Director of Quality in Norfolk, Virginia at Ajulia Executive Search

• Location: Norfolk, Virginia
• Type: Direct Hire
• Job #26288

Are you looking to lead quality operations within a highly engineered industrial machinery and power transmission manufacturing environment? This leadership opportunity as a Director of Quality focuses on driving enterprise-wide quality systems, supplier quality, manufacturing process improvement, and operational excellence across complex industrial equipment operations. This role is ideal for a senior quality leader with extensive experience supporting heavy industrial manufacturing, rotating equipment, industrial machinery, gearboxes, power transmission systems, or engineered mechanical products who thrives in process-driven environments and is passionate about continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and manufacturing excellence.

Responsibilities:

• Lead Quality Assurance and Quality Control operations across multiple industrial manufacturing regions supporting engineered mechanical and power transmission products
• Drive development, implementation, and continuous improvement of enterprise Quality Management Systems (QMS), SOPs, and compliance processes
• Oversee supplier quality performance for machined components, fabricated assemblies, mechanical systems, and industrial manufacturing suppliers
• Lead root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives related to manufacturing defects, machining tolerances, assembly quality, and customer returns
• Manage quality inspections, process audits, supplier audits, and compliance initiatives within heavy industrial manufacturing operations
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, ISO 9001, and 8D methodologies to improve operational efficiency, product reliability, and manufacturing consistency
• Partner closely with manufacturing, engineering, operations, supply chain, and leadership teams to improve product quality and manufacturing performance
• Support quality initiatives involving machining, fabrication, assembly, industrial gear systems, rotating equipment, and mechanical manufacturing processes
• Develop and maintain change control systems and quality risk assessment programs across manufacturing operations
• Lead customer-focused quality initiatives, warranty investigations, and supplier development activities
• Build a culture centered around continuous improvement, operational discipline, process ownership, and customer satisfaction
• Mentor and develop quality teams within a fast-paced industrial equipment manufacturing environment

Required Experience:

• Bachelors degree in Engineering required
• 10+ years of quality management experience within industrial machinery, power transmission, heavy equipment, rotating equipment, mechanical manufacturing, or heavy industrial manufacturing environments required
• 7+ years of senior-level quality leadership or management experience required
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification required
• Strong hands-on experience with manufacturing quality systems, supplier quality, machining processes, fabrication, mechanical assembly, and industrial manufacturing operations
• Practical experience with continuous improvement methodologies including Six Sigma, ISO 9001, Lean Manufacturing, Root Cause Analysis, and 8D Methodology
• Experience leading quality initiatives supporting engineered mechanical products, industrial equipment, or heavy manufacturing operations
• Strong understanding of manufacturing process controls, inspection standards, non-conformance investigations, and corrective/preventive actions
• Excellent leadership, analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Stable career progression within industrial or manufacturing environments demonstrating long-term tenure and leadership growth
• Must have experience working within U.S.-based manufacturing operations
• Ability and willingness to work onsite within a heavy industrial manufacturing environment

Preferred Experience:

• Experience within industrial gearboxes, gearmotors, power transmission systems, automation equipment, conveyor systems, or rotating mechanical equipment preferred
• Additional quality certifications highly preferred
• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing or regional industrial operations preferred
• Experience leading customer-facing quality initiatives, supplier development programs, and warranty investigations preferred

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short-term & long-term disability insurance
• Paid Time Off
• 401(K) with company match
• Performance-based incentive opportunities
• Company Vehicle

Salary: $160K-$200K with bonus opportunity

Ask for: Brenna

Job Id: 26288

Ajulia Executive Search is a New Jersey based Executive Search Firm specializing in retained searches in multiple sectors, including Manufacturing, Finance, IT, Legal, and Pharmaceutical. We have a nationwide client base and offer services in temporary and direct hire placements.

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