Director of Quality Assurance

The Director of Quality Assurance leads all manufacturing quality operations across Truck-Lite's Wellsboro, McElhattan, and Coudersport facilities. This role is a peer to the Director of Quality – Compliance and carries full operational authority over all plant quality personnel. The Director of Quality Assurance ensures that products manufactured at all three facilities meet or exceed established quality standards through active floor leadership, structured training, rigorous corrective action management, and data-driven continuous improvement.

This role operates with independent decision-making authority over all plant quality execution functions; manufacturing operations should not require compliance approval to act on quality matters within this Director's domain.

This position works in close coordination with the Director of Manufacturing and reports to the VP of Manufacturing Technology. It is expected to maintain a visible, consistent presence on the plant floor and to model a culture of accountability, urgency, and quality ownership across all three sites.

• Maintain regular, visible presence on the floor at all three plant locations; conduct structured Gemba walks and direct team touchpoints
• Lead, develop, evaluate, and retain all plant quality personnel; set clear performance expectations and hold team members accountable
• Build a collaborative, inclusive quality culture that motivates employees to their highest performance and fosters continuous improvement at every level
• Partner with HR and plant managers on quality staffing decisions, performance management, and succession planning

• Own and execute print-level and process-level quality training for all new hires and existing quality staff across all three plants
• Maintain complete, current training records; ensure training is completed on schedule and linked to actual print requirements and quality standards
• Develop depth within the quality team through coaching, cross-training, and structured professional development
• Coordinate with Manufacturing Engineering on training updates driven by engineering changes or new product launches

• Own all Corrective Action Report (CAR) processes from initiation through verified closure; ensure root cause rigor and sustainable corrective actions
• Drive structured problem-solving using 8D, DMAIC, 5-Why, or equivalent methodologies; build team capability in these tools
• Ensure CAPA effectiveness verification is completed and documented; track open actions and elevate at-risk items
• Lead internal root cause investigation for customer returns and field complaints; prepare internal corrective action plans in support of customer communications managed by the Director of Quality – Compliance
• Own and report on internal and external DPM (Defects Per Million) trends across all three facilities
• Lead defect reduction initiatives using Lean and Six Sigma tools; prioritize by impact and business risk
• Maintain and improve first-pass yield, scrap, and rework metrics; establish site-level improvement goals and track progress
• Lead or support 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing technique assessment and training at the plant level
• Support Manufacturing Engineering and Productivity Improvement initiatives across Wellsboro, McElhattan, and Coudersport

• Execute the internal process and product audit schedule as established by the Director of Quality – Compliance
• Ensure all audit findings generate timely corrective actions; own closure and effectiveness verification
• Ensure plant quality teams understand and apply current IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 process expectations in daily…