support customer quality concerns related to supplier issues.
• Partner with Purchasing on supplier selection, performance reviews, and sourcing decisions.
• Work closely with plant Quality and Operations teams to ensure smooth production flow and rapid issue resolution.
• Participate in management reviews and customer audits as needed.

• Reduce supplier related quality defects and disruptions.
• Improve supplier PPM and incoming quality performance.
• Improve supplier responsiveness and corrective action effectiveness.
• Reduce production downtime and customer impact related to supplier issues.
• Strengthen supplier accountability and development.
• Support achievement of plant safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets.