Job Title: Quality Manager
Department: Quality
Location: Multi-Site: Main Location 802 Washington Ave, Chestertown, MD 21620
Reports To: VP of Operations and Quality
Main Function:
The Quality Manager provides leadership and direction for LaMotte's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring products consistently meet customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and company quality policy and standards. This position leads Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities, maintains ISO 9001 compliance, drives continuous improvement initiatives, manages quality system processes, and develops a culture focused on quality, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence across multiple manufacturing locations.
Qualifications/Job Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Chemistry, Quality, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related technical discipline: equivalent experience considered.
- 3–5 years of experience in Quality Management, Quality Assurance, Quality Management System (QMS), or related field in a manufacturing environment.
- Working knowledge and hands-on experience with ISO 9001.
- Experience with CAPA, SCARs, document control, change management, root cause analysis, internal auditing, SPC, and continuous improvement.
- Leadership experience in cross-functional teams.
- ASQ CMQ/OE, CQE, ISO 9001 Auditor, and/or Lean Six Sigma Belt certifications are a plus.
- Excellent communication, leadership, analytical, and organizational skills.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead all aspects of the Quality Assurance and Quality Control functions.
- Maintain and continually improve the ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
- Ensure compliance with ISO 9001 requirements through audits, management reviews, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
- Lead the CAPA process, investigations, root cause analysis, implementation, and effectiveness verification.
- Manage Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs) and monitor supplier quality performance.
- Oversee document control for procedures, work instructions, specifications, forms, and quality records.
- Lead quality review and approval of engineering, manufacturing, and process changes through the
change management process.
- Coordinate internal, customer, and third-party audits and ensure timely closure of findings.
- Investigate customer complaints, nonconformances, and quality escapes.
- Monitor quality KPIs (NCM and RMA) and present results to leadership.
- Lead the Quality Steering Committee.
- Champion Lean Manufacturing, SPC, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Partner with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and R&D to improve product quality and customer
satisfaction.
- Ensure effective pass/fail decisions for manufactured products.
- Attends all Lean Gemba walks.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Leads and manages direct reports:
- QA/QC Compliance Manager.
- QC Supervisors.
- QC Technicians.
- Conducts oneself professionally and leads by example.
- Maintains confidentiality of company information.
- Assists other departments as needed.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Miscellaneous
- Notifies Supervisors/Managers of any production, equipment, safety, personnel problems, etc., and cooperates in resolving such issues as well.
- Complies with all company policies (i.e., personnel, safety, etc.).
- Frequent travel to Newark, DE facility and other travel as needed.
Environmental Factors/Physical/Mental Capabilities:
- Works indoors in a temperature‑controlled laboratory environment with routine exposure to chemicals, powders, and testing solutions (training and PPE provided).
- May occasionally perform tasks inside a fume hood or near ventilation equipment.
- Requires the ability to stand, walk, sit, bend, reach, and lift up to 50 lbs. as part of normal laboratory and
material‑handling activities.
- Must be able to visually distinguish colors for tests involving color changes or comparison.
- Requires the ability to focus on detailed tasks, follow written procedures, and maintain accuracy during
repetitive testing.
- Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment, which may include a chemical respirator depending on the task.
Work-life and Culture:
LaMotte Company, a 100+ year-old global industry leader in developing and manufacturing premier water analysis solutions, operating in Newark, DE, Chestertown, MD and Warwick, UK. Our products are used around the world to accurately, quickly, and conveniently test water in a multitude of applications.
LaMotte relies on the success of our employees and are committed to supporting their growth. We offer competitive pay, along with performance-based increases. LaMotte offers a range of different shifts such as mornings, afternoons, evenings, and 12-hour shifts between both facilities to fit employees’ needs. LaMotte offers paid time off including vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays. We have several employee events including holiday events, employee appreciation events, community events, employee engagement, etc.
Full-time employees, who regularly work at least 30 hours per week, are eligible for employer-provided insurance including health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, and supplemental insurance. Full-time employees are eligible to contribute to our 401(k) plan with an employer match available.
LaMotte is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, disability, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local laws.