Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager

Location: Dallas, TX
Position Type: Full-Time
Salary Range: $70,000–$90,000 annually

Position Overview

Our client, a major protective eyewear manufacturer, is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to oversee quality management systems for a growing, highly regulated consumer and protective products division. This position will play a key role in maintaining ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 compliance, managing laboratory testing and accreditation requirements, coordinating internal and external audits, overseeing equipment calibration and maintenance, and supporting product certification activities. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience in a laboratory or product testing environment and is comfortable working across quality, engineering, product development, manufacturing, suppliers, independent laboratories, and regulatory organizations.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Management Systems & Accreditation

• Manage, develop, and maintain ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 quality management systems, certifications, and laboratory accreditation.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable quality standards, regulatory requirements, and internal procedures.
• Coordinate product certifications, internal and external audits, supplier visits, and accreditation activities.
• Maintain relationships with independent testing laboratories, certification organizations, regulatory bodies, and other external partners.

Management Reviews

• Prepare and maintain management review reports and schedules.
• Report on requirements associated with ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025.
• Track management review action items and ensure timely completion.

Laboratory Testing & Inter-Laboratory Comparisons

• Plan and execute inter-laboratory comparison studies to validate the accuracy and reliability of testing results.
• Collaborate with external laboratories to benchmark and improve testing methodologies.
• Administer and perform mechanical, environmental, and optical testing as required.
• Review and certify laboratory test results.

Testing standards may include:

• ANSI Z87.1
• MIL-PRF-32432 / MCEPS
• CSA Z94.3
• AS/NZS 1337.1
• AS/NZS 1337.6
• AS/NZS 1067

Equipment Maintenance & Calibration

• Develop and manage comprehensive equipment maintenance and calibration schedules.
• Oversee calibration of laboratory and production testing instruments to ensure accuracy and precision.
• Troubleshoot and coordinate corrective actions related to equipment malfunctions or calibration issues.
• Monitor the performance of specialized production and laboratory equipment.

Measurement Uncertainty

• Develop and maintain uncertainty budgets for testing requirements outlined in applicable technical specifications.
• Review and adjust uncertainty calculations based on equipment variability, testing methodology, and changes to technical requirements.

Product Development & Certification

• Partner with product development and engineering teams to provide guidance regarding required testing parameters.
• Assist with product markings and labeling requirements based on applicable technical specifications.
• Coordinate sample requirements, testing schedules, and certification activities to support product launch timelines.
• Coordinate with external laboratories and certification organizations for specialized product certifications.

Regulatory & Military Testing Requirements

• Maintain knowledge of current revisions to applicable military and protective-product testing requirements.
• Assist in developing appropriate test plans.
• Coordinate testing with independent laboratories when external certification is required.
• Maintain recurring certification and retention-testing schedules.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Identify, document, and mitigate quality-related risks.
• Identify opportunities for departmental and organizational process improvement.
• Maintain documentation related to risks, opportunities, corrective actions, and improvement initiatives.
• Track initiatives through completion.

Internal Audits

• Coordinate and conduct internal audits in accordance with ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.
• Obtain and maintain appropriate internal auditor training and certification.
• Prepare audit reports and ensure corrective and follow-up actions are completed within required timelines.

Document Control & Recordkeeping

Maintain accurate and current quality and laboratory documentation, including:

• Standard operating procedures
• Process controls
• Corrective actions
• Quality KPIs
• Calibration records
• Quality-control data
• Audit documentation
• Laboratory records

Monitor company and laboratory processes and recommend improvements based on available data. Follow up with departments when established quality targets are not being achieved.

Nonconforming Product & Inspections

• Perform and document product inspections at various stages, including incoming and in-process inspections.
• Maintain scrap records and associated quality KPIs.
• Monitor quality performance and identify trends.
• Conduct Lot Acceptance Testing (LAT), including appropriate sampling.
• Manage nonconforming product processes and coordinate product disposition as required.

Team Training & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Train employees on quality management systems, ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17025, laboratory procedures, and compliance requirements.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and quality throughout the organization.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, product development, manufacturing, operations, suppliers, and other departments.
• Ensure quality processes are effectively integrated into overall business operations.

Required Skills & Experience

• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 and/or ISO/IEC 17025 quality systems.
• Experience working within a laboratory, testing, quality assurance, manufacturing, or product certification environment.
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment maintenance and calibration processes.
• Understanding of inter-laboratory comparisons and measurement uncertainty.
• Familiarity with relevant industry standards, regulatory requirements, and technical specifications.
• Experience coordinating or conducting internal and external audits.
• Strong documentation and recordkeeping skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with technical teams, leadership, suppliers, laboratories, and external regulatory or certification organizations.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in a relevant scientific, engineering, technical, or quality-related field preferred. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 3 years of experience working in a laboratory, product testing, quality assurance, or related technical environment.
• Experience with ISO quality management systems strongly preferred.
• Internal auditor training or certification preferred; willingness to obtain certification is required.

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