Quality Assurance Assistant Manager (4089)

Summary: The Quality Assurance Assistant Manager supports the Quality Assurance Manager in managing daily quality operations, maintaining the Quality Management System, and ensuring that products and processes comply with customer, government, commercial, and ISO 9001:2015 requirements. The Quality Assurance Assistant Manager supports M&D product launches and production projects by ensuring customer and quality requirements are met through collaboration with Engineering, Production, and Procurement. Other key responsibilities include providing day-to-day guidance to quality personnel, overseeing inspections and audits, managing corrective actions and supplier quality activities, monitoring performance reporting, coordinating employee training, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

- Quality Management Support: Assist the Quality Manager in managing new and current projects and the Quality Management System and coordinating daily quality assurance activities across manufacturing operations.

- Project and Production Support: Support M&D initiatives, new product introductions, and active production projects by integrating customer requirements and quality expectations into manufacturing processes.

- Government and Commercial Product Specifications: Interpret and analyze customer requirements, government specifications, and commercial standards to ensure accurate implementation throughout production.

- Process Control and Improvement: Assist in developing, implementing, and monitoring process controls, inspection methods, and continuous-improvement initiatives to ensure product conformity.

- Inspection Oversight: Coordinate incoming, in-process, and final inspections, including reviews of returned materials and customer complaints.

- Quality Data and Reporting: Analyze inspection results, quality reports, and defective products to identify trends, communicate findings, and recommend corrective actions. Report key performance indicators (KPIs) and support quality management review meetings.

- Corrective and Preventive Action: Coordinate Corrective Action Request (CAR) activities, support root-cause investigations, and monitor the implementation and effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions.

- Supplier Quality: Help develop and prioritize the supplier audit schedule, monitor supplier performance, resolve material-quality issues, and manage supplier CAR activities.

- Team Leadership and Training: Provide day-to-day guidance to Quality Assurance Supervisors, Inspectors, and Auditors. Coordinate training and retraining to ensure personnel make consistent, objective decisions when accepting or rejecting materials.

- Personnel Support: Provide the Quality Manager with input on staffing, employee performance, development needs, transfers, and other personnel actions.

- Audits and QMS Compliance: Conduct internal audits throughout Goodwill in accordance with ISO 9001:2015, support external audits, maintain QMS records, and promote consistent application of quality requirements across the division.

- Customer and Regulatory Documentation: Maintain required quality and compliance records, including Certificates of Conformance, country-of-origin documentation, test reports, and Berry Amendment compliance records.

- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Engineering, Cutting, Warehousing, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and other departments to resolve quality concerns and ensure new and existing products meet customer requirements and specifications.

- Additional Responsibilities: Act on behalf of the Quality Manager when assigned, support departmental priorities, and perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

- Education: Bachelor’s degree in quality management or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

- Quality Systems Knowledge: Working knowledge of quality assurance principles, process-control methods, and procedures, including ISO 9001:2015 requirements and certification. ASQ certification is preferred.

- Professional Judgment: Ability to apply professional knowledge and sound judgment, work independently, and perform responsibilities with minimal supervision.

- Microsoft 365 Skills: Proficiency in Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Teams.

- Business Systems: Ability to use company systems, including Paycom, Exenta, and Eton.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position assists the Quality Assurance Manager in supervising QA Supervisors, QA Inspectors, and Auditors. Responsibilities include assigning and monitoring work, providing coaching and training, supporting performance feedback, and helping ensure adequate quality coverage and compliance with departmental procedures and government and commercial specifications. Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Language Proficiency:

Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English is required; Spanish proficiency is preferred.

Appearance/Personality:

Professional, organized, upbeat, energetic, takes initiative, dependable, accurate, and takes pride in work.

Mathematical Skills - Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability - Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Language Skills - Read, write, and communicate effectively in English.  Spanish is a plus, but not required.

Appearance/Personality - Professional, upbeat, energetic, takes initiative, dependable, accurate, and takes pride in work.

Work Environment - Able to work in a noisy manufacturing environment and withstand heavy traffic and floor vibrations.

Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.

Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens effectively; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Delegation - Delegates work assignments; Matches the responsibility to the person; Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities; Provides recognition for results.

Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Accepts feedback from others; Gives appropriate recognition to others.

Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; Takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; Makes self available to staff; Provides regular performance feedback; Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; Solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); Fosters quality focus in others; Improves processes, products, and services; Continually works to improve supervisory skills.

Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Contributes to profits and revenue; Conserves organizational resources.

Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.

Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports the organization's goals and values; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

Strategic Thinking – Understands the organization's strengths and weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.

Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Physical Demands:

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 stand and walk most of the day, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk or hear.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to lift and carry at least 20 pounds.

Work Environment:

Should be prepared to work in a noisy manufacturing area with heavy traffic and floor vibrations.