Quality Manager

Howell Laboratories, Inc. Quality Manager Job Description

Quality

Experience:

Three to five years’ experience in manufacturing quality

Leadership

Experience:

One to three years of supervisory experience preferred

Job Location:

Gorham, ME

Position Type:
Fulltime

Reports To:

General Manager of ODAT Machine, a division of Howell Laboratories, Inc.

Job Status:
Exempt

Education Level: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field or the equivalent combination of education, functional training, and experience required

Our Quality Manager acts as the final gatekeeper between production and our partners. This role doesn’t just manage a department; it ensures the safety of our end-users, the efficiency of our production lines, and the integrity of our company.

We’re looking for a leader to own the end-to-end reliability of our output. Additionally, the position manages a small, talented QA team, building out scalable systems for continuous testing and process optimization ensuring the seamless integration of quality systems into the development lifecycle to guarantee product integrity.

Howell Laboratories and its divisions: ODAT Machine and GDL Powder Coating, is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) engineering and manufacturing company based in Bridgton and Gorham, ME. We are committed to providing our knowledge, expertise, and integrity to partners who require solutions on which they can stake their lives and livelihoods. We turn innovation into creation.

Ownership, Accountability, Integrity, Feedback, Empathy, Openness

• Audit Leadership:
  Our ideal candidate has an established track record to lead internal and external auditing processes. Additionally, is adept at leveraging audit results to drive process improvements and maintain a state of “constant audit readiness” across the facility.
• Mathematical Aptitude:
  Our ideal candidate has strong shop math skills, specifically the use of Trigonometry to determine unknown dimensions and angles on a workpiece. Additionally, has comprehensive understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Technical Literacy:
  Our ideal candidate can read the “language” of the product, with deep experience reading and interpreting industrial blueprints, schematics, and technical specifications.
• Leadership and Influence:
  Our ideal candidate understands that this role is also about diplomacy, clarity, and influence. Must possess the interpersonal savvy to act as a bridge between engineering, production, and our partners. Equally important is the ability to be a clear, decisive communicator who can uphold the integrity of our brand while maintaining a collaborative and high-morale environment on the production floor.
• Operational Discipline:
  Our ideal candidate understands that in this leadership role, “organizational skills” aren’t just about a tidy desk; they are about traceability. Additionally, must manage concurrent quality audits, supplier evaluations, and internal training schedules.
• Project Lifecycle Tracking:
  Must have the ability to manage multiple quality initiatives simultaneously—from initial risk assessment through to final validation—while meeting production deadlines.

• Oversee the Quality Management System, ensuring compliance to ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality procedures and processes throughout the entire company
• Lead internal and external QMS audits
• Collect, record, and analyze manufacturing performance data, customer feedback, and other quality data
• Use several different methods to solve problems, reduce risk, and implement solutions to decrease mistakes and increase throughput in both production and the office
• Manage direct reports, necessitating regular check-ins and completion of annual performance reviews
• Monitor and Maintain the Approved Supplier List
• Notify Suppliers of Rejections
• Complete Quality Related Questionnaires (i.e. Conflict Minerals, etc.)
• Support Inspectors at all Divisions
• Maintain Eye Exam Logs
• Lead all Customer Source Inspections
• Other responsibilities as assigned

• Must be able to traverse the operations facility
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at a time