Supplier Quality Manager

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Title: Supplier Quality Manager

Job Function: Continuous Improvement and Quality

Location: PILGRIM

Company: Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Full or Part-Time: Full Time

Shift: SHIFT1

At Harley-Davidson, we are building more than machines. It's our passion and commitment to continue the evolution of this storied brand, and heighten the desirability of the Harley-Davidson experience. To keep building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution, and emotion we need the best and brightest talent. We stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul.

Are you ready to join us?

Our Powertrain Operations facility, located on Pilgrim Road in Menomonee Falls, WI, is where the "jewel" of the motorcycle comes to life. Pilgrim Road employees produce engines and transmissions for the final assembly plant in York, Pennsylvania, as well as transmissions, and replacement parts for sale through Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts and Accessories business. Join our team as a Supplier Quality Manager and help build the world's most sought-after motorcycles.

The Supplier Quality Manager is responsible for leading the supplier quality team and ensuring supplier performance across the full product lifecycle - from new product introduction (NPI) through mass production and field warranty support. This role sets the quality expectations for all inbound material, develops the capability of the supplier base, drives systemic corrective actions, and ensures that supplier quality issues do not impact production or customers.

The Supplier Quality Manager will oversee a team of Professional Supplier Quality and work cross-functionally with engineering, purchasing, production, and warranty teams to support Harley-Davidson's commitment to delivering exceptional quality and craftsmanship to every rider.

• Leadership & Team Development:
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Supplier Quality Engineers at varying levels of experience.
  • Establish goals and performance metrics aligned to plant and corporate quality objectives.
  • Build organizational capability through technical coaching, standard work, and skill development.
• Supplier Quality Management:
  • Set clear quality expectations for suppliers in alignment with company standards and customer requirements.
  • Ensure robust APQP execution and successful PPAP submissions for all sourced components.
  • Oversee supplier audits, corrective action management, and supplier development activities.
• Production & Warranty Support:
  • Manage incoming quality performance, ensuring effective containment and resolution of supplier issues.
  • Monitor supplier KPIs (PPM, responsiveness, corrective action effectiveness) and elevate risks.
  • Collaborate with warranty and engineering teams to drive root cause resolution for field issues.
  • Champion closed-loop feedback from field failures back to supplier corrective actions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, and Plant Operations to ensure proactive risk management during sourcing and launch.
  • Represent supplier quality in daily plant reviews, launch readiness meetings, and warranty deep dives.
  • Support Make vs. Buy analysis and Design for Manufacturability reviews with supplier insights.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Drive systemic improvements in supplier processes using problem-solving methodologies (8D, 5
    
    Why, Ishikawa).
  • Lead strategic initiatives to improve supplier quality performance year-over-year.
  • Analyze trends, build dashboards, and report out supplier quality performance to leadership.

High School Diploma or Equivalent Required

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a technical discipline;
Master's degree preferred

• 10+ years of experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or operations
• 5+ years of leadership or team management experience
• Strong knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, GD&T, and IATF 16949 requirements
• Experience managing supplier quality issues from NPI through production and warranty phases
• Proven ability to lead supplier corrective actions, audits, and development activities
• Strong data analysis, reporting, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication, leadership presence, and cross‑functional collaboration skills
• Perform other SQ related activities as needed.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to 50%)

Harley-Davidson is an equal opportunity employer that continues to build a culture of inclusion, belonging and equity through our commitment to attracting and retaining diverse talent from all backgrounds, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe in fairness and providing a level playing field for all.

We foster a culture that thrives on diverse perspectives and contributions to ignite the creativity and innovation to fuel our business and…