Quality Systems & Laboratory Manager

Job Title

Quality Systems & Laboratory Manager

Job Summary

The Quality Manager leads the Quality Management Systems, laboratory operations, testing programs, and incoming product quality functions for the Locust Grove and Wood Dale facilities. As the site quality leader, this position has primary responsibility for the effectiveness, compliance, and continual improvement of the QMS and for maintaining ISO 9001 certification while ensuring customer, regulatory, statutory, and organizational requirements are effectively translated into operational controls.
The position provides leadership and technical oversight for incoming inspection, laboratory and product testing, calibration and measurement systems, test method validation, inspection planning, quality documentation, and certification activities. Working cross-functionally with Corporate Quality, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Procurement, and directly with suppliers when required, the Quality Engineering Manager ensures appropriate controls are established throughout the receipt, inspection, testing, acceptance, and distribution of product.
The Quality Manager establishes and strengthens the procedures, work instructions, testing protocols, inspection plans, training, and quality controls necessary to support reliable product conformity and operational performance. The role is expected to identify and mitigate quality risks, analyze performance and quality trends, resolve systemic issues, strengthen technical capabilities, and lead continuous improvement initiatives. Equally important, the position develops and reinforces a culture in which quality, compliance, accountability, ethical decision-making, and continuous improvement are integrated into everyday operations

Job Duties

Lead, develop, maintain, and continually improve the Locust Grove ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS), while providing ongoing quality leadership and support for the Wood Dale ISO 9001 QMS to ensure continued certification, compliance, effectiveness, and alignment with organizational requirements.
Serve as the primary site quality representative and liaison with certification bodies, customers, regulatory agencies, Corporate Quality, and other external parties regarding QMS, product quality, testing, and compliance matters for both sites.
Develop, implement, maintain, and continually improve quality procedures, work instructions, inspection plans, testing protocols, acceptance criteria, forms, records, and other QMS documentation necessary to ensure effective process and product controls.
Provide overall leadership and technical oversight of laboratory operations, including testing methodologies, equipment, workflow, staffing, capacity, resource planning, safety, and development of laboratory capabilities.
Establish, manage, and continually improve incoming inspection and testing programs for products and materials received from domestic and international suppliers, ensuring appropriate verification of conformity prior to acceptance and distribution.
Develop and maintain risk-based inspection plans, sampling strategies, acceptance criteria, and verification methods based on product requirements, supplier performance, quality history, risk, and applicable customer or technical requirements.
Lead the administration, technical development, and continual improvement of salt fog, mechanical, dimensional, and other applicable product validation and verification testing programs, ensuring testing is performed consistently and in accordance with defined methods, specifications, standards, and customer requirements.
Maintain laboratory and testing activities in a state of accreditation readiness, including appropriate control of test methods, equipment, personnel competency, test documentation, reports, records, and supporting objective evidence.
Lead the site's calibration and metrology program, including measurement standards, equipment qualification, calibration status, traceability, environmental considerations, and controls necessary to ensure the validity and reliability of inspection and test results.
Establish, validate, and maintain test methods, validation protocols, measurement system controls, and verification techniques to ensure testing and inspection activities produce accurate, repeatable, reproducible, and technically defensible results.
Ensure effective control, traceability, retention, and accessibility of test reports, certificates of analysis/conformance, product certifications, compliance documentation, calibration records, inspection results, and other quality data and records.
Coordinate with Corporate Quality to plan and execute the ISO 9001 internal audit program, including audit planning, identification of systemic issues, corrective action follow-up, effectiveness verification, and timely closure of findings.
Plan, coordinate, and facilitate external certification, surveillance, customer, regulatory, and other third-party audits, ensuring appropriate preparation, response, corrective action, and follow-up.
Lead the investigation and resolution of product and process nonconformances, inspection or test failures, customer complaints, supplier quality issues, and other quality or compliance concerns, ensuring effective root cause analysis, corrective action, and verification of effectiveness.
Partner with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Corporate Quality, and other facilities to improve product and supplier quality, strengthen process controls, resolve systemic issues, and reduce operational and quality risk.
Work directly with suppliers, Supply Chain, and Procurement to address supplier performance and product conformity concerns, including corrective actions, improvements to inspection and testing requirements, and verification of sustained improvement.
Develop, monitor, analyze, and communicate QMS, incoming quality, supplier quality, laboratory, testing, calibration, and audit performance metrics, identifying adverse trends and driving appropriate corrective and improvement actions.
Develop and maintain appropriate management review inputs, including QMS performance, audit results, customer and supplier performance, nonconformance trends, laboratory performance, risks and opportunities, resource needs, and improvement priorities.
Provide leadership and oversight of the site's document and record control processes, ensuring procedures, specifications, drawings, standards, engineering documentation, and quality records are appropriately reviewed, approved, controlled, distributed, revised, retained, and protected from unintended use.
Establish training, qualification, and competency requirements for quality and laboratory personnel and ensure individuals performing inspection, testing, calibration, and other quality-related activities are appropriately trained and competent.
Provide leadership, coaching, technical guidance, and development for Quality personnel while supporting Operations and other functions in understanding and fulfilling their quality responsibilities.
Promote a strong quality culture centered on compliance, accountability, ethical behavior, technical discipline, risk-based thinking, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
Identify and communicate laboratory, metrology, testing, staffing, equipment, and infrastructure needs, and support business justification and capital planning necessary to maintain and expand quality capabilities.
Support the integration and standardization of quality systems, processes, testing methods, documentation, and best practices between Locust Grove, Wood Dale, Trenton, Corporate Quality, and other facilities where appropriate.
Travel to the Wood Dale, Illinois facility as required to provide quality management leadership, QMS support, integration, audit support, and continuous improvement, as well as to other company and corporate locations for training, audits, meetings, and other business needs.
Partner closely with third-party logistics (3PL) providers to investigate and resolve quality nonconformances, customer complaints, product handling concerns, and other quality-related issues, ensuring appropriate corrective actions are implemented and verified for effectiveness.
Ensure third-party logistics (3PL) operations are appropriately incorporated into the scope and controls of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, including defined quality requirements, responsibilities, performance monitoring, and adherence to applicable QMS, customer, and product requirements.

