Director of Quality (Loves Park)
Vogrinc Search Group, Loves Park, Illinois, United States, 61131
Overview
We are seeking a Quality Leader in the Greater Rockford, IL area with an interest and ability to oversee the full quality function for a multi-site manufacturer in the area. This role is responsible for building a strong quality culture, guiding the business through audits, and ensuring compliance with AS9100 while driving measurable improvements across manufacturing, suppliers, and customer-facing processes.
This position has direct leadership responsibility and works closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and executive leadership to protect product integrity, customer satisfaction, and business performance.
Key Responsibilities Own and lead the company’s Quality Management System, ensuring full compliance with AS9100 and ISO 9001 requirements Act as the primary Quality Management Representative for AS9100, including preparation for and leadership of registrar, customer, and internal audits Develop and execute quality strategies that reduce defects, improve yields, and support long-term operational excellence Lead, mentor, and manage the Quality team, setting expectations and driving accountability Establish and monitor key quality metrics and KPIs to measure system effectiveness and identify trends Drive root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization Partner with Engineering during product development and process changes to ensure quality requirements are embedded from design through production Build and maintain systems for data collection and analysis to proactively identify risks and improvement opportunities Define quality planning methods and standards across all product lines Develop and support process qualification and certification activities Oversee supplier quality performance, including qualification, evaluation, corrective actions, and ongoing monitoring Review customer contracts, purchase orders, and change requests to ensure quality and regulatory requirements are fully addressed Serve as a key interface with customers on quality-related matters, ensuring effective communication and resolution Oversee calibration, inspection, and testing programs to ensure compliance and traceability Communicate quality performance, risks, and improvement progress to senior leadership
Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing) preferred. 7–10+ years of progressive experience in Quality leadership within a manufacturing environment Direct, hands-on experience with AS9100 is required, including leading audits and acting as a Quality Management Representative Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001, corrective action systems, root cause methodologies, and continuous improvement tools Experience in aerospace or highly regulated manufacturing environments strongly preferred Proven ability to lead teams, influence cross-functional partners, and drive cultural change Strong communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with customers, suppliers, auditors, and executive leadership
Key Responsibilities Own and lead the company’s Quality Management System, ensuring full compliance with AS9100 and ISO 9001 requirements Act as the primary Quality Management Representative for AS9100, including preparation for and leadership of registrar, customer, and internal audits Develop and execute quality strategies that reduce defects, improve yields, and support long-term operational excellence Lead, mentor, and manage the Quality team, setting expectations and driving accountability Establish and monitor key quality metrics and KPIs to measure system effectiveness and identify trends Drive root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization Partner with Engineering during product development and process changes to ensure quality requirements are embedded from design through production Build and maintain systems for data collection and analysis to proactively identify risks and improvement opportunities Define quality planning methods and standards across all product lines Develop and support process qualification and certification activities Oversee supplier quality performance, including qualification, evaluation, corrective actions, and ongoing monitoring Review customer contracts, purchase orders, and change requests to ensure quality and regulatory requirements are fully addressed Serve as a key interface with customers on quality-related matters, ensuring effective communication and resolution Oversee calibration, inspection, and testing programs to ensure compliance and traceability Communicate quality performance, risks, and improvement progress to senior leadership
Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing) preferred. 7–10+ years of progressive experience in Quality leadership within a manufacturing environment Direct, hands-on experience with AS9100 is required, including leading audits and acting as a Quality Management Representative Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001, corrective action systems, root cause methodologies, and continuous improvement tools Experience in aerospace or highly regulated manufacturing environments strongly preferred Proven ability to lead teams, influence cross-functional partners, and drive cultural change Strong communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with customers, suppliers, auditors, and executive leadership