Director of Quality

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Director of Quality

Location: Troy, AL

Classification: Exempt

Department: Quality

Reports To : COO

Date: 03/31/2026

SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE

The Director of Quality will be responsible for a corporate quality assurance system and team that promotes customer satisfaction and that positively impacts financial performance. Direct supervision of quality assurance employees in the manufacturing facility.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Champion continuous improvement efforts and defect reduction initiatives to establish an effective Quality Management System (QMS); initiate and implement quality improvement activities as appropriate (e.g., Kaizen, Six Sigma) to raise the performance of the company’s product lines.

• Manage all aspects of the ISO 9001:2008 Quality System Including: Management Reviews, Internal Audits, Customer Complaints, Corrective/Preventive Actions, Document and Records control and Customer Satisfaction.
• Develop and review standards, policies and procedures for all functions and departments related to the production of all products.
• Serve as the primary quality resource for problem identification, resolution, loss reporting and continuous improvement.
• Support concurrent engineering efforts by participating in design development projects representing quality assurance and the customer.
• Design, implement and document procedures for process control, process improvement, testing and inspection.
• Establish and implement metrics (process capability, control charts, measurement quality) for monitoring system effectiveness, and to enable managers to make sound product quality decisions.
• Perform root-cause analysis and other problem solving activities to identify effective corrective actions and process improvements.
• Establish collection and analysis systems of statistical data to predict trends that will affect improvement of product quality.
• Review complaint trends and product /component failure analysis and assure effective corrective action is implemented.
• Develop quality planning methods for all product lines.
• Develop process certification standards and assist in process certification.
• Monitor vendor performance and establish criteria and rating system for critical vendors.
• Review customer purchase orders, contracts and change requests and ensure that the necessary criteria and provisions are included in quality and process plans.
• Interact with customers to identify opportunities to improve quality and establish feedback with manufacturing and development personnel.
• Oversee calibration and testing programs.
• Report to management on internal and external quality issues, trends and losses.
• Review supplier performance and maintain supplier Quality requirements.
• Manage and participate in internal and external quality audits.
• Interface with supplier and customer quality representatives concerning problems with quality control and assure that effective corrective action is implemented.
• Prepare monthly quality reports that provide internal and external product quality information and quality system performance.
• Participates, as member of the management team, in formulating and establishing organizational policies and operating procedures; develops, implements, and coordinates, through support staff and lower echelon managers, a product assurance program to prevent or eliminate defects in new or existing products.
• Analyzes, evaluates, and presents information concerning factors, such as business situations, production capabilities, manufacturing problems, economic trends, and design and development of new products for consideration by other members of the management team.
• Suggests and debates alternative methods and procedures in solving problems and meeting changing market opportunities.
• Develops initial and subsequent modifications of product assurance program to delineate areas of responsibility, personnel requirements, and operational procedures within program, according to and consistent with company goals and policies.
• Evaluates contents of reports from product assurance program department heads and confers with top management personnel preparatory to formulating fiscal budget for product assurance program.
• Conducts management meetings with product assurance program department heads to establish, delineate, and review program organizational policies, to coordinate functions and operations between departments, and to establish responsibilities and procedures for attaining objectives.
• Reviews technical problems and procedures of departments and recommends solutions to problems or changes in procedures.
• Visits and confers with representatives of material and component vendors to obtain information related to supply quality, capacity of vendor to meet orders, and vendor quality standards.
• Confers with engineers about quality assurance of new products designed and manufactured products on market to rectify problems.
• All other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The successful candidate will possess 10+ years of experience in QA systems implementation and management, with 5 years as a Certified Quality Engineer/Certified Quality Manager (CQE/CQM) in a medium-size manufacturing environment, preferably in the metal machining and/or metal fabrication industries including:

• Experience in design/prototype manufacture.
• Experience implementing and maintaining an ISO Quality Management System.
• Six Sigma black-belt certification preferred.
• Broad knowledge of theory and principles of statistics and statistical process control.
• Experience in designing and implementing quality systems.
• Diverse knowledge of inspection and control methods, techniques and documentation.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Strong computer skills including quality control applications, word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
• Thorough understanding of general safety requirements.
• Training in foreign object damage awareness.
• Understanding of Mil Standards.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in any of the fields:
• Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering
• Quality Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Minimum of 10 years experience in Quality Program experience within a manufacturing environment.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree
• Gun industry experience

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret quality performance reports and create solutions. Ability to effectively present information to management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

OTHER SKILLS & ABILITIES

Attendance is an essential job requirement defined as having regular, consistent, reliable, punctual and predictable attendance including the ability to work regular hours and shifts, overtime before and after shifts and on weekends. Ability to work as part of a team, including all related departments/plants or independently as required to achieve internal and external customer satisfaction.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

While performing the duties of the job the employee works in a manufacturing environment and may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to touch, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, or crouch.

The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 50 pounds. The vision requirements include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

This position requires compliance with the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). Must be a “U.S. Person” as defined by all pertinent regulations and are required to show proof substantiating this upon being hired.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Activities, duties and/or responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice at the sole discretion of the Company.