Quality Manager

Job Description:

The Quality Manager provides strategic leadership for the quality function and drives process improvement across the organization to achieve an excellent operational environment. This role develops, maintains, and improves quality systems, ensures adherence to disciplined processes and standardized best practices, and manages a cohesive set of key performance metrics that reflect the health and effectiveness of the business operating system. The Quality Manager builds strong cross-functional relationships, fosters a proactive engagement culture within operations, and maintains productive working relationships with customers as a key voice of the customer and conscience of the organization.

Responsibilities:

Develop, maintain, and implement quality system procedures and work instructions in compliance with customer and regulatory requirements. Lead corrective and preventive action activities, serving as a champion and active team participant to ensure timely and effective resolution of issues. Standardize quality metrics and best practices across the organization to drive consistency and performance excellence. Lead internal and external audit programs, ensuring compliance with applicable standards and effective follow-up on findings. Lead contract review activities, driving advanced product quality planning and translating requirements to the operator level. Serve as a strong customer advocate and voice of the customer, ensuring customer requirements and expectations are clearly understood and met. Lead process improvement initiatives focused on reducing the cost of poor quality, including review, disposition, and elimination of material review, concessions, corrective actions, and escapes. Develop and maintain quality processes and systems that meet customer and regulatory requirements while supporting business needs. Ensure quality system metrics and key process indicators are maintained, monitored, and used to drive continuous improvement. Identify, control, and mitigate systems, process, and product risks to appropriate levels. Uphold high ethical standards and make decisions that align with organizational values, quality expectations, and business objectives. Demonstrate strong initiative by anticipating opportunities, setting challenging goals, and acting proactively to address issues and improvements. Prioritize work effectively and delegate responsibilities appropriately while maintaining accountability for results. Build and maintain strong relationships across internal functions and with external customers to ensure leadership engagement, management influence, and customer connection. Lead and participate in cross-functional quality and process improvement initiatives using structured methodologies such as Alcoa Process Management. Build practical and effective mechanisms for driving continuous improvement and compliance responsibilities to the process level where work is performed. Assure compliance with standards and documented procedures, including

AS9100, ISO

9000, Nadcap special processes, and internal business practices, through an effective internal audit and corrective/preventive action system. Coordinate with all functions to ensure effective communication, corrective and preventive actions, and process improvement activities are aligned and implemented. Track and report a cohesive set of key performance metrics that provide actionable information to improve overall quality management system performance. Address both major and minor issues professionally, maintaining composure and objectivity while focusing on resolution. Communicate effectively with all levels of the organization and with external customers, setting clear direction, intentions, and objectives. Actively listen and respond to both verbal and non-verbal communication while maintaining a high level of professionalism. Manage, coach, and develop direct reports, ensuring succession plans are in place to sustain a strong quality workforce. Understand team members' emotions, concerns, and underlying issues, and provide effective coaching and mentoring to support their development. Develop strong quality professionals through structured mentoring, coaching, and long-term development planning. Align and guide individuals with different energy levels, technical knowledge, and personalities to successfully navigate operational and customer issues. Make data- and fact-based decisions, maintaining and cultivating technical and business expertise. Promote and support standardization of business processes to achieve excellence in manufacturing and quality performance. Demonstrate strategic thinking, lead and manage change, and resolve conflicts effectively within the quality function and across the organization. Apply problem-solving methodologies and root cause analysis to improve processes and positively impact business objectives. Work closely with production, inspection, engineering, and customer-facing teams to link, monitor, and improve quality objectives in alignment with overall business goals. Ensure supplier quality activities, audits, and corrective actions support the robustness of the overall quality management system.

Essential Skills:

Bachelor's degree in engineering or business from an accredited institution. Minimum of 7 years of experience leading a quality department or quality team. Minimum of 10 years of experience working in a manufacturing environment. Minimum of 5 years of auditing experience in an

ISO 9001 / AS9100

(per AS9014) environment. Strong experience and proficiency with ISO 9000 and/or AS9100 quality management systems. Knowledge and practical use of statistical tools and techniques. Experience with non-destructive examination (NDE), Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), and Measurement System Analysis. Demonstrated experience in quality engineering and quality assurance within a manufacturing setting. Experience in production and manufacturing engineering environments and related operations. Proven ability to develop and maintain quality processes and systems that meet customer and regulatory requirements. Ability to identify, control, and mitigate systems, process, and product risk. Experience leading internal and external audits and managing corrective and preventive actions. Strong problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and structured improvement methodologies. Ability to link, monitor, and improve quality objectives in alignment with overall business objectives. Strong leadership skills, including strategic thinking, change leadership, and conflict resolution. Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop quality professionals and build effective teams. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization and with external customers. Ability to make decisions based on data and facts, and to maintain high ethical standards. Capability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a dynamic environment. Ability to pass a vision exam utilizing the Tumbling E Chart per ISO requirements. Ability to lawfully access export-controlled items, as required for this position. Legally authorized to work in the United States, with verification of employment eligibility required and no visa sponsorship available for this role.

Additional Skills & Qualifications:

General Auditor (Internal) experience, such as completion of at least four audits totaling twenty audit days within the past three years, is a plus. Experience with Nadcap special process disciplines is highly beneficial. Supplier quality experience, including supplier audits and corrective action management, is preferred. Demonstrated business savvy with a strong bias for action and performance excellence. Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, with the ability to interpret metrics and drive improvement. Experience leading cross-functional quality and process improvement initiatives using formal methodologies. Ability to remain composed and objective when addressing complex or sensitive issues. Passion for performance excellence and results-driven mindset. Experience working as a customer advocate and effectively representing the voice of the customer. Track record of promoting standardization of business processes to support operational excellence. Interest in career growth with opportunities to advance within the quality function and other departments.

Work Environment:

This is an on-site position with a standard Monday through Friday schedule, typically from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The role is primarily office-based and performed mostly at a desk, involving extensive use of computer systems and quality management tools to analyze data, manage documentation, and track performance metrics. Regular collaboration with production, engineering, inspection, and other operational teams is expected, which may require periodic presence on the manufacturing floor. The environment supports a culture of continuous improvement, cross-functional engagement, and professional development, with opportunities for growth within the quality organization and across other departments. Job Type & Location This is a Permanent position based out of Hampton, VA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $150000.00 - $180000.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Hampton,VA.

Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on May 22, 2026. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.