Experience and Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality, or related technical discipline.
Minimum 7–10 years of experience in quality systems, laboratory management, testing, inspection, or manufacturing quality.
Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing quality systems and technical operations.
Demonstrated experience managing ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and certification activities and knowledge of ISO 14001.
Experience managing test laboratories, calibration programs, inspection systems, and product testing processes.
Experience supporting incoming quality control, supplier quality, and product verification activities.
Experience with electronic Management Systems (ETQ preferred), calibration management systems, and laboratory data management systems.
Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor preferred.
Working knowledge of corrosion testing, environmental testing, salt fog testing, coatings evaluation, or related laboratory validation methods preferred.
Ability to travel approximately 20–30%, primarily to support Quality operations at the Wood Dale, IL facility, with additional travel to other company locations and external events for training, conferences, audits, and other business needs.

Competencies/Skills

Strong leadership skills with the ability to establish vision, drive accountability, develop teams, and foster a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and effectively partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Procurement, and Corporate Quality leadership.
Demonstrated success leading quality transformation, compliance initiatives, and organizational change.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements, determine appropriate inspection and measurement methods, and select and properly use measurement devices, instruments, and gages.
Expert knowledge of ISO 9001 requirements, auditing, certification maintenance, and management review processes.
Experience developing, implementing, and sustaining effective quality and environmental management systems.
Strong understanding of risk-based thinking, process management, and continuous improvement principles.
Experience managing laboratory operations, testing programs, test method development, and product validation activities.
Experience interpreting testing standards, such as ASTM, ANSI, IEC, IEE, etc..
Understanding of laboratory quality controls, measurement uncertainty, test validation, and data integrity principles.
Strong knowledge of calibration systems, measurement standards, gauge control, equipment qualification, and metrology principles.
Ability to ensure traceability, accuracy, and compliance of measurement systems used for inspection and testing.
Advanced root cause analysis and corrective action skills utilizing 5 Why, Ishikawa, A3, 8D, and risk-based methodologies.
Proven ability to develop and maintain procedures, work instructions, test methods, inspection plans, specifications, and technical reports.
Strong document control and records management experience within regulated or certified environments.