Director Quality Operations Jobs in Howell, MI (NOW HIRING)

Reporting to the Executive Director of Quality & Business Systems, the Director serves as a key leader in ensuring effective implementation of quality processes, standardized operating procedures, and continuous improvement initiatives that support customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and business growth. This role drives quality consistency across manufacturing sites and product programs while developing organizational capability in quality systems and compliance.

Key Responsibilities Quality Management System Leadership

• Lead the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the North America Quality Management System.
• Ensure compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, customer-specific requirements, and corporate quality standards.
• Develop, review, and deploy quality system procedures, standards, and best practices.
• Drive standardization of quality processes across manufacturing facilities.

Business Operating System Deployment

• Support deployment and sustainment of the YFAI Business Operating System across all facilities.
• Facilitate process maturity assessments and identify opportunities for operating model improvements.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities to ensure consistent execution of business system requirements.
• Monitor key performance indicators and establish action plans to close performance gaps.

Audit & Compliance Management

• Direct the regional internal audit program and ensure audit plans are risk-based, complete, and effective.
• Coordinate external certification and customer audits in partnership with plant and functional leaders.
• Ensure timely closure of audit findings and verify effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Monitor compliance trends and implement preventive measures to reduce repeat findings.

Quality Performance Management

• Analyze quality performance metrics across plants and programs to identify systemic issues and improvement opportunities.
• Lead regional reviews of quality key performance indicators including customer complaints, warranty, internal scrap, first-pass yield, and corrective action effectiveness.
• Develop enterprise-wide improvement initiatives and coordinate execution across sites.
• Provide clear executive reporting, decision support, and recommendations to senior leadership.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead structured problem-solving and root cause analysis initiatives for recurring quality issues.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence methodologies as practical tools for sustainable performance improvement.
• Facilitate best-practice sharing across manufacturing locations.
• Support digitalization and automation of quality management processes.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead and develop quality systems managers, auditors, and other assigned quality professionals.
• Establish development roadmaps and succession plans for key quality roles.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, compliance, and customer focus.
• Support cross-regional collaboration and resource sharing across the quality organization.

Qualifications Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Business, or a related technical field required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in automotive manufacturing, quality, operations, engineering, or program management.
• 5+ years in a leadership role managing quality systems, quality operations, audit, or operational excellence functions.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and managing IATF 16949 and ISO-based quality systems.
• Experience leading internal and external audits, including customer and certification audits.
• Experience working in a multi-site, matrixed, and international business environment.
• Strong understanding of automotive OEM customer requirements and disciplined corrective action methods.
• Ability to travel local and internationally to suppliers and internal plants up to 40% of the time.

Preferred Certifications

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE).
• ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE).
• Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean certification, or equivalent continuous improvement credential.
• IATF 16949 Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor certification.

Success Measures

• Sustained compliance to IATF 16949, ISO, customer-specific, and corporate requirements.
• Reduction in customer complaints, repeat issues, and major quality incidents.
• Improvement in regional quality performance indicators and corrective action effectiveness.
• Successful completion of internal, external, customer, and certification audits.
• Improved maturity and adoption of the Business Operating System across sites.
• Strengthened quality leadership pipeline, bench strength, and succession readiness.

Essential Common Requirements for All Employees:

• Quality Systems: Understand, apply and meet all function related YF IOS requirements.
• Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS): Understand, apply and meet all function related EHS requirements.
• Product Safety: Understand, apply and meet all function-related Product Safety requirements.
• Compliance: Understand, apply and meet all function-related Compliance requirements.
• Information Security: Understand, apply and meet all function-related IT / Information Security and confidentiality of YFAI information requirements.
• Must comply with all company policies and procedures. 
• Employee must have the ability to work additional hours and / or overtime as needed or assigned to complete job duties on time.
• Ability to multitask, interact politely and professionally with customers, suppliers and vendors, and work cooperatively with employees at all levels.
• Ability to maintain predictable and regular attendance, arrive to designated location on time, or be at assigned location ready to work for assignment (plant, corporate office, or remote).

Thank you for your interest in Yanfeng. As one of the world's largest automotive suppliers, we are creating the future of mobility as a collaborative, global team. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, as well as a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we are a company with an established history and a bright future.
In North America, Yanfeng is focused on enhancing the mobility experience through the design, development, and manufacturing of automotive interiors, seating, electronics, and passive safety systems. Founded in Shanghai in 1936, Yanfeng's history of innovation and craftsmanship have since expanded the business globally. Currently, Yanfeng has more than 240 locations and approximately 55,000 employees worldwide.
Become a part of something more. Join our team as we grow and create the future of mobility, together.
 ABOUT THE TEAM
Yanfeng is committed to developing our employees through opportunities like development programs, continuous learning, mentorship, and volunteerism. Our industry-leading team is looking to recruit highly motivated and engaged talent. Upon joining Yanfeng, new employees will get a detailed introduction through our comprehensive onboarding process. Advance your career with personal and professional growth as a part of our global team!