Quality Liaison Team Leader I (3rd Shift) in Cottondale, Alabama at SMP Automotive Systems Alabama Inc

Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Department: Quality
Job Type: Full-Time

SMP Automotive Systems Alabama is seeking a Quality Liaison Team Leader to lead our team of Quality Liaisons supporting our customer. This position serves as a key connection between the customer and SMP, ensuring quality concerns are addressed quickly and effectively while providing leadership and support to the Quality Liaison team.

The ideal candidate is a strong leader and communicator who can build effective relationships with customers, respond with a sense of urgency, and coordinate cross-functional teams to resolve quality issues.

• Lead and support Quality Liaisons assigned to the customer location.
• Coordinate team staffing, coverage, training, and daily activities.
• Serve as a key point of contact between the customer, Quality Liaisons, and SMP teams regarding quality concerns.
• Coordinate responses to customer quality issues, including containment, sorting, repairs, and clean-point activities.
• Ensure Quality Liaisons complete required customer repair processing and documentation.
• Manage the creation, tracking, and transportation of clean parts and materials supporting customer quality activities.
• Communicate and escalate customer quality concerns to appropriate SMP departments and leadership.
• Monitor customer quality and production requirements and coordinate appropriate actions.
• Track and report quality and team performance indicators.
• Ensure Quality Liaisons follow standardized work, safety requirements, PPE, 5S, and applicable customer and SMP procedures.
• Support audits, corrective actions, and problem-solving activities related to customer quality concerns.

Required:

• High school diploma or GED with relevant manufacturing or quality experience; degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Quality, or a related field preferred.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience in an automotive or manufacturing environment.
• Experience working with customer quality requirements.
• Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively with customers and cross-functional teams.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting an automotive OEM customer.
• Knowledge of IATF 16949, VDA 6.3, and automotive Core Tools.
• Knowledge of JIS/JIT, Lean Manufacturing, Standardized Work, and 5S.
• Experience with containment, sorting, repair, and customer quality activities.
• SAP experience.

• Leadership and team development
• Customer service and relationship building
• Strong verbal and written communication
• Problem solving and conflict resolution
• Organization and follow-through
• Sense of urgency and responsiveness
• Quality and continuous improvement mindset

At SMP Automotive Systems Alabama, you'll be part of a team supporting the production of innovative automotive products in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role provides an opportunity to make a direct impact on customer satisfaction, product quality, and team performance.

If you're a quality-focused leader who enjoys working with people, solving problems, and supporting customers, we'd love to hear from you!