Quality Manager

Job Title: Quality Manager Job Description
The Quality Manager leads the Exhaust and Structural Quality Department in a high-volume metal stamping facility, overseeing all quality functions to ensure compliance with customer specifications, industry standards, and regulatory requirements. This role manages a diverse team of quality inspectors, technicians, metrology personnel, leads, and quality engineers while driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance product quality, reduce waste, and improve process efficiency. The Quality Manager serves as a key liaison for customer visits, audits, and quality-related communications, and plays a central role in supplier quality coordination and issue resolution.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the Exhaust and Structural Quality Department, providing clear direction and support to quality inspectors, technicians, metrology personnel, leads, and quality engineers.
- Ensure full compliance with customer specifications, internal quality standards, and applicable regulatory requirements across all production and inspection activities.
- Oversee day-to-day quality operations, including inspection, containment, and hold-release activities, to maintain product conformity and prevent nonconforming product from reaching customers.
- Develop, implement, and maintain quality processes, procedures, and work instructions that support consistent, repeatable, and auditable quality performance.
- Analyze quality data and trends to identify issues, drive root cause analysis, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
- Support and host customer visits, audits, and quality-related meetings, providing accurate documentation and clear communication on quality performance and improvement plans.
- Coordinate supplier quality activities, including issue resolution, containment, and corrective action follow-up, to ensure incoming material meets requirements.
- Ensure proper calibration, maintenance, and effective utilization of inspection and metrology equipment, including precision measuring tools and CMM operations.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality enhancement, waste reduction, and process efficiency within the manufacturing environment.
- Support audits related to IATF standards, ISO standards, and specific customer quality requirements, ensuring readiness and compliance.
- Leverage statistical analysis and problem-solving methodologies to improve product quality and process capability.
- Use Plex ERP and Microsoft Office applications to document, track, and report quality metrics, actions, and outcomes.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including production and engineering, to integrate quality requirements into processes and resolve quality issues.
- Perform additional duties as assigned to support overall quality management and organizational objectives.
Essential Skills
- Minimum 5 years of quality leadership experience in a manufacturing environment preferred, with responsibility for managing quality teams and processes.
- Strong understanding of blueprint reading and GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing).
- Hands-on experience using precision measuring equipment, including calipers, micrometers, height gauges, comparators, and other inspection tools.
- Knowledge of metal stamping operations and their specific quality requirements.
- Familiarity with IATF standards, ISO standards, and automotive quality systems preferred.
- Demonstrated experience with root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and structured problem-solving.
- Ability to analyze quality data and apply statistical analysis techniques to drive improvements.
- Experience with CMM operations in a production or quality environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel approximately 1015% for client interfacing and related quality activities.
- Ability to stand, walk, and sit throughout the workday as needed.
- Ability to lift up to 30 pounds on a repetitive basis when necessary.
- Demonstrated leadership ability to guide, coach, and develop quality team members.
- Quality management experience in a manufacturing setting, preferably involving metal stamping processes.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelors degree is preferred but not required.
- Experience working with Plex ERP systems is preferred.
- Experience supporting audits and maintaining compliance with IATF and ISO quality management standards.
- Background in automotive quality systems is beneficial.
- Strong communication skills for effective customer interfacing and audit support.
- Ability to coordinate supplier quality activities and assist with supplier issue resolution.
- Capability to develop and maintain detailed quality procedures, processes, and work instructions.
- Direct placement opportunity with a bonus structure based on company performance.
- Comfort working in a smaller facility where many decisions are made at the local level, offering broad exposure and hands-on experience with metal stamping.
Work Environment
This role is based in a metal stamping facility operating very large presses, including equipment up to 3,000 tons, and focuses on stainless steel applications such as exhaust systems, decorative bright trim, wheel claddings, and appliance parts. The position is a first-shift role starting at 7:00 AM, with the workday structured as either an 8-hour, 10-hour, or 12-hour shift depending on workload. The 8-hour shift includes two ten-minute breaks and a 60-minute lunch; the 10-hour shift includes three ten-minute breaks and a 60-minute lunch; the 12-hour shift includes four ten-minute breaks and a 60-minute lunch. The environment is production-focused, with regular interaction on the shop floor and the need to move between office and manufacturing areas. The facility offers a smaller, locally driven setting where decisions are often made on-site, providing the opportunity for broad responsibility, direct impact on quality outcomes, and significant hands-on experience with metal stamping operations.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of MOUNT STERLING, KY.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $95000.00 - $100000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Health
Dental
Vision
PTO
Holiday Pay
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in MOUNT STERLING,KY.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 16, 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 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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
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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
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shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
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