Director, Quality Assurance

Description

The Director of Quality Assurance plays a crucial role in ensuring Build‑A‑Bear delivers high‑quality products and services to our guests. This role directly impacts our competitiveness, financial performance, and ability to meet the expectations of guests and regulators.

• Develop and communicate quality standards for all Build‑A‑Bear Workshop locations
• Develop vendor relations
• Interface with laboratory partners
• Conduct quality audits and inspections
• Identify and troubleshoot quality issues
• Perform risk management
• Analyse data and produce reports
• Collaborate cross‑functionally
• Manage product release and compliance verification

• Bachelor's degree in quality management, engineering or a related field
• Minimum 10 years of experience in Quality Assurance within a retail or laboratory environment
• Expert knowledge in test protocols, packaging regulations, and manufacturing processes
• Proficiency with Quality Management Systems (QMS)
• Industry knowledge of best practices and ISO standards
• Current and relevant Regulatory Compliance knowledge
• Project Management skills
• Auditing skills
• Supervisory experience

• 15+ years of experience
• Toys or Children’s Retail product experience

• The ability to deal with abstract concepts, systems, and ideas
• Organized, self‑disciplined approach to producing timely results of high quality and accuracy
• An analytical, inquiring, and critical mind that solves complex problems
• Consideration of all possibly related facts and potential issues
• Intellectual confidence
• Ability to weigh all decisions carefully and thoroughly, based on expertise to avoid risk

• Typical office environment with climate control, sufficient lighting, and ergonomic desk/chairs
• Hybrid work schedule
• Domestic and international travel up to 10%

• Decision‑making, judgement, and execution
• Testing protocols, product inspection, and packaging to ensure compliance in a global manufacturing environment
• Design modification suggestions to ensure safety compliance
• Taking a proactive approach to leading cross‑functional teams in swift and effective resolutions
• Stakeholder feedback

This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent an expressed or implied contract of employment, nor does it alter your at‑will employment, and Build‑A‑Bear, Inc. reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as may deem appropriate.