Quality Assurance Manager

Job Title: Quality Manager

Location: Denver, CO area

Employment Type: Direct Hire

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Quality Manager to lead all quality-related activities within a manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for overseeing the site's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with IATF 16949:2016, ISO 9001:2015, and customer-specific requirements. The Quality Manager will lead quality engineering initiatives, drive continuous improvement, manage customer and supplier quality, and partner with cross-functional teams to support new product development and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, maintain, and continuously improve the site's Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with IATF 16949:2016, ISO 9001:2015, and customer-specific requirements.
• Serve as the primary Quality Management Representative (QMR) and lead internal quality audits while coordinating external registrar and customer audits.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Quality Engineering and Quality Assurance team, including engineers, technicians, and inspectors.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer quality concerns and complaints.
• Lead 8D problem-solving activities to identify root causes, implement corrective and preventive actions, and ensure timely customer responses.
• Oversee Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) activities for new product launches and major process changes.
• Ensure Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) documentation, including PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and SPC, is completed and approved prior to production.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives using methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, and Ishikawa.
• Manage supplier quality performance through supplier audits, incoming inspection monitoring, and supplier corrective action processes.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to improve quality, reduce waste, and optimize manufacturing performance.
• Monitor and analyze key quality metrics, including Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), First Pass Yield (FPY), customer complaints, corrective action aging, and audit performance.
• Develop and implement action plans to improve quality performance and achieve departmental objectives.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to support product quality, process improvements, and operational excellence.
• Maintain compliance with customer requirements and applicable quality standards.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field required.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of quality engineering experience within a manufacturing environment required.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership or management experience in a quality function required.
• Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 quality management systems.
• Experience with Automotive Core Tools, including APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, MSA, SPC, and Control Plans.
• Proven experience leading root cause analysis and corrective action processes using 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa, or similar methodologies.
• Experience managing supplier quality and customer quality processes.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement principles.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), or IATF 16949 Lead Auditor Certification preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems; JD Edwards (JDE) experience preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.