Apqp Program Manager Jobs in Connecticut (NOW HIRING)

At DwyerOmega, the quality of what we deliver starts long before a product reaches a customer — it starts with our suppliers. As our Global Supplier Quality Leader, you will build and lead a world-class supplier quality and development program that raises the performance bar across our supply base.

This is a high-impact role at the intersection of quality, supply chain, and engineering. You will lead the supplier quality framework end-to-end from qualification and onboarding through performance management, development, and corrective action partnering closely with Global Sourcing, Engineering, Operations, and Manufacturing to reduce risk, accelerate NPI readiness, and build a supply base that supports DwyerOmega’s rapid growth strategy.

What You'll Do

Supplier Quality Strategy

• Develop and execute DwyerOmega’s global supplier quality strategy, aligned with company growth objectives and operational priorities.
• Establish a comprehensive supplier quality framework covering qualification, onboarding, monitoring, development, and escalation.
• Standardize supplier quality processes across all business units and acquired companies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives throughout the supply base, raising overall quality maturity and reducing systemic risk.
• Establish governance processes for supplier performance management, ensuring accountability at all levels.

Supplier Development

• Build and lead supplier development program focused on strategic and high-risk suppliers, creating roadmaps with measurable milestones.
• Drive reductions in defects, escapes, field failures, and non-conformances through disciplined development and corrective action.
• Conduct supplier capability assessments and maturity evaluations to identify gaps and priorities.
• Lead supplier improvement workshops utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Develop and execute supplier recovery plans for underperforming suppliers, supporting them in achieving operational excellence standards.
• Improve supplier process robustness through implementation of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, Process Capability Studies, SPC methodologies, and Measurement System Analysis.

Supplier Performance Management

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve supplier scorecards measuring PPM performance, on-time delivery, corrective action responsiveness, cost of poor quality, audit scores, warranty and field quality performance, capacity readiness, NPI readiness, lead time stability, and sustainability and compliance metrics.
• Establish and manage supplier segmentation models distinguishing strategic, preferred, development, high-risk, contract manufacturer, and acquisition legacy suppliers.
• Drive structured supplier business reviews to communicate performance expectations, track progress, and hold suppliers accountable for improvement commitments.
• Use scorecard data and segmentation insights to prioritize development resources and inform sourcing strategy decisions.

Supplier Auditing

• Own DwyerOmega’s global supplier audit program, including qualification audits, process audits, surveillance audits, capacity assessments, risk assessments, special process evaluations, new supplier approvals, and acquisition supplier evaluations.
• Ensure supplier compliance to applicable standards including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 17025, and industry-specific certifications where required.
• Manage third-party audit resources as needed to extend audit coverage and capability.
• Use audit findings to feed supplier development priorities, risk ratings, and sourcing decisions.

Corrective Action Management

• Lead supplier issue resolution activities through disciplined structured methodologies including 8D, A3, Root Cause Analysis, Fishbone Analysis, Five Whys, and Statistical Analysis.
• Drive timely closure of supplier corrective actions, tracking recurrence rates and validating effectiveness of implemented solutions.
• Develop and deploy containment protocols for significant supplier quality events to protect internal production and customer delivery.

Supplier Quality Systems and Digital Tools

• Design and implement enterprise supplier quality tools including supplier scorecards, dashboards, risk heat maps, preferred supplier frameworks, audit management systems, qualification workflows, development tracking systems, capacity assessment models, and maturity assessments.
• Build digital reporting capabilities that enable proactive supplier management and provide leadership with real-time visibility into supply base health.
• Establish leading indicators to identify emerging supplier risk before disruption occurs, enabling pre-emptive action.

New Product Introduction Support

• Partner with Engineering and Sourcing teams to ensure supplier readiness for new products, supporting supplier selection, design reviews, PPAP approvals, run-at-rate activities, process validation, pilot production, and launch readiness reviews.
• Ensure suppliers possess adequate capability, capacity, and process controls prior to production release, reducing launch risk and protecting NPI timelines.
• Serve as the supplier quality voice in NPI gate reviews, escalating readiness risks early and driving resolution.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as DwyerOmega’s global subject matter expert for supplier quality, providing strategic direction and technical guidance across the organization.
• Collaborate closely with Global Sourcing, Commodity Managers, Supplier Development Engineers, Manufacturing, Operations, Product Engineering, Quality, and Regulatory teams.
• Support integration activities associated with acquisitions and newly onboarded suppliers, ensuring quality standards are applied consistently.
• Provide mentoring and development to supplier quality resources throughout the organization, building long-term functional capability.

How Success Is Measured

Performance in this role will be tracked against a clear set of outcomes that reflect the health of DwyerOmega’s supply base and the effectiveness of the supplier quality program:

• Reduction in supplier PPM and supplier-related escapes
• Improvement in supplier on-time delivery performance
• Decrease in Cost of Poor Quality attributable to suppliers
• Increase in preferred supplier participation across the supply base
• Supplier audit completion rate against plan
• Corrective action closure cycle time
• Supplier scorecard deployment rate and coverage
• Measurable reduction in supply base risk profile
• Supplier capacity readiness metrics ahead of demand
• Improvement in supplier maturity scores over time
• Successful quality launch performance for NPI programs

What You'll Bring

Experience and Education

• 5+ years of experience in Supplier Quality, Supplier Development, Manufacturing Quality, or Supply Chain Quality
• Experience supporting global supply chains across multiple regions
• Hands-on experience with electronics, PCBAs, machined components, castings, plastic injection molded components, sensors and instrumentation products, and contract manufacturers
• Demonstrated success improving supplier performance through structured development program
• Experience implementing supplier quality systems at an enterprise level
• Experience supporting acquisitions and supplier integration activities preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline
• ASQ CQE, CSQP, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, Lead Auditor Certification, or APICS Certification preferred

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep expertise in supplier quality management, development, and performance systems
• Strong command of core quality methodologies: APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, and Measurement System Analysis
• Proficiency in structured problem-solving tools: 8D, A3, Root Cause Analysis, Fishbone, and Five Whys
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 17025 requirements
• Ability to design and deploy supplier scorecards, dashboards, and digital quality management tools
• Strong cross-functional influencing skills — able to align Sourcing, Engineering, Operations, and Quality around shared supplier outcomes
• Analytical mindset with the ability to use data to identify risk, prioritize action, and demonstrate program impact
• Excellent communication and leadership presence — comfortable presenting supplier quality performance to senior leadership
• Drive for continuous improvement and a genuine passion for building supplier capability