Head of Plant Quality

Head Of Plant Manufacturing Quality

Angott Search Group is pleased to partner with a growing Michigan based automotive manufacturer in the search for a Head of Plant Manufacturing Quality.

This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on, high-accountability quality leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and has experience building and leading manufacturing quality organizations. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in establishing quality systems, developing teams, and supporting an EV manufacturing operation through pilot builds, production ramp, and full-scale production.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead plant quality strategy and execution through pilot builds, production ramp, and steady-state manufacturing.
• Establish and maintain quality systems, controls, documentation, and standards required for successful production.
• Oversee Quality Assurance activities, including system audits, process audits, quality documentation, compliance, and layered verification of manufacturing controls.
• Lead Quality Control activities, including inspection strategies, metrology, gage management, end-of-line quality processes, and product conformance initiatives.
• Manage supplier quality processes, including receiving inspection, supplier nonconformance, root cause analysis, containment actions, and corrective action management.
• Own build quality execution for pilot and pre-production events, ensuring tooling, fixtures, processes, and manufacturing readiness meet production requirements.
• Develop and maintain launch quality plans, including containment strategies, defect tracking, escalation processes, and production readiness criteria.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing quality organization consisting of managers, engineers, auditors, inspectors, technicians, and specialists.
• Drive quality improvement through structured problem solving, training, standard work, and shop floor engagement.
• Partner cross-functionally to improve process capability, throughput, and product quality.
• Establish and monitor key quality metrics, including defect trends, audit performance, first-time-through results, cost of poor quality, and launch readiness.
• Champion a zero-defect mindset by promoting prevention, early detection, disciplined response, and sustainable corrective actions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive quality leadership experience within automotive, EV, or complex high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading plant-level quality operations and building quality organizations.
• Proven experience working with suppliers on quality issues, containment, recovery, and continuous improvement.
• Strong knowledge of automotive quality systems and methodologies, including APQP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, 8D, root cause analysis, and corrective action processes.
• Deep expertise in manufacturing quality systems, process audits, inspection strategies, metrology, gage systems, welding quality, and nonconformance management.
• Demonstrated ability to develop teams, establish operating rhythms, and create accountability within a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to thrive in a startup or high-growth environment requiring urgency, adaptability, and the ability to build processes from the ground up.