Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager Job Description

Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Salary: US $140-170K plus bonus and excellent benefits package Industry: Automotive Paints & Coatings Working Pattern: Full-time, site-based at the Cleveland manufacturing facility

Our client is a leading provider of specialist paints and coating products designed to meet the rigorous quality and technical requirements of the global automotive industry
.

They are seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to lead site quality standards, strengthen Quality Management System (QMS) compliance, improve customer quality outcomes and develop a proactive quality culture across a large and complex manufacturing environment.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring someone who combines current IATF 16949 expertise, strong people leadership, customer-facing confidence and practical automotive quality tools
. You will work closely with Operations, Process Engineering, Technical, R&D and customer-facing teams to resolve quality issues, strengthen systems and maintain consistently high standards.

• Championing a proactive quality culture and embedding QMS principles across everyday plant operations
• Maintaining, evolving and continuously improving the site QMS, certifications, processes and documentation
• Ensuring QMS requirements are fully integrated within product realisation processes
• Acting as the site quality gatekeeper for Management of Change activity and New Product Launches
• Integrating Customer Specific Requirements and Supplier Quality Manual requirements into the QMS
• Leading and supporting customer and supplier visits, representing the site confidently on quality matters
• Managing investigations into customer complaints, off-spec situations, SCARs and non-conforming products
• Ensuring corrective and preventive actions address root causes and deliver sustainable improvements
• Leading the measurement, analysis and reporting of site quality metrics and trends
• Driving data-led improvement initiatives to improve yield, productivity, first-time-right capability and customer quality outcomes
• Collaborating with Technical, Optima and R&D teams to support product and process improvements without compromising quality
• Supporting and troubleshooting quality systems including SAP, LIMS and ETQ Reliance
• Owning the site internal audit programme, from strategic planning through to hands-on execution and follow-up
• Maintaining the document control system to ensure the site remains compliant and audit-ready
• Leading, mentoring and developing the quality team, building accountability, ownership and continuous learning
• Delivering quality training and coaching across the manufacturing site
• Working collaboratively across Operations, Process Engineering, Technical, R&D, Optima and customer-facing teams

The position will also hold authority for key quality decisions, including product release, product fit/form/function change approvals, off-spec and non-conforming product disposition, quality escalations and corrective action effectiveness

You will be an experienced automotive quality leader with a strong background in manufacturing quality systems, IATF 16949, audit programmes, corrective actions, customer quality and continuous improvement
.

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Quality, Engineering or a related discipline
• 5+ years' quality management experience, ideally within automotive or advanced manufacturing
• 3+ years' people management or supervisory experience, ideally leading engineers, quality professionals or cross-functional manufacturing teams
• Certified Lead Auditor experience, ideally covering IATF and/or VDA
• Minimum Six Sigma Green Belt certification, with Black Belt advantageous
• Strong practical knowledge of automotive core tools, including FMEA, SPC, Control Plans and APQP
• Current, hands-on knowledge of IATF 16949, including recent rule changes and customer-specific requirements
• Experience maintaining, revamping and improving QMS frameworks, certifications, internal audit programmes and document control systems
• Experience leading customer complaints, off-spec investigations, SCARs, non-conforming product issues and corrective actions through root cause analysis and sustainable resolution
• Confidence working directly with automotive customers and suppliers, including site visits, escalations and challenging quality discussions
• Working knowledge of quality and operational systems such as SAP, LIMS and ETQ Reliance
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence Operations, Technical, R&D, customer-facing teams and senior site stakeholders

This is an excellent opportunity to take on a highly visible leadership role within a specialist organisation supporting the global automotive paints and coatings industry
.

You will have the opportunity to revamp and strengthen the site QMS,…