Quality Director
Location: Longview, Texas
Compensation: $125,051–$192,076 DOE + Annual Incentive Plan + Long-Term Incentive Plan
Employment Type: Full-time
About the Company
HireIQ Solutions is leading the search for a Quality Director at a US manufacturer of engineered-to-order HVAC and thermal management systems serving mission-critical and commercial/industrial environments. The company is investing in stronger business-unit quality leadership to drive plant-level execution, improve customer outcomes, and align quality systems with Lean manufacturing and operational performance goals.
About the Role
This role is responsible for leading all quality performance, execution, and results within an assigned business unit. The Quality Director will ensure that quality is fully integrated into daily manufacturing operations, with accountability for measurable improvements in product quality, operational performance, and customer satisfaction. This leader will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Site Leaders, and plant Quality Managers to drive a proactive quality culture and stronger execution at the site level. The role reports to the Senior Vice President of Operations and is one of two newly created Quality Director positions designed to provide more focused support across business units.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead all quality performance for the business unit, with accountability for key metrics including internal and external defects per unit, Cost of Poor Quality, and overall customer quality performance.
• Provide leadership and direction to site Quality Managers and teams, partnering with Site Leaders to drive consistency and accountability across locations.
• Partner with Operations leadership to embed quality into daily production processes and drive defect prevention.
• Lead response to customer complaints, escalations, and warranty issues, ensuring timely resolution and prevention of recurrence.
• Drive disciplined problem-solving using structured root cause methodologies such as 8D and A3 to eliminate systemic issues.
• Ensure effective execution of plant-level QMS processes, including audits, document control, CAPA, and continuous improvement actions.
• Partner with Quality Systems, Supply Chain, and Supplier Quality to improve system effectiveness, incoming material quality, and supplier performance.
• Monitor and analyze quality data, KPIs, risks, and trends to identify priorities and drive action.
• Build and develop high-performing quality teams with stronger capability in problem-solving, data analysis, and Lean quality practices.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer-focused quality.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing quality leadership.
• 5+ years of experience leading quality across multiple sites in a matrix organization.
• Automotive, Tier 1 automation, HVAC, or similar manufacturing experience strongly preferred; aerospace may be considered.
• Proven track record of operational quality improvement, KPI ownership, visual management, and problem-solving development on the shop floor.
• Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles and their application to quality.
• Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect quality performance to operational and financial outcomes.
• Candidates should show progressive career growth within organizations; consulting backgrounds and frequent job changes are less aligned with the hiring profile.
• Spanish language ability is a plus, but not required.
• Experience with quality leadership certifications, ISO, or ASQ-related frameworks may be helpful, though the core emphasis is leadership, KPIs, and execution.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
• This role operates in a combination of office and manufacturing environments.
• Regular exposure to production facilities, including shop floor conditions such as noise, moving equipment, and varying temperatures.
• Required use of PPE in manufacturing areas.
• Ability to analyze complex problems, interpret data, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively from shop floor employees to executive leadership.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive results across geographically dispersed teams.
• Ability to travel between manufacturing sites as required. Travel is expected to be approximately 50–60% initially and may decline as the organization stabilizes.
• On-site presence is required, and relocation support is available.
Why Join
This is an opportunity to step into a highly visible quality leadership role at a manufacturer that is actively strengthening its organizational structure and plant-level execution. The role is urgent, high-impact, and central to improving quality outcomes, aligning processes, and building stronger consistency across operations. For the right leader, it offers the chance to shape quality culture, mentor teams, partner closely with operations leadership, and drive measurable results in a growing manufacturing environment.