Quality Manager
Confidential Automotive Manufacturer | Greater Bowling Green KY area | Relocation Assistance Available
Movement Search and Delivery is partnering with a rapidly growing manufacturer to identify and evaluate a Quality Manager. This is an outstanding opportunity to join a high-performing manufacturing operation that supplies complex welded metal assemblies to major automotive OEMs. The exact company and location are being kept confidential.
About the Role
We're seeking a hands-on Quality Manager who thrives in a fast-paced automotive manufacturing environment and enjoys building high-performing teams while driving world-class quality performance.
This leader will oversee a team of approximately 20 quality professionals, including Quality Engineers, Supervisors, and Quality Technicians. Success in this role requires a strong automotive quality background, exceptional customer-facing skills, and deep technical expertise in welding, metrology, root cause analysis, and IATF quality systems.
This is an excellent opportunity for a quality leader who enjoys being highly visible on the manufacturing floor while partnering closely with customers, operations, engineering, and executive leadership.
What You Will Do
- Provide leadership, coaching, and development for a team of quality professionals.
- Lead all plant quality initiatives to ensure exceptional product quality and customer satisfaction.
- Drive compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 14001, customer-specific requirements, and internal quality standards.
- Serve as the primary quality representative for customer audits, meetings, launches, and issue resolution.
- Lead advanced root cause investigations using methodologies such as 8D, 5-Whys, Fishbone, and structured problem-solving techniques.
- Oversee CMM programming, dimensional inspection strategies, and data analysis to improve product capability.
- Ensure effective implementation and execution of AIAG Core Tools, including APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, MSA, SPC, and Control Plans.
- Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering to improve welding quality, process capability, and overall plant performance.
- Support weld validation, weld destruct testing, metallurgical analysis, and continuous process improvement.
- Develop quality metrics, analyze trends, and implement corrective and preventive actions that improve customer performance.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, employee development, and operational excellence.
What You Need to Succeed
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or another technical discipline.
- 5+ years of automotive manufacturing experience.
- 3–5+ years of quality leadership experience managing engineers, supervisors, and technicians.
- Strong working knowledge of AIAG Core Tools, including:
- APQP
- PPAP
- PFMEA
- MSA
- SPC
- Control Plans
- In-depth knowledge of IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 quality systems.
- Strong customer-facing experience with automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
- Proven experience leading structured root cause investigations using 8D, 5-Whys, Fishbone, or similar methodologies.
- Hands-on experience with CMM programming, dimensional inspection, and quality data analytics.
- Strong background in welded assemblies, welding processes, weld destruct testing, and metal fabrication.
- Excellent leadership, presentation, communication, and organizational skills.
The Ideal Candidate Will
- Be a visible leader who enjoys spending time on the manufacturing floor.
- Build strong relationships with customers through technical expertise and outstanding communication.
- Develop, coach, mentor, and hold teams accountable to high performance standards.
- Have the confidence to lead customer meetings, audits, and critical quality discussions.
- Thrive in a fast-paced automotive environment where continuous improvement is expected.
- Be passionate about developing people while creating a culture focused on quality, accountability, and operational excellence.
About Movement Search and Delivery
MOVEMENT is a national executive search firm that connects companies with exceptional talent across engineering, manufacturing, finance, supply chain, information technology, sales, legal, and human resources. We partner with organizations to identify high-impact professionals who drive operational excellence, innovation, and long-term growth.
How to Apply
Apply through this posting and a member of the Movement Search and Delivery team will review your application. Due to the confidential nature of this search, additional information about the company and opportunity will be shared with qualified candidates during the interview process. For more information on current opportunities, visit www.movementsearch.com.