Quality Manager

Job Title: Quality Manager

Location: Wausau, WI

Pay Range: $100,000 - $120,000/year (flexible for highly qualified candidates) + 7.5% Bonus

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Onsite)

Type of Employment (Contract, Contract to Hire, Permanent Hire): Permanent Hire

Benefits: Competitive Benefits Package, including HSA plans with employer contribution for families, bonus eligibility, and relocation assistance.

The Planet Group is currently seeking a Quality Manager for a growing company in the manufacturing and food service equipment industry. Qualified candidates must have quality leadership experience within a manufacturing environment, a strong background in continuous improvement, and the ability to drive quality systems and process standardization.

This is an excellent opportunity to lead and strengthen quality programs within a well-established manufacturing organization experiencing growth and operational transformation. The Quality Manager will oversee quality systems, lead a team of quality professionals, and partner with manufacturing, engineering, operations, and leadership teams to drive product quality, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate will thrive in a hands-on environment where they can make a visible impact. This role offers the opportunity to build and enhance quality processes, improve operational performance, reduce defects, and support the development of scalable manufacturing practices.

• Lead and develop a team of Quality Engineers and Quality Technicians.
• Drive quality initiatives, process improvements, and standardization efforts across manufacturing operations.
• Oversee quality management systems, audits, compliance activities, and quality documentation.
• Establish, track, and report key quality metrics and performance indicators.
• Lead root cause investigations, corrective actions, preventive actions, and non-conformance resolution efforts.
• Support internal testing, validation activities, and product quality initiatives.
• Partner with cross-functional teams including Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Customer Service, and Supply Chain.
• Facilitate continuous improvement activities utilizing Lean methodologies, Kaizen events, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Develop and deliver quality-related training programs to support operational excellence.
• Analyze quality trends and data to identify opportunities for improvement and risk reduction.
• Support supplier and customer quality initiatives as needed.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality, safety, and regulatory requirements.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of manufacturing experience in a quality-focused environment.
• Prior experience leading quality teams or quality programs.
• Strong knowledge of quality systems, audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, process mapping, FMEA, statistical process control, or related quality tools.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and utilize measurement equipment.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership capabilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% for customer and supplier support activities.

• High-impact leadership role with the ability to shape and improve quality operations.
• Opportunity to influence manufacturing transformation and process standardization initiatives.
• Stable, growing organization with multiple manufacturing and distribution operations across North America.
• Relocation assistance available.
• Bonus opportunity and strong long-term career growth potential.

The Planet Group is a global professional services firm delivering strategic staffing and advisory solutions. We operate at the intersection of talent and transformation - connecting the right people with the right opportunities. Named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the US, The Planet Group operates with a global reach and a performance-first mindset. We partner with clients to move fast, stay agile, and drive measurable results - building high-impact teams that fuel transformation and growth.

The Planet Group is an Equal Opportunity…