Quality Assurance Manager

Job Summary

Dillard’s, Inc. has an exceptional career opportunity for a highly talented, senior-level Quality Professional to join our Private Brands Product Development Team. This role offers a unique operational transition strategy: the incoming manager will benefit from at least 6 months of direct, part-time support and mentorship from our seasoned Quality Manager to ensure full integration into our brand lifecycle.

As a leader, you will oversee and elevate the manufacturing quality, testing compliance, and structural integrity of Dillard’s Private Brands across men’s apparel and home categories, with assistance as required to the Women’s, Kid’s, Accessories and Shoe teams. The ideal candidate is an industry veteran with a masterful understanding of factory settings, global testing protocols, and garment engineering.

Core Responsibilities

• Quality Protocol Administration & Evolution: Partner with our long-term Quality Manager to develop, execute, and continuously improve rigorous quality testing and inspection protocols for Dillard's Private Brands across apparel, shoes, and home goods.
• Internal & External Consultation: Serve as the authoritative technical consultant to Dillard’s Merchandisers, Product Development, Operations, and international vendor matrices regarding quality construction standards, safety standards, and strict regulatory compliance interpretations.
• 3rd-Party Laboratory Oversight: Manage global protocols and critically monitor performance analytics from 3rd-party testing and inspection firms, including Bureau Veritas, W.E. Connors, SGS, and other testing laboratories and companies.
• Strategic Deficiency Remediation: Collaborate closely with Bureau Veritas and agent support networks to optimize global QA workflows, proactively detect systematic vulnerabilities, and rectify poor-performing manufacturing sources.

Global Quality Audits: Travel occasionally to manufacturing facilities and 3rd-party testing partner hubs across the United States, Asia, and the Americas to audit compliance, troubleshoot complex issues, and ensure strict alignment with corporate quality metrics.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressive, hands-on experience in apparel quality assurance, technical design, or garment production management.
• Comprehensive Quality Expertise: A complete, definitive understanding of international apparel quality protocols and performance standards, specifically ASTM and AATCC frameworks.
• Technical Mastery: In-depth, expert-level knowledge of garment appearance, advanced construction techniques, stitching, machinery, textile performance, and trim/hardware components.
• Omni-Category Proficiency: Proven working knowledge of garment construction and quality dynamics across Men's, Women's, and Children's apparel, encompassing diverse fabric fabrications including Wovens, Knits, and Sweaters.
• Regulatory & Compliance Acumen: Thorough operational understanding of US Consumer Safety regulations and state-level compliance mandates, including FTC, EPA, US Customs, California Prop 65, and CPSC (Child Safety) guidelines.
• Professional & Operational Skills: Exceptionally strong organizational and communication skills with a team-first ethos. Proficient in digital environments, particularly the Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word).

Preferred Qualifications

• Manufacturing Background: Prior direct employment inside apparel manufacturing facilities with deep familiarity with factory-floor QC workflows, in-line inspections, and statistical control systems is highly preferred.
• Patternmaking Skills: Practical knowledge or technical training in patternmaking, garment grading, and draping is a significant plus.
• Multi-Category Inspection: Direct experience evaluating quality, inspection, and testing protocols within the Home Goods and Footwear industries.
• Education: A College Degree, preferably a Bachelor's in Apparel/Textile Merchandising, Fabric Technology, Apparel Design, or a related engineering field.

Salary & Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, vision and dental coverage, a generous merchandise discount, a 401(k) plan with employer matching, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

Dillard’s is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local law.

*This is a full time, on-site position located at our Dillard's HQ.

Location: 1600 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

A high level of attendance is required as an essential function of this position.

Rules of Arbitration

I state that the information contained in the foregoing statements is complete, true, and correct. I understand that if I am employed, any misrepresentation or omission of material facts on this application is sufficient cause for dismissal. I agree that my employment is for no definite period of time and can be terminated, with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time, at the option of either Dillard's or myself. I understand that neither the Associate Work Rules and General Policies, the Associate Benefits and Related Policies, nor any other written or oral statements by Dillard's or its representatives are contracts of employment. No employee of Dillard's other than the Chairman of the Board or the President has any authority to enter into any agreement for employment for any specified period of time, or to make any agreement contrary to the foregoing, and no such agreement has been made. If, at the time of termination, I am for any reason indebted to Dillard's, whether for merchandise, cash advances, withdrawals, or otherwise, I agree that Dillard's shall have the right to make the necessary deductions and withhold from any remuneration or from any reimbursement to which I may be entitled, an amount sufficient to fully cover and completely pay for all of my indebtedness to Dillard's. I also hereby agree that in no event shall Dillard's be liable for any loss or damage to my clothing or my personal property. In consideration of Dillard’s agreeing to consider my Application, I agree that effective on my submission of this Application, Dillard’s and I shall be entitled to the benefits of and mutually agree to become subject to Dillard’s RULES OF ARBITRATION (the “Rules”). The Rules will apply to any Legal Claim which may arise out of the application process or over Dillard’s failure or refusal to offer me employment. A free copy of the Rules is available A) by emailing a request for a copy to legal@dillards.com or B) by requesting a written copy of the Rules by dialing toll free 866-353-6787.