Director of Quality

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Full-time Regular Lake Oswego, OR, US

6 days ago Requisition

At Yakima we believe in connecting you, your family, friends and all your favorite gear to your desired destination or activity through our mission of enhancing the journey and earning trust every day. The Director of Quality is responsible for strategic direction and operational execution of Yakima’s Quality, Validation, and Compliance functions. This role represents Quality, and Validation for US and other regions around the globe, ensuring that all products offered by Yakima meet or exceed the safety, durability, and reliability standards required by both Yakima consumers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

The Director of Quality maintains the organization’s compliance to IATF 16949 and other internal, customer, regulatory, and legal requirements, leads the Product Part Approval Process (PPAP), and drives a culture of zero-defect manufacturing to protect brand equity and ensure global competitive advantage.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll do:

Quality Management Systems (QMS) & Compliance

• IATF 16949 Leadership:
  Serve as the architect of the QMS, ensuring compliance with IATF 16949 standards.
  • Quality Core Tools Mastery:
    Ensure the expert application of the Automotive Quality Core Tools across the product lifecycle.
  • Global Audit Oversight:
    Develop and lead audit programs to monitor compliance at regional business units and partner factories, ensuring consistent standards across a global supply chain.
  • OEM Customer Specific Requirements (CSR):
    Ensure all customer-specific requirements are integrated into the manufacturing process.
• PPAP Ownership:
  Lead preparation and submission of PPAP packages ensuring all product validations are completed and approved prior to OEM production launch.
• Test Management:
  Lead testing teams across regional business units and in partnership with related factories. Ensure test facilities are equipped and validated to perform testing to meet internal, customer, and regulatory performance standards. (Structural, durability, weatherability, safety)
• Regulatory Compliance:
  Ensure all products meet regional and international regulatory and legal standards (e.g., ISO, DIN, DOT, SAE, E-Mark, environmental) for both OEM Automotive and Aftermarket distribution.

Operational Excellence & Supplier Quality

• Continuous Improvement:
  Consistently facilitate improvements to reduce the Cost of Quality.
• Supplier Quality:
  Ensure that suppliers of finished goods, components, and raw materials consistently meet required specifications.
• Change Management:
  Ensure that any modification to product or process is qualified and approved without interrupting supply.
• Warranty & Recall Management:
  Analyze field data and warranty claims to identify early warning signals. Lead the technical response to customer concerns, complaints, and potential safety or liability claims.
• Closed-Loop Corrective Action:
  Deploy robust corrective action processes to ensure root causes are identified and permanently resolved to prevent recurrence.
• Talent Management:
  Lead and supervise Quality, Test, and Compliance team members across local and offshore locations.
• Strategic Financials:
  Develop and manage the Quality budget across regional business units, including resource allocation for lab equipment and international travel.
• Executive Advisory:
  Report directly to executive and senior leadership on the health of the quality function and its impact on the Strategic Business Plan.

What you Bring:

• B.S. in Engineering, Quality Management, or related discipline required.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in a Quality Management role.
• Automotive Tier 1 or Tier 2 experience preferred.
• Experience with metal fabrication, injection molding, thermoforming, and finished goods assembly preferred.
• ASQ Certified Manager of Quality (CMQ/OE) or Six Sigma Black Belt preferred.
• IATF 16949 Internal or Lead Auditor certification is highly desirable.
• Expert-level knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, and MSA.
• Fluency in Mandarin Chinese is a plus.
• Valid Passport and ability to travel internationally (Asia, Europe, Americas) without restriction.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Authorization to work in the United States (Citizen or Green Card).
• Able to sit and work at a computer keyboard for extended periods of time
• Able to stoop, kneel, bend at the waist and reach on a daily basis
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally
• Travel as required (approximately 10% of time domestic and 10% international).
• Must have corrected vision to 20/30
• Must be able to work with partners across multiple time zones as required