Quality Assurance Manager (Metals Manufacturing) - Relocation Assistance

This Position is in Spring Grove, Illinois. Relocation assistance will be provided to the right candidate

The Corporate Systems Quality Assurance Manager leads company-wide quality management systems and compliance programs for a metals manufacturing organization serving highly regulated industries such as aerospace, nuclear, and military. This role focuses on quality systems (not day-to-day manufacturing support), including certifications, audits, corrective actions, customer requirements rollout, and continuous improvement, while managing teams and partnering cross‑functionally to ensure product and process conformance.

How You'll Contribute

• Lead and support company-wide quality management system initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
• Serve as the management representative for quality systems and coordinate activities with registrars, governing bodies, customers, and regulatory agencies.
• Drive the use of core quality tools and structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) throughout the organization.
• Direct key quality system functions including certification/compliance review, company certified material test reports, corrective action systems, and layered process audits (in partnership with the Corporate Process Quality Manager).
• Oversee Potential Escape Point Analysis (PEPA) and Letters of Advisement processes.
• Lead quality-related functions including inspection, regulatory compliance, supplier quality, auditing programs, customer contract compliance, and shop floor quality systems.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, internal quality policies, regulatory standards, and industry certifications (e.g., ISO, AS, nuclear, aerospace, military).
• Establish and oversee supplier quality programs, internal auditing systems, inspection procedures, and corrective action processes.
• Facilitate and oversee internal audits related to ISO, AS9100, nuclear, military, and other high-specification quality systems, including planning, auditor training, audit follow-up, and corrective action verification.
• Communicate effectively with customers and third-party auditors regarding specification requirements, manufacturing and process capabilities, and questions/complaints related to quality systems, product, processes, or documentation.
• Roll out and translate customer requirements into internal policies, systems, and procedures to ensure product and process conformance.
• Develop and deliver training to personnel on execution of procedures and interpretation of specifications/drawings as they apply to manufacturing, testing, and inspection requirements.
• Partner cross-functionally with Production, Engineering, Sales, IT/OT, and Operations teams to ensure quality expectations are achieved and to support modernization initiatives (ERP, MES, and related systems), where applicable.
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality metrics aligned with operational and customer performance objectives.
• Lead root cause analysis, corrective actions, and structured problem-solving initiatives tied to quality and operational issues.
• Support second- and third-party audits and customer witness activities.
• Participate in Lean, 6S, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Support safety initiatives and maintain active involvement in company safety programs.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• Bachelor’s degree required; a technical discipline such as Engineering, Metallurgy, or related field is preferred.
• 7–10 years of progressive quality assurance or quality systems leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong Lean background; Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent experience highly preferred.
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Lead Auditor, or similar quality certifications preferred.
• Experience in metals or heavy industrial manufacturing within highly regulated environments such as aerospace, defense, nuclear, or military operations strongly preferred.
• Deep familiarity with destructive and non-destructive testing methods and quality testing practices.
• Hands-on experience with quality management systems, auditing, corrective action systems, supplier quality, root cause analysis, FMEA, control plans, APQP, statistics, and GD&T.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional project teams and/or managing direct reports; ability to lead and develop a team of approximately eight quality professionals.
• Demonstrated success serving as a management representative in ISO, AS9100, nuclear, aerospace, or comparable quality systems environments.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to interface effectively with customers, registrars, third-party auditors, and internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality analytics/reporting tools (e.g., Minitab); tech-savvy candidates with experience supporting ERP, MES, or IT/OT modernization initiatives are strongly valued.
• Ability to work across office, laboratory, and manufacturing shop floor environments and to travel overnight as needed.

Comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Employee ownership through a 15% ESOP.
• Annual target bonus opportunity.
• Full health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, and related programs, subject to employer plan).
• Retirement benefits and employee ownership incentives.
• Relocation assistance and interview expenses may be considered based on candidate and business needs.