Supplier Quality Manager

Job Summary

The Senior Manager Supplier Quality Engineering leads the supplier quality engineering team to drive Supplier Performance improvement and foster a proactive, preventative culture of quality to ensure on-time delivery of quality parts. This role establishes, develops, and maintains strong partnerships with Key Suppliers and internal Twenty-Six Defense organizations to improve performance in both Supplier Delivery and Quality. The Sr. Manager provides resources and extensive expertise to the Supplier Quality Engineering department, maximizing Key Supplier strengths, building synergies, leveraging existing skill sets, and developing collaborative team environments to foster consistent world-class, high-performing suppliers. Sets departmental priorities and allocates resources to align with business objectives and annual plan.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Provide leadership to Supplier Quality Engineers and collaborate closely with the Supply Chain and Program Managers to ensure supplier quality performance and continuous improvement.
• Monitor and evaluate Key Supplier Performance.
• Chair monthly Supplier Performance reviews with key internal stakeholders.
• Lead Supplier Performance Reviews with suppliers to review supplier scorecard performance.
• Work with new and existing suppliers, across the full product lifecycle, to develop, implement, and maintain quality assurance systems and activities.
• Collaborate with Corporate Quality team to develop and improve supplier performance procedures and initiatives.
• Collaborate on development of Supplier Statements of Work.
• Drive “Front End Processes” to ensure innovative, proven Supplier Performance Management techniques are incorporated early.
• Identify, develop, or maintain supplier quality KPIs supporting standard reporting business cadences, including comprehensive Return to Green plans.
• Initiate targeted Zero-Defect Plans with suppliers to improve overall quality.
• Participate on Supplier Corrective Action Review Boards to review SCAR progress and ensure consistency in handling corrective actions.
• Recommend approval of suppliers.
• Solve complex system-level issues through development and collaboration with multi-discipline teams.
• Analyze, evaluate, and recommend innovative approaches to Supplier Performance Management.
• Monitor and evaluate the receiving and source inspection processes for opportunities for improvement that will result in increased quality of material delivered to production.
• Assist Supplier Quality Engineers to resolve intricate technical issues.
• Complete projects as assigned by the Director of Quality.
• Plan and budget the resources required by the Supplier Quality Engineering Department.
• Recommend the suspension of the use of suppliers when there is evidence that products may not meet Twenty-Six Defense customer, statutory, regulatory, or other stakeholder requirements.

Consulting Relationships

• Supply Chain Organization
• Site Operations including Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering
• Corporate Affiliates
• Business Units
• External Supplier Stakeholders

Informational Relationships

• Other functional staff as required

Knowledge (Education/License/Certification, Prior Experience)

• Bachelor's degree + 12 years' experience required (or equivalent, related work experience and/or military service in lieu of degree)
• Degree Field Preferred: Engineering/Manufacturing or equivalent technical degree
• 5+ years in project or team leadership required
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent
• Experience embedding advanced quality concepts into New Product Introduction (NPI)
• Hands-on experience with ERP/MRP planning software
• Strong communication and negotiation skills for supplier engagement
• Proven extensive background in Supplier Quality Management
• Experience with Process Improvement
• Ability to read and understand Blueprints
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience in:
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
• Use of various measurement tools and methods
• Material special processes
• Surface finishing treatments
• Destructive and non-destructive testing methods
• Drawings and CAD Models
• Manufacturing techniques

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including written and verbal communication
• Facilitation skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Ability to bring multi-discipline teams together to resolve complex issues
• Broad understanding of applicable industry tools, systems, and processes

Travel/Physical Requirements

On average, 50% travel both domestic and international is required.

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